Trödelmarkt der Träume

'Our theatre is not like other theatres … we count on your participation, Ladies and Gentlemen!' These words from the prologue of the theatre singer are typical of our flea market of dreams. The audience shall be encouraged to think, dream, fantasize. (Wilfried Hiller in the programme of the world premiere) Without explicitly meaning to, the flea market and amusement racket theatre of Hiller and Ende has to be understood as alienation from the great opera in general and for children in particular. Here, imagination finds old and new stories, here is the home of the theatre, here is the place where the 'extravaganza music of Hiller' can be heard. Here is not just melancholy and remembrance, sorrow for things past, lost. Here, dawdling also has another meaning: silence, standstill, leisure, time – for dreaming. Jumble, dawdling – these are things that do not go well with the rush and urge for action of our time. But they suit the theatre, the music for children, the children's music theatre of Hiller and Ende.' (from: Gunter Reiß, Trödelmarkt der Träume […]; in Üben & Musizieren, 2/1991, p. 19ff)