Anne & Zef | 45' | opera about a.o. Anne Frank, now available in 4 languages at ​Lunam Publishing
ORIGIN
The Nederlands Philharmonic Orchestra (aka NedPho) in Amsterdam asked me
to compose an opera about Anne Frank (12+) in 2015.
'Anne & Zef' is based on the successful play 'Anne en Zef' by Ad de Bont, who used parts of Anne Frank's diary as a starting point. The opera was created in Dutch and has been translated up to now into Italian, English, German, French and partly Cantonese and although written with a young audience in mind, the is suited for anyone older than 12.

STORY
Zef, a fifteen year-old Albanian boy from our time, was killed because of the Kanun, the blood revenge. In the afterlife he meets Anne Frank and they find out they have a lot in common: a violent death, problems with parents, Anne loved to write, Zef loved to act. Both were robbed of their freedom prior to their premature deaths: Anne in the 'Achterhuis',  Zef had to hide in his own home to stay safe. Their curiosity about each other leads to poignant, funny and at times melancholy scenes. Gradually they grow closer to each other.
Key element in the story is the 'unknown diary' of Anne: Ad de Bont created new texts as if Anne had continued to write:
'First on a stone or in the sand, then in the air and finally only in my head'.
The music is accessible and captivating. Intense scenes, such as those told by Anne about Westerbork and Auschwitz, are interspersed with lyrical, colorful music.
Anne & Zef is available in:
Dutch, English, German 
Italian and French

CAST & CREW in the original AMSTERDAM Staging
Libretto: Ad de Bont
Director: Corina van Eijk
Anne: Lilian Farahani
Zef: Benjamin de Wilde
10 Musicians of the Nederlands Philharmonic Orchestra.
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Poster from the HONGKONG production 2019
PictureAnne & Zef in Albania 2018
REVIEWS
'Monique Krüs' Klangsprache ist von einer unaufdringlichen Dringlichkeit und schleicht sich auf leisen Sohlen unter die Haut.'
 'Wie tief trifft das Lied Annes.'
'... Opera is poignant ... .heart-warming music'
'....touching and lively music'
'The first opera for this young audience was exciting, provocative, interesting and moving, and they won't easily forget that'
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Anne und Zef in Bielefeld, 2018
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Anne & Zef in Hong Kong, 2019
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Anna e Zef in Rome 2017/1018

Reviews / Previews / Quotes

Foto
Beautiful review in NRC  (major Dutch newspaper):
'Youth opera moves', 'heartwarming music'
'Ik zou het van de daken willen schreeuwen, hier moet iedereen naar toe!'
'Prachtig hoe deze zware thematiek zo helder en ontroerend gespeeld wordt'
The Theaterkrant website wrote a 4 star review:
'Play of Ad de Bont also moving as an opera',  'especially beautiful and vivid music'
http://www.theaterkrant.nl/recensie/anne-en-zef/
Picture
Poster Anna e Zef in Rome, March 2017
Foto
At the premiere with Irene Witmer, artistic manager of the NedPho, introducing the opera to the audience. To prepare the young audience for the performance, the NedPho had put together an educational package for schools.
German premiere in Bielefeld:
The press:'Monique Krüs' Klangsprache ist von einer unaufdringlichen Dringlichkeit und schleicht auf leisen Sohlen unter die Haut.'
'Die Musik trifft sehr direkt und dat Stück reisst einen von Anfang an mit.'
'Krüs' Musik ist kontrastreich und bewegt.' 'Wie tief trifft das Lied Annes.'
Foto
Great review in
De Volks-krant
(major Dutch news-paper):
​
'moving and vivid opera music', 'Anne's theme on viola is very touching'
Preview on the website of Place de l'opera (Dutch):
http://www.operamagazine.nl/binnenkort/32261/monique-krus-over-haar-opera-anne-en-zef/
Some feedback from the visiting schools in the Bielefeld Opera House:
'Die Musik kam sehr gut an, auch dass das Orchester auf der Bühne saß und zu sehen war. Wir waren begeistert von der Musik.'
'Die Schüler waren sehr angerührt und beeindruckt von der Geschichte insgesamt, aber auch vom Orchester und von der stimmlichen wie schauspielerischen Leistung der beiden jungen Sänger.'
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ANNE & ZEF IS SPREADING ITS WINGS!
DOWNLOAD more info here
THE HAGUE, APRIL 2022
The original production

THE NETHERLANDS:
SUMMER 2020:
The original production now at Opera Spanga

HONGKONG: NOVEMBER 23/24, DECEMBER 8 2019
The Fragant Village, a music theatre company based just outside of HONGKONG, will create a new production of Anne & Zef.

WIESBADEN: MAY 2019
Invited by the famous International Opera-festival Wiesbaden. 
performances on May 16/17, 2019

ALBANIA: DEC. 2018
Performances with Albanian singers and musicians in Kosovo and Tirana December 5,6,8,9, 2018

BEIJING: MAY 23rd, 2018
Asian premiere sung in English during the WORLD MUSIC DAYS!
Anne & Zef was selected to be performed in China, a great honour!

BIELEFELD: MARCH 22, 2018
Deutsche Erstaufführung in German at the Opera House in Bielefeld in a new staging.

ROME: JANUARY 27-30, 2018
After three successful seasons in the Netherlands, March 2017 the opera was performed in Italian in Rome with the Santa Cecilia Orchestra in a new production. January 2018 the reprise took place.

Plans for more international productions are on their way.

EARLIER PERFORMANCES
2017
March 1-6
at the National Holocaust Museum in Amsterdam
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March 12/13/14
New production in Italian with the Orchestra Santa Cecilia in the Auditorium, Rome

September 2
Scenes from the opera at the opening of the new theatre saison,
​new production in German
Theater Bielefeld

2016
April 17/ May 8 and 12: Alkmaar, Amsterdam
Haarlem and 6
schoolperformances

2015
Premiere 7th of April 2015 in the Koepel, home of the NedPho in Amsterdam. Several shows for schools and on April 18th the opera was performed at the Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ in Amsterdam.
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