Guido Masanetz’s “In Frisco ist der Teufel los“ Comes to Komische Oper

After the Komische Oper Berlin had abruptly stopped her DDR operetta series – which was so far dedicated to the rediscovery of Gerd Natschinski and his works – the company now announced a new DDR title for next season: Guido Masanetz’s In Frisco ist der Teufel los.

This 1962 hit – set among the harbor workers of San Francisco who battle against ‘evil’ capitalist oppressors and mafia-like groups by joining forces in solidarity – will be shown in a semi-staged version at Christmas, on 21 December and 30 December, 2025.

Martin G. Berger, as an expert for musicals, is in charge of the scenic arrangement, Kai Tietje conducts the rousing Masanetz score that combines American rhythms with typical East German ‘Schlager’ sounds.

In the lead roles, there is Alexander von Hugo as Anatol Brown, the incomparable Sophia Euskirchen sings Virginia West, and Christoph Marti can be seen/heard as the saloon lady Xonga Miller, a role famously recorded by Gisela May.

The costumes are by Ursula Kudrna. There’s also the chorus of Komische Oper.

This Christmas production terminates the thus far rather bland Offenbach series of the new artistic directors. It will be interesting to see whether other DDR titles will follow.

For more details: click here.