It is 2013, and almost seven decades have passed since the end of the second world war. Why then try to write an Opera about it? Because, "Engel der Gefangenen" is not really about that war, it's about ideologies and what people choose to do with their ideological beliefs.
All four main characters of the story are extremely determined and strong people, each with their own image of what the world is like. They form their opinions and they act upon them, but with very different results.
The National-Socialist ideology of Werner Best, and the danish Lutheran/Grundtvigian "Tidehverv" ideology of Tage and Karen share a common starting point: the writings of 19th century German philosopher J.G.Fichte and his ideas about "the people" and the individual's responsabilities to his people.
In Best's case, it led him down a path, that would ultimately lead to his being remembered as one of the most coldhearted and brutal Nazi ideologists, surpassed perhaps only by the likes of Heydrich and Bormann. For Tage and Karen, the main point of focus was an neverending struggle for justice and humanitarian values, and yet, their viewpoints are now the basis of a new form or rigid Nationalism in Denmark, and the political standpoint of Tage and many of his fellow Freedom Fighters has now been warped into a cynical, shadowy version of nazism. How is that possible?
Hiltgunt Zassenhaus was - apparently - a saint, risking her own life to help others. We know from countless testimonies what a great help she was to the Scandinavian inmates and how important her personal index files were in locating them. But, what if she wasn't just a saint? What if her - seemingly altruistic and humanistic beliefs were also a grounds for another kind of bigotry. How did she cope with the racial inequalities and unrest that she saw in tth 60ies and 70ies in her new home in Baltimore in the United States.
This blog will offer insight into each of the main characters, and hopefully guide you towards a broader understanding of what leads to human tragedy on a scale as massive as that of the Second World War.
At the bottom of the page, you will find a comprehensive Timeline, with every point of interest that relates to the story. To the right are links to various content, i.e. a synopsis of the opera, extensive bio's of the characters, music examples etc.
- Jesper Loeser Severinsen Nordin, May 2013
