English abstract
musica europa was founded by Enke Eisenberg and Kerstin Weiß in 2011 to perform music theatre in Marburg.
The Castle Festivals started in 2012: The unique concept focuses on a different European country each summer. Therefore, musica europa performs one significant work of music theatre from the respective country as well as a world premiere for children, composed by a composer from that country. Another goal is the cultural exchange between artists from the respective country and those from Marburg, allowing them to create, rehearse, and perform together.
In 2012, musica europa started with the Castle Festival – 3 DAYS OF MARIBOR, focusing on Slovenia, followed by the Castle Festival – SPAIN in 2013, ENGLAND in 2014, NORWAY in 2015, and FRANCE in July 2016, where artists from each respective country collaborated with those from Marburg.
The aim of musica europa is to present concerts and opera to a broad audience.
Since 2017, musica europa has focused on contemporary music theatre productions for children. In cooperation with an elementary school, pupils composed the opera THE GHOST OF THE CASTLE & the Wooden Yob together with Maxim Seloujanov (based in Vienna). After the composition workshop, the children participated in an opera workshop, where they witnessed the staging. Five children performed the piece together with a professional singer, a puppeteer, and a musician in the castle in 2018.
The children’s music theatre continues with regular performances at the Kulturzentrum Waggonhalle.
In 2024, the children’s opera DIE SCHNEEKÖNIGIN, based on Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale of the Snowqueen and set to music by W. A. Mozart, was performed at the Waggonhalle, combining well-known operatic excerpts with newly written narration. The music was adapted for the stage by musical director Carsten Rupp.
In May 2025, the musical staged reading 8. MAI 1945 – DER TAG DER DIE WELT VERÄNDERTE was presented for students aged 14 and above, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Based on eyewitness accounts published in DIE ZEIT, the production was conceived by Kerstin Weiß and accompanied by original music composed and performed by accordionist Ulrich Felden.
Continuing the tradition of the Christmas fairy tale, the children’s opera RUSALKA - DIE KLEINE MEERJUNGFRAU was staged in winter 2025, based on Hans Christian Andersen’s story of the little Mermaid and Antonín Dvořák’s opera RUSALKA, with a new libretto by Kerstin Weiß and a stage adaptation by Carsten Rupp, performed for children and families.
The management and artistic direction are led by Kerstin Weiß, with Enke Eisenberg responsible for the artistic direction and Carsten Rupp for the musical direction.
Contact:
musica europa
Gossfeldener Strasse 56
35041 Marburg
Germany
info@musicaeuropa.de