A blind old man teaches surviving children music-making. In a hospital a touring production of an opera entitled “Love and Guilt” is given, which shortly before it ends, is subject to a bombardment which wipes out all involved, including the audience. But again, music shepherds in hope in this dark world and the opera ends with a choral apotheosis.

Music for the living

Theater Bonn Opera House

Rome 1800. After the French Revolution, Napoleon’s army invades Italy, the church offers tough resistance. The painter Cavaradossi receives a commission to paint a picture depicting Mary Magdalene for a church chapel. When his lover Floria Tosca notices that the figure in the picture resembles a woman who has been praying in the church, she explodes in jealousy. To boot, the revolutionary Angelotti, who has escaped from the state penitentiary and is hiding in the same church, seeks asylum with the help of his old friend Cavaradossi.

Tosca

Let's imagine the following: The economic miracle after the Second World War took place not in Germany, but in Turkey, and German guest workers helped to rebuild Turkey. It was not Bonn that welcomed the new arrivals, but Istanbul. With a strikingly simple reversal of perspective and based on their own family experiences and questions they ask themselves about home and arrival, director Selen Kara, author Akın Emanuel Şipal and musician Torsten Kindermann tell the tragicomic life story of Bonn guest worker Klaus Gruber in the foreign and dazzling metropolis in ISTANBUL. In the 1960s, he had to leave behind his wife, children and his beloved football club, 1. FC Köln, and came to a country whose language was foreign to him. His wife Luise and children soon followed him. Initial difficulties were gradually overcome, and the family settled in. At some point, the children spoke Turkish better than German. The family settles into the vibrant city. Yet, a conflict remains: Klaus continues to build the house in Bonn he's been saving up for in Istanbul, even though he no longer seriously intends to return to Germany with his family. Between workbenches, bazaars, the vibrant nightlife, and teahouses (none of which serves hand-brewed filter coffee), we experience everyday life as an expat in German scenes, while the longing for happiness, love, and home is sung in Turkish. The focus is on the songs of Sezen Aksu, the queen of Turkish pop, who have accompanied three generations of Turkish society around the world.

EPSG:4326

Istanbul

Schauspielhaus Bad Godesberg

Paula meets Paul in front of her apartment building. They don't know each other and pass each other by. Everything could have turned out differently. That's often how it is. She works in a supermarket and is a single mother. At a funfair, she meets Colly – not exactly a jackpot, but at least a welcome distraction from her monotonous everyday life. And who knows, maybe he's the love of her life. She gets pregnant and gives birth to their child alone in the hospital. The doctor warns her against another pregnancy; she barely survived this one. Back home, Colly cheats on her with another woman. No, he wasn't the love of her life. Maybe she'll simply accept the offer from Saft, a well-off but much older businessman. He would be a father to the children and provide them with financial security. She doesn't love him, but it does sound tempting not to have to handle everything alone. A person can't just sleep and work all day. But one day she wants to really party, so she goes out. In a bar, she meets Paul a second time. She falls in love and throws herself passionately into the relationship. But Paul is married with a child. Life isn't kind to Paula again. They separate, and her despair causes Paula to lose her attention for a moment. A tragic accident changes everything. Paul can no longer stand his marriage and chooses Paula, whom he can win back. And now, for both of them, great happiness could finally come true. When Paula becomes pregnant for the third time, she has to make a decision – and chooses hope.

The Legend of Paul and Paula

Whoever has money has power. And whoever doesn't will find it difficult to build a fortune. This was already the case in 1837 in London's Soho or in Brecht's Berlin - and it is no different today. Life without capitalism is no longer imaginable, and in a self-corrupting system, everything has become a commodity - love, morality, and misery. Businessmen and the police are just as criminal and devoid of morals as criminals and beggars - there is no distinction between the bourgeoisie and the crooks. The top and the bottom of society merge seamlessly into one another. What connects them is money, and good business probably justifies any immoral behavior.

The Threepenny Opera

Baltimore, the early 1960s: Tracy, a schoolgirl, has long dreamt of dancing on the big stage of the local TV talent show – but does she have the nerve?  Her looks aren’t particularly photogenic, she isn’t at all skinny – she doesn’t in the least meet the TV show’s ideal of beauty. But it is her open, sincere, and natural manner that impresses the jury. Tracy sticks up for her fellow companions especially when they are treated badly. Together with her best friend Penny she takes up the cause of social justice: She wants that there be more black dancers in the show. After personal ups and downs, street demonstrations and other turbulence there is a happy ending: she gets the prince and the crown while her extravagant hairstyle in TV starts a new trend. The pigheaded bad guys are beaten, and the show is lastly integrated – notably only one small step on the way to more social justice.

Hairspray

At the turn of the year, Theater Bonn takes opera audiences to the land where the lemons bloom! In a colorful, varied program, guests and ensemble as well as the chorus and extra chorus of Theater Bonn present a glittering opera gala that combines the best of the rich tradition of bel canto and dramatic opera. Experience unforgettable arias, duets and ensembles from masterpieces by VINCENZO BELLINI, GIOACHINO ROSSINI, GAETANO DONIZETTI, GIACOMO PUCCINI, PIETRO MASCAGNI, GIUSEPPE VERDI - and a few surprises! The top soloists will bring the great emotions, passionate melodies and gripping stories of these works to life with impressive virtuosity and deep expression. An evening that will make the hearts of all opera lovers beat faster. No one will sleep!

Boris Kahnert

Events

Past events

Jun 1 - Jul 10, 2025

Music for the living · Theater Bonn

3 - 18 May, 2025

Tosca · Theater Bonn

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