Zarah 47 by Various, Frá (2022/2022), Leikstýrt af Nils Braun, Hljómsveitarstjóri Kei Sugaya, Staatstheater, Oldenburg, Germany

On her 40th birthday in March 1947, the singer and actress Zarah Leander was sitting all alone in her Swedish country house, waiting in vain for congratulations. But "the world won't end like this": Thoughtfully, she literally reviews her life so far by artfully linking her memories and (film) songs. A showpiece for mezzo-soprano Melanie Lang, who fills this demanding one-woman performance with great passion. But the play, which premiered in 1992, not only pays homage to "a woman who knows what she wants", but also clearly shows the double-edged sword of Zarah Leander's career during the Nazi era. Was it really possible set your eyes exclusively on art? Why did the UFA star only leave Berlin in 1943? For years, international organizers have warily avoided the once celebrated woman, who now fears that her career will end early and hopes "a miracle will happen"...