''Elixier'' is a German
musical
Musical is the adjective of music.
Musical may also refer to:
* Musical theatre, a performance art that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance
* Musical film and television, a genre of film and television that incorporates into the narr ...
that premiered in 1997 in
Leipzig, Germany
Leipzig ( , ; Upper Saxon: ) is the most populous city in the Germany, German States of Germany, state of Saxony. Leipzig's population of 605,407 inhabitants (1.1 million in the larger urban zone) as of 2021 places the city as Germany's L ...
under the direction of . The music was written by
Tobias Künzel
Tobias Künzel (born 26 May 1964 in Leipzig) is a German pop artist and composer, best known as one of the lead singers for the group 'Die Prinzen'.
Career
Künzel attended the Thomasschule zu Leipzig, that time GDR, where he became a member ...
and Wolfgang Lenk (
Die Prinzen
Die Prinzen ("The Princes") is a German band, that is made up of former members of the Thomanerchor (the choir of the Thomaskirche in Leipzig, Germany, where Johann Sebastian Bach was music director for many years) and a former member of the Dr ...
), with lyrics by Kati Naumann.
Plot
The musical is set in 1978. In
East Germany
East Germany, officially the German Democratic Republic (GDR; german: Deutsche Demokratische Republik, , DDR, ), was a country that existed from its creation on 7 October 1949 until its dissolution on 3 October 1990. In these years the state ...
, in an industrial city, a young
chemist
A chemist (from Greek ''chēm(ía)'' alchemy; replacing ''chymist'' from Medieval Latin ''alchemist'') is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties. Chemists carefully describe th ...
, David, sits working. He lives only for science. He must find a formula for the acquisition of eternal youth. He does not notice how his friend Hagen uses and deceives him. Then David meets and falls in love with the
dancer
Dance is a performing art form consisting of sequences of movement, either improvised or purposefully selected. This movement has aesthetic and often symbolic value. Dance can be categorized and described by its choreography, by its repertoi ...
, Betti. Hagen also is interested in Betti, but the girl is fascinated by David's intelligence and innocence and returns his love. David searches for the elixir now to ensure that Betti's youth and beauty will never fade. When David encounters surprising research results, he is ready to try the potion together with Betti. But the potion fails, their problems overwhelm them, and they lose sight of each other.
Almost twenty years later, much has changed in the city. The clever Hagen has become the chief partner in the chemistry enterprise. David is his employee, and the partners and employees are set against each other. A youthful Betti appears, and the old charm is again there. But the mysterious Betti disappears again, as quickly as she had arrived. David sinks into his memories of earlier times. Hagen has also recognized Betti. Did the elixir work? Will Betti forgive David or choose Hagen?
External links
the Musical's website, in GermanCast recording available
Original cast recording
1997 musicals
German musicals
Plays set in Germany
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