Das fliegende klassenzimmer
by Lucia Ronchetti
Deutsche Oper am Rhein
“The lively direction by Ilaria Lanzino turned the play within the novel Das fliegende Klassenzimmer, which the friends in the story stage, into a film. The latent threat to youth 90 years ago was the rising National Socialism and world war; today, it is the emerging climate catastrophe. This is handled with a lot of humor and without a wagging finger. A refreshingly lively classic. A celebrated premiere. The prolonged applause at the end shows the great success of this world premiere.”
Rheinische Post
“While Erich Kästner, during the rising of National Socialism, expressed the longing for freedom through flying, Ilaria Lanzino in his school film production focuses on the threat of our time: climate change. A pharaoh dies of thirst in the Egyptian desert while a cocktail-sipping polar bear loses his party spirit as the ice floe beneath him melts. (…) The opera remains true to the core of Das fliegende Klassenzimmer even 90 years after the book’s creation and shows a timeless parable of friendship in Duisburg.”
WDR 3
“Volcanically good! (…) In a touching manner, Lanzino (direction) and Güner (stage/costumes) tell in this new opera of old values: of friendship and responsibility, of justice that doesn’t follow the letter but considers the person.”
WAZ
“A very entertaining performance (…) This film development, a modernization of the theatrical performance from the book’s source material, forms a certain common thread in this production. (…) An important theme cleverly integrated into the opera without significantly altering the original story and without being preachy. (…) Both young and older viewers at the premiere loudly expressed their applause for the performers and creative team.”
Der Opernfreund
“An adventure of the timeless kind (…) the enthusiastic children in the fully packed theater celebrated with minutes-long and very loud applause.”
Rundschau Duisburg
“To engage children and teenagers, theater should be as colorful and lively as possible. (…) Das fliegende Klassenzimmer tells with emotional force about things that also concern Fridays for Future. It thus plays right in the life of its target audience (…) unanimous applause.”
O-TON
Stage direction: Ilaria Lanzino
Stage and costume design: Emine Güner
Fotos: Jochen Quast