Operetta as a powerhouse of emotions:
5 reasons you shouldn't miss Der Zarewitsch
1. Because it is a love story that draws you in and moves you to tears
In operetta, things often happen very quickly: just a few bars, and two characters have fallen in love! And a few bars later, everything has changed again. Der Zarewitsch, however, tells a love story whose every stage you can experience and feel along with the characters. The young heir to the throne, Aljoscha, feels lonely; no one can break through his armor. When one day he meets someone who touches him at his very core, everything changes. This story offers grand, overwhelming emotions—anyone who does not shed at least a tear by the end (and really, even before) must be quite hard-hearted.
2. Because the humor is not neglected
Alongside this tragic love story, Der Zarewitsch also features a second couple who undergo their own transformation over the course of the plot: the two servants Mascha and Iwan. Married for many years, they experience quarrels and affairs, small and larger conflicts and reconciliations. Between swapped ladies’ handbags, Italian escapades, and fiery declarations of love, it is witty, exaggerated, and musically highly comic. From deep melancholy to exuberant laughter, you can experience the full range of emotions—operetta as a powerhouse of emotions!
3. Because Lehár’s music tells all of this in an overwhelming way
Lehár’s music encompasses every emotional world. Even his contemporaries were surprised and overwhelmed by its melancholy. Yet as touching as he composes the Tsarevich’s loneliness, the world of Iwan and Mascha is just as lively and dance-filled. The large orchestra of the Volksoper, the chorus, and our soloists bring this music magnificently to life, including the world-famous “Volga Song.”
4. Because a beautiful animated film is created live on stage
Director and artist Steef de Jong has, over many months, hand-drawn and designed hundreds of illustrations that tell the story of Der Zarewitsch. The result is an entire world of fantasy, color, and ideas! This enthusiasm is rooted in Steef de Jong’s own story: as a young man, a recording of the “Volga Song” sparked his passion for operetta—since then, he has dreamed of staging the work at the Volksoper. His drawings are animated and brought to life live on stage, filmed and projected. It evokes early silent films as well as lovingly crafted cartoons, inviting the audience to marvel. You have never seen operetta presented in such an imaginative and affectionate way.
5. Because you can share a unique experience
Four performers take on all the roles in Der Zarewitsch: David Kerber, Hedwig Ritter, Juliette Khalil, and Martin Enenkel. They are joined on stage by director Steef de Jong, who animates his drawings live. With their bodies and voices, as well as with sound machines, costumes, and cardboard sets, they create the story together in their “factory of imagination.” But beyond these five, your imagination is also needed! Watch, listen, enjoy—and become part of a very special shared experience.
