Manfred Krug: Abgehauen

Ludwig Blochberger and the Goin' Out West Quintet reinterpret Manfred Krug's songs. In an exciting interplay of music and storytelling, an evening is created that brings to life the moving events surrounding Krug's departure from the GDR - touching and surprisingly topical.

Manfred Krug - actor, maverick and rebel. Hardly any other artist had such a lasting impact on the culture of the GDR - and remained so unconventional. Born in Duisburg in 1937, his unconventional manner, humor and charm won over an audience of millions - on the big screen, on television and on stage. In the 1960s and 1970s, Krug enjoyed great success as an actor with DEFA, most notably in "Spur der Steine" - a film that was banned shortly after its premiere due to its system-critical tone and went on to achieve cult status. At the same time, he also inspired audiences as a singer with his warm, distinctive voice and an unmistakable flair for jazz and chanson. Together with Günther Fischer, he created sophisticated, artfully arranged songs - sometimes melancholic, sometimes ironic - whose lyrics he often wrote himself.at his concerts, people encountered the undisguised, uncensored, unbending artist, who often used the breaks between songs to make jabs at the state.

When he signed the open letter against the expatriation of Wolf Biermann in 1976, his career came to an abrupt end. The comrades reacted with full force and the rebellious artist was sidelined. After months of reprisals, Manfred Krug finally applied to leave the country. In the 32 days between submitting his application and receiving approval, he kept a diary - notes that he only published in 1996 under the title "Abgehauen" (Departed): a moving and honest record of a man who refused to betray his convictions. After moving to West Germany in 1977, Krug made a remarkable comeback. As a lawyer in "Liebling Kreuzberg", as a singing detective in "Tatort" or as a trucker in "Auf Achse", he eventually became a favorite with audiences throughout Germany.
Manfred Krug died in Berlin on October 21, 2016 at the age of 79.

Playing time: approx. 120 minutes, incl. interval

Ludwig Blochberger: acting & singing

Goin' Out West Quintet:
Arseny Rykov - piano
Oren Levanon - guitar
Efim Braylovskiy - saxophone
Fabian Timm - Bass
Axel Filip - drums
Arrangements: Arseny Rykov

www.ludwigblochberger.de