Florian Simson

Concert performance of Bernstein's Candide, with additional connecting texts by Loriot (Vicco von Bülow). The world is absurd, and no one understands that better than Loriot. In this witty and whimsical adaptation of Leonard Bernstein’s operetta Candide, the legendary German comedian takes on the role of narrator, guiding the audience through Voltaire’s tale of optimism gone wrong. With sharp humor and elegant storytelling, Loriot adds his signature touch to Candide’s misadventures across war-torn lands, ill-fated romances, and philosophical catastrophes—all set to Bernstein’s dazzling score. A delightful blend of high culture and comedy, this Candide is as satirical as it is spectacular.

While a roaring ball stirs up spirits inside, a boy and a girl meet on the sidelines – and fall in love at first sight. But because they belong to warring families, Romeo and Juliet's love may be immortal, but it is above all forbidden. The chamber opera by the German-Baltic composer Boris Blacher, written in 1943, condenses Shakespeare’s famous tragedy to its essence: the fate of Romeo and Juliet. Scenic miniatures conjure a foggy world hostile to love. Characters occasionally materialise like ghostly apparitions, while a Brechtian chansonnier comments with humour and with harshness on the failure of the greatest love story of all.