"Yaparız biz herşeyi! Together and united we are strong!" the four animals sing and set off for Bremen to find happiness there. They are underdogs, outcasts and individualists: The donkey left his owner standing there when he called him stupid. the dog was disowned by his mistress because he always broke everything when playing. The cat refused to catch mice and was put out on the street. The rooster never managed to control his emotional outbursts and so he was thrown out as a troublemaker. But now they form an unbeatable team that wants to make music together and become famous – "Un pour tous, tous pour un! One for all, all for one!" the four musketeers set off on a journey to the place of their longing. Of course, numerous obstacles appear along the way, and there are also disputes among themselves. This extraordinary children's opera tells how the four idiosyncratic characters learn to overcome their conflicts and their fears.

The Izmir-born composer and clarinettist Attila Kadri Şendil was commissioned by Komische Oper Berlin to set Ulrich Lenz's libretto to music, giving the story of the Bremen Town Musicians a new face. Because in Turkey, too, people know the Brothers Grimm's fairy-tale and long for "Bremen" as a place of freedom and utopia. Şendil uses traditional Turkish instruments, oriental rhythms and jazzy harmonies to create a joyful and unique blend of sounds. The animals also sing and speak a special slang consisting of several languages – and thus show themselves as true citizens of the world who can succeed in overcoming social and cultural boundaries through their enthusiasm and friendship.

We would like to thank the Minister President of North Rhine-Westphalia Hendrik Wüst for his generous donation for this production by the Kinderoper Köln.