THE PRINCESS

THE PRINCESS. A SCHÖNBERG FAIRY TALE

Thu 07. to Sun 17.11., world premiere, fairy tale, for children aged 4 to 8

His daughter runs up to him and hugs him: "But no, Dad, we're already here! Tell us a story!" And Schönberg recounts: "In the afternoon, the princess played her usual tennis match with the duchess. It was match point in her favour, five to three: and an advantage for the princess. Then the Duchess suddenly hit a cross-cut ball, a backhand corner onto the Princess's court. And the princess runs and almost reaches it, but suddenly she falls down and screams: Ow, my knee!"

Arnold Schönberg told short and funny stories over meals, in exile, when he had time. His children became heroes in them, and he had great fun making faces, disguising his voice and impersonating all the characters: the impatient princess, the stupid wolf, the witty grandmother. The influential teacher and music innovator was funny, his family the great constant in troubled times, and those who love each other tell each other stories: Margareta Ferek-Petrić is composing a new piece of music theatre for Schönberg's 150th birthday, based on one of these stories that Schönberg told his children over dinner.