"Oh, what one often hears or reads about naughty children!" Thus begins Wilhelm Busch's famous story about the mischievous brothers Max and Moritz and their pranks. Against cheekiness and schadenfreude, there seems to be no cure, as Wilhelm Busch already lamented, and in the age of social media, there are even more opportunities to torment others and get attention for it.

Max and Moritz

StaatenHaus Hall 2

Stadt Köln

"Oh, what one often has to hear or read about naughty children!" So begins the famous story by Wilhelm Busch about the naughty brothers Max and Moritz and their pranks. Against impudence and schadenfreude, there seems to be basically no remedy, as Wilhelm Busch already lamented, and in times of social media there are plenty of opportunities to harass others and to get attention for it. The Norwegian composer Gisle Kverndokk and librettist Øystein Wiik look with today's perspective and a great treasure trove of musical quotations on the old story and recount seven equally common and amusing pranks, with which Max and Moritz, in cartoon style, annoy the descendants of Widow Bolte, Teacher Lämpel and Tailor Böck. The last prank of the naughty boys is just one too many as today. But: He who laughs last, laughs loudest.

Cologne Opera

This special recital dedicated to the works of Reynaldo Hahn and his contemporaries will transport the audience to Paris of the early 1900s. A one of a kind performance, the evening features the Opera Neo 2025 Studio Artists.

EPSG:4326

Reynaldo Hahn

La Jolla Woman's Club

A true rarity, Vivaldi’s recently discovered, seldom performed masterpiece is set in Mexico during the Spanish conquest that led to the end of the Aztec Empire. While this 18th century opera is a highly romanticized and naive take on the historical events of over 200 years earlier, it nevertheless is surprisingly sensitive and empathetic to the tragedy of the Aztecs as they fight for their land and the survival of their culture and people.

Mala Weissberg

Events

Past events

Jan 24 - Mar 1, 2026

Max and Moritz · Bühnen Köln

Jan 24, 2026

Max and Moritz · Oper Köln

Future and recently performed repertoire

Fernando in Motezuma by Vivaldi

Opera Neo

About

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