Work of the Week – Elisabeth Naske: Zack bumm!

When words fall short, music begins to speak. In Zack bumm! ('Bang boom!'), Elisabeth Naske creates a piece of music theatre that unfolds entirely without spoken language. Freely inspired by the children’s book by Heinz Janisch and Helga Bansch, the work tells its story through sound, movement and puppetry. The world premiere takes place on 30 May at the Vienna Konzerthaus, directed by Ela Baumann.

At the centre is Sigmund, a small bird who, after a fall, can only say “Zack bumm”. Rather than framing this limitation as a problem to be solved, the piece treats it as a different way of being in the world. Through his encounter with the hare Carl Gustav, Sigmund finds confidence beyond verbal expression. The narrative emerges from gestures, musical impulses and visual situations that address young audiences with clarity and respect.

Sound as narrative force

The ensemble of oboe, clarinet, bassoon and marimba is deliberately compact. Each instrument contributes distinct colours that shape characters and moods. Naske does not use music illustratively; it carries the drama itself. Music structures time, defines relationships and conveys emotion. In close interaction with puppetry, seeing and hearing become equal partners in storytelling.

Within Naske’s broader oeuvre, Zack bumm! is a consistent continuation of her long-standing engagement with music theatre for young audiences. The absence of spoken text is not an experiment for its own sake, but an aesthetic choice with social resonance. The piece can be experienced regardless of linguistic or cultural background, opening an inclusive space of perception.

Zack bumm! thus becomes a work that invites audiences to rethink communication—not as explanation, but as attentive interaction shaped by sound and movement.

Learn more:

• Composer profile Elisabeth Naske

• Zack bumm! – Work Details

• Event page at Vienna Konzerthaus

_{Photo by Elisabeth Naske: Hanna Naske; background created using artificial intelligence}