Viktor Ullmann: Der Kaiser von Atlantis (The Emperor of Atlantis) Op. 49.

     
2200 Ft / Student: 1700 Ft (Trafó Season Ticket is not valid)

The internationally acclaimed Budapest Festival Orchestra for the first time in Trafó, with an astonishing piece!
Der Kaiser von Atlantis (The Emperor of Atlantis) is an enthralling and startling opera that was written by Viktor Ullmann in the Theresienstadt ghetto. Ullmann was one of the victims of the Prague German Jewish musicians in World War II. By the time he was deported in 1942, he was already a widely known figure of the Prague music life, with over forty pieces and two operas in his repertoire. Even in the extremely difficult conditions of the concentration camp he maintained his artistic activity and wrote The Emperor of Atlantis. He was deported to the Auschwitz death camp in 1944, where he died in a gas chamber.

Only one person, Karel Berman, the actor playing the role of Death survived the concentration camp. In the Theresienstadt memorial centre a rehearsal book turned up from Berman’s legacy, in which he noted his own treble, as well as the musical and lyrical changes that were decided on during the rehearsals.

There is going to be an exhibition showing the copies of the pages of the rehearsal book between 20th October and 5 November in Trafó’s café.

Director: Lukáts Andor

Artistic director: Fischer Iván

Singers:

Emperor Overall: Molnár Levente (baritone)

The Death: Cseh Antal (bass)

Bubikopf: Kiss Noémi (soprano)

The drummer : Mester Viktória (mezzo)

Harlequin, The Soldier: Megyesi Zoltán (tenor)

The Loudspeaker: Gábor Géza (bass)

Costumes: Nagy Viktória

Conductor: Julian Kuerti


With a valid ticket to the opera you can visit the exhibitions of the Holocaust Memorial Center, and on the days of the performance, between 6:30-7:30 pm you can also take part in the Tomi programme. The programme is based on a picture-book that was drawn in the Theresienstadt camp by a father for his son’s third birthday.
 

Extract from the opera (with different singers):
 

TRAFÓ KORTÁRS MŰVÉSZETEK HÁZA
ticket office:
  • Main hall performance days: 5 pm - 10 pm
  • studio and club performance days: 5 pm - 8:30 pm
  • other days: 5pm - 8 pm
Trafó Gallery opening hours:
  • Performance days: 4-10pm.
  • Opening hours: Tuesday - Sunday: 4pm-7pm.
  • Closed on Mondays.

  • The Trafó Kortárs Művészetek Háza Nonprofit Kft. works in the maintance of Budapest Főváros Önkormányzata.

Media partners

Cooperative partners