She dies at the stake but inspires a composer
How Dare the Angel Sing
When Grete, in 1600s Germany, seeks her inheritance the authorities burn her at the stake. As she dies she craves compassion so deeply – her Spirit lives on. In 1920s Berlin, she discovers Eugen Engel composing a full opera about her. But since Eugen is Jewish, Nazis murder him. Grete grieves. Seventy-five years later she finds contemporary artists astounded to unearth Eugen’s beautiful opera. Grete's and Eugen’s fates hit them hard since political bigotry is resurging. When they premiere Eugen’s opera in 2022 in Germany, audiences stand in ovation.
Grete’s Spirit watches.
And mixing joy and sorrow, she weeps.
Eugen Engel, The Composer
Grete Minde, The Subject of the Opera, executed in 1619
The Spirit of Grete Minde
Anna Skryleva, The Conductor
Olivia Fuchs, The Stage Director
Raffaela Lintl, The Grete Minde Character
in the opera
HOW DARE THEY?
The 150 Artists of the Opera Grete Minde
at Theater Magdebourg, Germany
Ulrike Schröeder, The Dramataurge
Jan Agee, The Granddaughter of Eugen
Humanity’s uplifting struggle against bigotry comes into the spotlight when the Spirit of a woman, executed by misogynists in 1619 Germany, travels through time to witness a Jewish composer write an opera about her in 1920s Berlin before Nazis murder him... she then sees the lost opera discovered in San Francisco 75 years later and its successful premiere in Germany, in 2022. The parallel of their two fates astounds the artists who produce the opera, audiences, and critics. They also see parallels to contemporary politics of "othering" versus tolerance.
Eugen Engel's last name means "Angel" in German.
Of all possible subjects, Eugen chooses Grete Minde as the subject for composing his life's work in the 1910s to 1933.
Grete's character plays an angel in a travelling theater troupe in the opera performances at Theater Magdebourg, Germany.
