Work of the Week – Ludger Vollmer: Rummelplatz

Main text: What drives a person to embark on an uncertain future in the post-World War II years and search for "the yellow" in a uranium mine of the Wismut AG in the Saxon Ore Mountains? It's the hope for a better life that motivates the protagonists of Werner Bräunig's novel Rummelplatz. The novel, a raw, authentic snapshot of the early GDR, provides the basis for the new opera by Ludger Vollmer, which will have its world premiere on September 20, 2025, in Chemnitz.

This new production is a major commissioned work by the Oper Chemnitz and is part of the festivities for 2025, when Chemnitz will be the European Capital of Culture. Under the motto "C the Unseen," the city of Chemnitz aims to showcase its role as a European city and its rich, but often overlooked, cultural heritage.

A commission for Chemnitz 2025 – European Capital of Culture

Ludger Vollmer, born in Berlin in 1961, is an artist who has always moved between different worlds. Initially trained as a toolmaker, he later decided to study music in Weimar and Leipzig. This unusual path continues to shape his work: his music combines technical precision with emotional depth. With operas like Gegen die Wand and Tschick, he has made a name for himself as a composer who addresses contemporary social issues and adapts them for the stage. His musical language is modern and gripping, often characterized by a rhythmic, almost cinematic pull. The music is not mere accompaniment but drives the action forward and delves deep into the characters' psyche.

The fascination of the subject matter, A composer between two worlds

Werner Bräunig's novel Rummelplatz, written between 1959 and 1967, was banned in the GDR and only published in its original version after reunification. It describes the living and working conditions of the miners in the uranium mines with an unvarnished directness that was unwelcome at the time. The opera Rummelplatz builds on this raw energy and is dedicated to the destinies of the young people who migrate to the mines in the hope of prosperity and happiness.

Vollmer's musical composition and the libretto by Jenny Erpenbeck represent an exciting engagement with the novel. The staging by Frank Hilbrich and the set design by Volker Thiele promise an impressive visualization of this post-industrial world, which is both melancholic and full of life. Musically directed by Benjamin Reiners, the ensemble of the Oper Chemnitz will bring the emotional highs and lows of the characters to life.

The world premiere of the opera will take place on September 20, 2025, at the Opernhaus Chemnitz. This will be followed by seven more performances until the end of November, in which the audience can immerse themselves in the story.

Learn more:

• Composer Profile Ludger Vollmer

• Work Page Rummelplatz

• Event Page Theater Chemnitz

_{photo Ludger Vollmer: Thomas Müller. Illustration and texts created with AI assistance}