Solidarity with Ukraine

March 2025, Hannelore Brenner

When Russia attacked Ukraine on 24 February 2022, the German edition of the children's book Brundibár. Wie Aninka und Pepíček den Leierkastenmann besiegten (How Aninka and Pepíček defeated the organ-grinder), was at the very beginning of its development. When it got published in September 2023 and a very good friend of mine, the opera director Mstislav Pentkowsky, held the book in his hands, he suddenly came up with a brilliant idea - to give the book as a gift to Ukrainian children, in the sign of solidarity. Why? Because the message of the story - it is based on the story of the famous children's opera "Brundibár" by Hans Krása and Adolf Hoffmeister - is:  Friendship, Justice, Humanity and Solidarity are the sources of our Strength.

I am happy to say that Mstislav's idea became true. And now we do what we can: We give books as a gift to Ukrainian children. If you like a book, let us know where to send it. If you like more books for a group of children, let us know. We have a limited amount of books, but maybe, should we find supporters who like our project, we can print more in order to spread the books and the message which has never been more important since 1945 as today.

Motifs of our Brundibar. Gift Project for children.

Read about the motifs behind on the menue: motifs. We will soon also have books for Hebrew-speaking children.

Wir freuen uns, dass der Generalmusikdirektor der Bayerischen Staatsoper Vladimir Jurowski die Schirmherrschaft über unser Projekt übernommen hat. Am 13. Juli 2o24 schrieb er uns:

Mit größtem Dank übernehme ich die Schirmherrschaft für dieses Projekt. Die Botschaften der wunderbaren Kinderoper von Hans Krása und Adolf Hoffmeister sind universell und zeitlos: Nur gemeinsam sind wir stark. Wir müssen auf unsere Kraft vertrauen, auf Freundschaft und Menschlichkeit.
Diese Botschaften ukrainischen Kindern wie auch Kindern aller Nationen zu vermitteln, ist eine wichtige Aufgabe, die ich sehr gerne unterstütze. (...)
Vladimir Jurowski
Generalmusikdirektor der Bayerischen Staatsoper

I am happy to say that we can use this barrel-organ thanks to a member and friend of Room 28 for our readings and various events.