terezin vienna

TERESIENSTADT BECOMES CONTEMPORARY MUSICAL THEATER

On October 8, 1992, Vienna was taken by storm by a small production in Theater im Rabenhof - Chansons und Satiren aus Theresienstadt.It was conceived, written and directed by Alexander Waechter, a prominent Vienna actor, director and playwrighter who also costarred in the piece, written for two actors and a pianist.In this production, based entirely on poems and cabaret acts written (and mostly performed) by the inmates of Theresienstadt, Waechter told the story of his great uncle Remi, Baron von Waechter, whose wife was Jewish and who was sent with her to Theresienstadt, where he perished. His wife Emilia was then sent to Auschwitz, and killed.

Waechter carefully researched the piece, which was produced by the Vienna Theater in der Josefstadt (once home of Max Reinhardt). Some of the melodies to songs were whistled to Waechter by the survivors, some were hits of the day in Berlin or Prague. Martin Roman, the surviving leader of the Theresienstadt jazz band, the Ghetto Swingers, sent Waechter a manuscript of his "Carousel" from his home in Emerson, NJ. Sergei Dreznin, a Russian-Austrian pianist and composer had to write music to 8 poems and cabaret numbers and served as the showís musical director and pianist. Gerhard Bronner, patriarch of the Vienna cabaret scene, also wrote new music to some poems.
The show consisted of 26 songs. Some of the wittiest lyrics written in German depicted life in the camp, making fun of the small human weaknesses of the inmates and of Death itself.

Our performances were accompanied by the screening of the infamous Nazi propaganda film "The Fuehrer gives Jews a city" in the theater foyer that also hosted a large exhibit of the original theater posters, photographs and children's drawings (some of the former Theresienstadt children later came to see the show). Many of the art works, along with poems and articles were reprinted in the wonderfully published program, which is now in the archives of many Holocaust research centers throughout the United States.
The show played in Vienna and was invited to the best German stages: Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Wiesbaden, Zurich, Innsbruck, Salzburg, and many others. A CD was produced by Bertelsmann Group BMG Ariola.

Critics in Europe and in the US unanimously agreed that our production proved the impossible: that a cabaret about a concentration camp can make the audience laugh as well as cry, applaud and think of the unlimited power of human spirit facing horrible circumstances. "
Those who seek joy and are not scared of tears - Go. See it," wrote Vienna daily Die Presse.
"A standing ovation in a packed house!" (Tiroler Tageszeitung, Innsbruck.)

On a darkened, bare stage, a macabre revue brings home the fears, desires and dreams of the prisoners, but also their cynicism and small, human weaknesses... a worthy, exemplary evening (in which) you physically feel how the audience stop breathing when Dreznin's children's songs are played, or Tania Golden sings the song of a suitcase searching for its owner. Then laughter returns, almost like liberation, with the cabaret tale of an unopened package which makes the rounds of the camp, serving each recipient as a small bribe to win small privileges (Berliner Morgenpost).

sdreznin@aol.com

www.SergeiDreznin.net

o
		Songs and Satire from Theresienstadt Origunal Vienna production 1992 - 1995 Book: Alexander Waechter Lyrics to all song are by inmates of Theresienstadt:Leo Straus, Ilse Weber, Walter Lindenbaum, Karel Svenk and others Music: Sergei Dreznin, Gerhard Bronner as well as "Schlager" of the 1930s and 40s directed by Alexander Waechter with Alexander Waechter, Tania Golden and Sergei Dreznin Premiere: Vienna Theater im Rabenhof, 8. October 1992 The production toured in Salzburg, Innsbruck, Zurich, Berlin, Karlsruhe, Wiesbaden, Mainz, Kaiserslauten, Chur and others.

for the full size image click on thumbnail
	`TERESIENSTADT BECOMES CONTEMPORARY MUSICAL THEATER` On October 8, 1992, Vienna was taken by storm by a small production in Theater im Rabenhof - Chansons und Satiren aus Theresienstadt.It was conceived, written and directed by Alexander Waechter, a prominent Vienna actor, director and playwrighter who also costarred in the piece, written for two actors and a pianist.In this production, based entirely on poems and cabaret acts written (and mostly performed) by the inmates of Theresienstadt, Waechter told the story of his great uncle Remi, Baron von Waechter, whose wife was Jewish and who was sent with her to Theresienstadt, where he perished. His wife Emilia was then sent to Auschwitz, and killed. Waechter carefully researched the piece, which was produced by the Vienna Theater in der Josefstadt (once home of Max Reinhardt). Some of the melodies to songs were whistled to Waechter by the survivors, some were hits of the day in Berlin or Prague. Martin Roman, the surviving leader of the Theresienstadt jazz band, the Ghetto Swingers, sent Waechter a manuscript of his "Carousel" from his home in Emerson, NJ. Sergei Dreznin, a Russian-Austrian pianist and composer had to write music to 8 poems and cabaret numbers and served as the showís musical director and pianist. Gerhard Bronner, patriarch of the Vienna cabaret scene, also wrote new music to some poems. The show consisted of 26 songs. Some of the wittiest lyrics written in German depicted life in the camp, making fun of the small human weaknesses of the inmates and of Death itself. Our performances were accompanied by the screening of the infamous Nazi propaganda film "The Fuehrer gives Jews a city" in the theater foyer that also hosted a large exhibit of the original theater posters, photographs and children's drawings (some of the former Theresienstadt children later came to see the show). Many of the art works, along with poems and articles were reprinted in the wonderfully published program, which is now in the archives of many Holocaust research centers throughout the United States. The show played in Vienna and was invited to the best German stages: Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Wiesbaden, Zurich, Innsbruck, Salzburg, and many others. A CD was produced by Bertelsmann Group BMG Ariola. Critics in Europe and in the US unanimously agreed that our production proved the impossible: that a cabaret about a concentration camp can make the audience laugh as well as cry, applaud and think of the unlimited power of human spirit facing horrible circumstances. " Those who seek joy and are not scared of tears - Go. See it," wrote Vienna daily Die Presse. "A standing ovation in a packed house!" (Tiroler Tageszeitung, Innsbruck.) On a darkened, bare stage, a macabre revue brings home the fears, desires and dreams of the prisoners, but also their cynicism and small, human weaknesses... a worthy, exemplary evening (in which) you physically feel how the audience stop breathing when Dreznin's children's songs are played, or Tania Golden sings the song of a suitcase searching for its owner. Then laughter returns, almost like liberation, with the cabaret tale of an unopened package which makes the rounds of the camp, serving each recipient as a small bribe to win small privileges (Berliner Morgenpost). sdreznin@aol.com www.SergeiDreznin.net home \| sergei \| list of works \| recitals \| music theater \| ongoing projects \| contact