Ela Weissberger is a Holocaust survivor who, as a young child, performed the role of The Cat in the children’s opera Brundibar opera while in Terezin (Theresienstadt), a concentration camp in northwest Czechoslavakia. Brundibar was written by Czech composer Hans Krasa in 1938 and smuggled into Terezin when he was interred there. The opera was performed at Terezin more than fifty times, as part of a Nazi propaganda effort to reduce suspicions about the facility.

Ms. Weissberger is traveling to Boulder to participate in Colorado Music Festival’s production of Brundibar at Chautauqua Auditorium Thursday, June 28^th and Friday, June 29^th. With singers from CU Opera, a children’s chorus, costumes and sets, it will be a delightful performance of a tale of two children, who, along with talking animals, defeat the town bully.  The opera is approximately 40 minutes long and is on the first half of the program. After intermission, the Festival Orchestra will perform Prokofiev’s Cinderella Suites. It will be a lovely evening!

And Rose Community Foundation has provided 100 FREE tickets to the Brundibar performances for Jewish students of any age! And ALL students, regardless of religious affiliation, can purchase ½ PRICE tickets to ANY CMF performance, as part of the regular CMF policy. Contact Margaret Romero at romero@comusic.org to request FREE or ½ PRICE tickets today! Visit www.comusic.org for the complete concert season.

During her stay in Boulder, two additional FREE events will take place – and we encourage you to attend!

Ms. Weissberger will share her life story on Friday, June 29^th at Noon, during a “Lunch and Learn” event at Har HaShem, co-sponsored by ADL. The address is 3950 Baseline Road, Boulder CO 80303. Ela Weissberger and her good friend, sculptor and photographer Marlyn Cheshes will discuss “Art and the Holocaust.” Ms. Cheshes’ work has been shown at the Jewish Museum of Belgium, the Florida Holocaust Museum, the Mizel Museum of Art and many others.) A complimentary vegetarian lunch will be provided. Please RSVP to Robert Farr: r.farr@harhashem.org.

Also on Friday, June 29^th, young people will have the chance to speak with Ms. Weissberger at a FREE event at the Canyon Theater at Boulder Public Library at 2:00pm. Get rare insight into the fascinating life history of this extraordinary woman. She will also sign copies of her children’s book, “The Cat with the Yellow Star.”