Kassel Opera Stages First Staging of Eisler's 'German Symphony'

The Staatstheater Kassel has staged the first theatrical performance of Hanns Eisler's 'Deutsche Symphonie', a work composed between 1935 and 1958 that reflects the devastations of the 20th century. The piece, originally conceived as a cantata, was transformed into a symphonic work with texts by Bertolt Brecht and others. The production is directed by Michael von zur Mühlen and conducted by Michael Helmrath. Eisler, a German composer who fled Nazi persecution, wrote the symphony as a response to the rise of fascism and the horrors of war. The performance uses a large ensemble including choir and soloists. The work had previously only been performed in concert form. The Kassel production aims to highlight the political and historical dimensions of the piece.