Almost Here! Brundibár's Message of Hope and Courage

Few works are as steeped in Holocaust history as Brundibár. In her Message from the Artistic Director, Mina Miller shares an eloquent description of the opera's nuanced layers of meaning and its deep moral importance. To hear Miller in person, come to the free Brundibár preview at the Frye Art Museum, at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 30. Artistic Director Mina Miller and special guests will discuss the opera as a living example of art's resistance to oppression.

Then on May 8 and 9, 2006, Hans Krása's Brundibár, A Children's Opera, comes to the Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall at Benaroya Hall, fully staged and costumed, and conducted by the Seattle Symphony's Gerard Schwarz.

Morgan Smith

Opera director Erich Parce's work has been seen at the University of Washington, Seattle Symphony, and Skagit Opera. Parce is joined by scenic designer Jennifer Zeyl, whose scenery and costumes have been seen locally at Washington Ensemble Theatre. Parce's staging will guide the unfolding of Brundibár's poignant story: two children, Aninku and Pepicek, need to get milk for their sick mother. They plan to earn their milk money by performing in the village market, but the evil organ-grinder Brundibár tries to quash their competition. With the aid of some friendly animal compatriots, the children take Brundibár on, and defeat him.

Maureen McKay

Logistically, Parce also has the challenge of making the Recital Hall's stage home to 10 vocalists, 45 chorus members, and 12 musicians (plus a conductor)!

Jadd Davis

In our cast, former Seattle Opera Young Artist Morgan Smith sings the role of Brundibár, bringing his "saturnine power, dark magnetism and cruel charm" (The Bellingham Herald) to the part. The baritone makes his San Francisco opera debut this June, and returns to Seattle Opera for the role of Don Giovanni next season. Current Seattle Opera Young Artist Maureen McKay sings Aninku, the sister in the brother-sister team trying to defeat Brundibár and save their mother. McKay, who can be seen this spring in Seattle Opera's Young Artists production of The Turn of the Screw, will appear as Despina in New York City Opera's Così fan tutte next season. Tenor Jadd Davis, who has appeared at 5th Avenue Theatre, is Aninku's brother, Pepicek. Brundibár's talented chorus of young singers, drawn from Northwest Boychoir and Vocalpoint!, is led by Joseph Crnko.