When Voices Unite, Injustice Loses Its Power
Brundibár, the beloved children’s opera by Czech composer Hans Krása, is one of the most frequently performed works for young audiences in the repertoires of Europe’s leading opera houses. Following its highly successful Serbian premiere on 9 February by the Music of Hopeprogramme, the production returns on 7 September as part of BELEF festival, at the Terazije Theatre.
Though modest in length, Brundibár carries a timeless message about solidarity, civic courage and standing up to injustice. It is an opera that speaks equally to children and adults, revealing how art can inspire empathy, resilience and collective action.
A Story That Empowers Children-On Stage and Beyond
At its heart, Brundibár tells the story of those who seem powerless but discover that they can prevail when they stand together. It is about children whose quiet voices grow strong once they join with others.
The opera follows a poor brother and sister determined to help their sick mother. Their struggle against the tyrannical organ grinder, Brundibár, is won not through force, but through solidarity, courage and mutual support.
The children performing in Music of Hope know this story firsthand. Many come from socially vulnerable backgrounds, and through music they discover that their own voices matter.
On stage, they perform alongside students from partner schools, professional musicians and programme alumni, creating a production of remarkable artistic quality built on trust, discipline and collaboration.
Through Brundibár, Music of Hope demonstrates that music education is about much more than artistic excellence-it nurtures confident young people who learn to work together, take responsibility and believe they can make a difference.
Why You Should Experience Brundibár
- A moving and inspiring story for audiences of all ages
- An authentic performance bringing together children and professional artists
- An opera that celebrates solidarity, courage and hopet
Tickets for the 7 September performance will be available soon.
Artistic Team
Under the artistic direction of Marijana Mijanović (Artistic Director of Prangins Baroque, Switzerland), stage director Aleksandar Nikolić, conductor Milan Nedeljković and baritone soloist Vladimir Andrić, Brundibár brings together an outstanding artistic team.
The Story Behind the Opera
Brundibár was composed by Hans Krása to a libretto by Adolf Hoffmeister between 1938 and 1939 in what was then Czechoslovakia. Originally conceived as a children’s opera, it soon came to embody a much deeper significance.
During the Second World War, Brundibár was performed more than fifty times in the Theresienstadt (Terezín) Ghetto, where it became a powerful symbol of human dignity, inner freedom and the strength of community. Although the opera was at times exploited for Nazi propaganda, its essential message endured: faith in solidarity, shared responsibility and every child’s right to be heard.
Most of the children and artists who performed in these productions did not survive the Holocaust. Hans Krása himself was deported to Auschwitz, where he was murdered in 1944.
Yet the opera survived.
Today, Brundibár continues to be performed around the world in leading opera houses, festivals and educational institutions as a powerful reminder that art can preserve identity, inspire hope and offer peaceful resistance against injustice across generations.
About Music of Hope
Music of Hope is far more than a music education programme.
It is a place where children discover that they belong-that what matters is not where they come from, but that they have a voice and a community that listens.
Over the past ten years, more than 2,800 children across 11 cities have grown through the programme with the support of teachers, artists, donors and local communities.
The production of Brundibár represents the culmination of that journey: a shared celebration where children, professional artists and audiences come together in an inspiring artistic experience that equips young people with confidence for the challenges that lie ahead.
Stay tuned for upcoming performances in the regular season
