A powerful example of courage and resistance in times of greatest darkness is Viktor Ullmann's The Emperor of Atlantis or The Refusal to Die Todverweigerung . Created in 1943-44 in the Theresienstadt concentration camp, the opera is a parable of an inhumane, despotic system.

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The Emperor of Atlantis

Staatstheater Mainz

The program features three string quartets driven by a passionate need for expression, igniting true emotional storms. Beethoven's String Quartet in C minor was the first string quartet he tackled when he created his Opus 18, and it is no coincidence that it is in one of his favorite keys, which we associate primarily with his "Fifth." Mendelssohn's A minor Quartet is one of those incomprehensible strokes of genius with which the young Mendelssohn's oeuvre is so rich. Viktor Ullmann's String Quartet No. 3 was written in Terezín and is considered the masterpiece of the Czech composer, who fell victim to the Nazi killing machine.

1. Chamber Concert: Storms of Emotion

sweetSixteen Kino

ARS ELECTRONICA FESTIVAL / LINZ, Austria

Ars Electronica

Two masterpieces from the 20th century form an unforgettable double bill that could not be more topical, given its similarities to today's social and political situation. Kurt Weill' s Die sieben Todsünden tells the story of sisters Anna 1 and Anna 2, who commit the seven deadly sins in seven cities to save their families. Der Kaiser von Atlantis is a gripping parable about a war machine so destructive that even death refuses to do its job unless the emperor himself is willing to die first. Composer Viktor Ullmann wrote this work in the Theresienstadt concentration camp, but was deported to Auschwitz, where he was murdered, before its premiere.

Die sieben Todsünden & Der Kaiser von Atlantis

Amare

Lahav Shani & Friends

Frauenkirche Dresden

For his second Festival concert, Lahav Shani moves from the conductor’s podium to the piano. Together with members of the Munich Philharmonic and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, he presents a unique evening of intimate chamber music. The program is dedicated to artists who were persecuted and found a refuge in music, or whose works were banned for ideological reasons – and where could this find a more appropriate place than the crypt of the Frauenkirche, itself a symbol of peace and tolerance! The pianist and composer Ilse Fromm-Michaels was silenced due to her husband’s Jewish family background. In her »Musica larga« of 1944, her voice is heard in a moving Adagio. At the Theresienstadt (Terezín) ghetto, the Austrian composer Viktor Ullmann composed his String Quartet No. 3, shot through with sad beauty. And Dmitri Shostakovich’s only Piano Quintet tells of the inner struggle between persecution and conformism, written four years after the devastating article in »Pravda« which would change the composer’s life forever.

 Lahav Shani & Friends

In a proven and moving mixture of words, images and sound, musicians from the orchestra remember former employees of the opera who were expelled by the National Socialists from 1933 onwards. Between the movements, Margarita Broich reads from personal documents of Paul Feher (tenor), Theo Front (assistant director), Berthold Goldschmidt (musical advisor) and Hilde Reiss (chorus singer).

Chamber Music V: Against forgetfulness

Deutsche Oper Berlin

This concert’s composers all have different stories to tell, and our orchestra is grateful for the opportunity to perform these deep, meaningful, and introspective meditations. For example, Maurice Ravel’s moving work Kaddish includes a prayer for universal peace. Czech / Austrian composer Viktor Ullmann met his death in Auschwitz, but wrote in his journals, “By no means did we sit weeping on the banks of the waters of Babylon. Our endeavour with respect to arts was commensurate with our will to live.” His melodious Slavonic Rhapsody (1940), featuring guest soloist Kenneth Radnofsky on alto saxophone, is a testament to endurance in a turbulent time. And, in our closing work, Adolphus Hailstork’s recently completed Fourth Symphony, the composer asks us to consider the roots of American music and the evolution of civil rights.

Vista Philharmonic Orchestra – Still Holding On

Groton Hill Music Center

### Event Description: Teddy Conducts Der Kaiser Von Atlantis - The Louisville Orchestra

**Date and Time:**  
Saturday, January 25, 2025, at 7:30 PM

**Venue:**  
Whitney Hall at the Kentucky Performing Arts Center  
501 W Main St, Louisville, KY 40202, United States

**Event Overview:**  
Prepare for a night of operatic brilliance as Teddy Abrams takes the conductor’s podium for "Teddy Abrams Conducts Der Kaiser Von Atlantis." This performance will feature the Louisville Orchestra under the masterful direction of Teddy Abrams, bringing to life Viktor Ullmann's poignant and thought-provoking opera, "Der Kaiser von Atlantis."

**Program:**  
- **Viktor Ullmann:** Der Kaiser von Atlantis

**Event Highlights:**  
- **Conductor:** Teddy Abrams
- **Opera:** Der Kaiser von Atlantis, a powerful allegory exploring themes of power, mortality, and the human spirit.
- **Experience:** An evening that promises to immerse you in the world of opera, music, and storytelling at its finest.

**Special Thanks:**  
- Series Sponsor: The Brown-Forman Foundation
- Significant Support: 90.5 WUOL Classical Louisville

**Tickets:**  
Secure your tickets now for an unforgettable operatic journey. 

Join us for this exceptional event where the drama and emotion of "Der Kaiser von Atlantis" will be brought to life by the Louisville Orchestra, led by the talented Teddy Abrams. Don’t miss this opportunity to experience a stirring rendition of a timeless opera.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the Louisville Orchestra's official website.

Teddy Conducts Der Kaiser Von Atlantis

The Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts

The members of the International Opera Studio present a recital program in the foyer of the opera house, accompagnied by Vlad Iftinca.

1. Song Recital

The Staatstheater Stuttgart

A cast of multidisciplinary creatives, including groundbreaking director Yuval Sharon, join Stéphane Denève for two operas written by once silenced voices. These powerful performances juxtapose dance and opera.

Denève: The Seven Deadly Sins

New World Center

The Creativity in the Face of Oppression project is a series of intellectual and musical activities centered around a concert performance of Viktor Ullmann’s one-act opera, Der Kaiser von Atlantis (The Emperor of Atlantis). Through these activities, Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings, Temple Emanu-El, the Detroit Opera Resident Artist Program, the Holocaust Center, the St. John’s Armenian Church, and the Hartford Memorial Baptist Church will come together to explore the resilience of artistic expression when met with adversity.

Creativity in the Face of Oppression

Temple Emanu-El

Indulge in an evening of pure romanticism featuring the works of four esteemed composers: Schumann, Brahms, Mahler, and Viktor Ullman. Each composer was inspired by the art of poetry, the beauty of the human voice, and one another. Experience the stirring melodies of Brahms' Nänie, a soulful masterpiece set to the enchanting words of Friedrich Schiller, sung by the Nielsen Chorale. Let your heart be moved by 20th century composer Viktor Ullman's piano concerto, a breathtaking piece that bears the indelible mark of Gustav Mahler's genius and the poignant story of its composer's fate. Finally, let the sumptuous notes of Schumann's 4th Symphony wash over you, bringing this unforgettable evening of music to a stirring, romantic conclusion.

Romance, Poetry & Valentines

Friends of the Coronado

The 2023 FIU Music Festival’s opening night brings an unparalleled fusion of talent to the stage, featuring the world-renowned Amernet String Quartet and exceptional guest artists, Ani Kavafian, violin; Thomas Mesa, cello; and Mari LiisPäkk, violin. For two works, FIU students will join them for this compelling chamber music program.

Viktor Ullmann

Events

Past events

Feb 22, 2026

The Emperor of Atlantis · Staatstheater Mainz

Nov 6, 2025

1. Chamber Concert: Storms of Emotion · Dortmunder Philharmoniker

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