“Brundibár,” Performed by The Young People’s Chorus of New York City

In honor of Holocaust Remembrance Day, The Young People’s Chorus of New York City (YPC) will perform the historic and poignant operetta Brundibár. The performance will feature a cast of 40 choristers and a 13-piece orchestra, conducted by YPC Associate Conductor Sophia Papoulis, with direction by Eric Einhorn of On-Site Opera and costumes by Beth Goldenberg.

Brundibár, a children’s opera by Jewish Czech composer Hans Krása with a libretto by Adolf Hoffmeister, was regularly performed by the children of the Theresienstadt concentration camp in occupied Czechoslovakia in 1943. The story of the opera weaves in popular fairy tales as two children overcome the organ grinder Brundibár to sing in their town square and help their ill mother.

The program will begin with a performance of musical selections by artists including Leonard Cohen, Simon & Garfunkel, and Leonard Bernstein, conducted by YPC Artistic Director and Founder Francisco J. Núñez. The second half of the program will feature “Brundibár,” performed by YPC choristers ages 8 – 11.

The pictured ticket stub to a performance of Brundibár in Theresienstadt is on view in our exhibition The Holocaust: What Hate Can Do. Learn more and plan your visit at mjhnyc.org/whathatecando.