Buddenbrooks by Vollmer, Fri 10 May 2024, From (2024/2024), Directed by Daniel Karasek, Conductor Benjamin Reiners, Opernhaus Kiel, Kiel, Germany

They have been trading for centuries: the Buddenbrooks. In Feridun Zaimoglu's new reading of Thomas Mann's novel of the century, however, they have long since switched from grain to guns. While Thomas celebrates success in the arms trade, Christian tries his hand at being a bookseller. But the end of their time is approaching, watched suspiciously by the Hagenströms' comments and initiated by the extravagances of the art-loving offspring Hanno. » Buddenbrook's opera should not become a museum for the German bourgeoisie of the 19th century. Rather, I wanted to reveal what Thomas Mann has to say to us today with his magnum opus, and while working on the opera I was very amazed at how close the 19th century is to the 21st century with all its themes, visions and struggles lies.« Ludger Vollmer