Hans Krása

Hans Krása (November 30, 1899 – October 17, 1944) was a Czech composer whose work blended late-Romantic lyricism with modernist influences, and whose life and career were tragically cut short during the Holocaust. Born in Prague to a Czech father and German-Jewish mother, Krása studied composition and theory at the German Music Academy in Prague under Alexander Zemlinsky. His early works showed the influence of Mahler, Strauss, and French impressionism, and he quickly established himself as a talented figure in Prague’s musical circles.

In the 1920s and 1930s, Krása worked as a répétiteur at the Neues Deutsches Theater in Prague and composed orchestral, chamber, and vocal works. His opera Verlobung im Traum (Betrothal in a Dream), based on a novella by Dostoevsky, premiered in 1933 and won the Czechoslovak State Prize, earning him international recognition. His music was noted for its elegance, rich harmonies, and ability to balance dramatic intensity with lyrical beauty.

Kráša’s most enduring work is the children’s opera Brundibár, originally composed in 1938 with a libretto by Adolf Hoffmeister. Its first full performance took place in 1943 in the Theresienstadt (Terezín) ghetto, after Krása and many of the cast members had been deported there. The opera, telling the story of children defeating a tyrannical organ grinder, became a symbol of resistance and hope for those imprisoned in the ghetto, where it was performed more than 50 times.

In 1944, Krása was deported from Theresienstadt to Auschwitz, where he was murdered shortly after his arrival on October 17 at the age of 44. His music, suppressed during the Nazi era, was rediscovered in the latter half of the 20th century, with Brundibár becoming a poignant reminder of the resilience of the human spirit under oppression.

Today, Hans Krása is remembered as one of the most significant Czech-Jewish composers of his generation. His works are performed worldwide, both for their artistic merit and for the historical weight they carry, ensuring that his voice—silenced too soon—continues to be heard.