Bach’s music meets Arnošt Lustig’s unpublished poetry in the U.S. premiere of Cantata – Dance of the Insane. Directed by Eva Lustigová, the performance features mezzo-soprano Marie Kopecká Verhoeven, Barocco sempre molto giovane, and New York performers including Grammy and Emmy winner Paul Bogaev. Join us for an evening of music and spoken word as part of FestivAL100, celebrating Lustig’s birth centenary, also recognized on UNESCO’s list of Significant Anniversaries for 2026–2027.
REGISTERThis hour-long performance places Lustig’s poem Shevirat ha-Kelim (The Breaking of the Vessels), written in exile, in dialogue with Bach’s cantata Ich habe genug (BWV 82). Drawing on the image of shattered vessels from Jewish mystical tradition, the poem searches for sparks of humanity in a broken world and asks what remains when humanist ideals fail.
Through poetry and music, the performance explores memory, hope, and the power of art to shape what comes next. Memory cannot change the past, but it can help us build a more humane future.
The musical performance is under the artistic direction of Josef Krečmer. Paul Bogaev, Nancy Petschek-Kohn, and Samuel DeMuria bring Lustig’s words to life. His daughter, Eva Lustigová, created the concept and script and directs the production.
Marie Kopecká Verhoeven is a mezzo-soprano whose work spans opera, concert music, and contemporary performance. She has appeared with orchestras in France and the Czech Republic and founded Rés(O)nances, an artistic collective bringing music together with visual art.
Paul Bogaev is a New York-based music director, conductor, arranger, and performer. He received two Grammy Awards for his work on the Broadway musical Aida and the film musical Chicago, and an Emmy for his music direction of the television musical Annie.
Nancy Petschek-Kohn is a New Yorker and second-generation Czech American. A licensed clinical social worker and Holocaust and anti-bias educator, she serves on the boards of several organizations devoted to Jewish life and education. She is currently writing a memoir that includes the story of her Czech family.
Samuel DeMuria is an Italian-American actor and singer based in New York. He holds an MFA in acting from the Yale School of Drama and has worked with New York Theatre Workshop and Yale Repertory Theatre. He is also a writer and musician with a passion for choral music.
Barocco sempre molto giovane brings together outstanding young Czech musicians, including conservatory students and winners of prestigious performance competitions. The chamber ensemble specializes in the music of Europe’s Baroque masters.
Eva Lustigová is a filmmaker, screenwriter, and cultural producer. In 2020, she co-founded the Arnošt Lustig Foundation, where she serves as Executive Director and Chair of the Executive Board. Through art and education, she carries forward her father’s literary and film legacy and his commitment to human dignity, justice, and democracy. She previously worked in project management and human resources at the World Health Organization.
Arnošt Lustig (1926–2011) was a Czech novelist, screenwriter, journalist, and educator. A Holocaust survivor, he devoted much of his writing to its impact on individual lives. His stories explore courage, dignity, and the determination to preserve one’s humanity under extreme pressure.
Organized by the Arnošt Lustig Foundation in cooperation with Czech Center New York.
FestivAL100 takes place in more than twelve countries under the patronage of Czech President Petr Pavel, the Czech Commission for UNESCO, the Federation of Jewish Communities in the Czech Republic, and other institutions. Lustig’s centenary is among the anniversaries commemorated by UNESCO in 2026–2027. Learn more about FestivAL100.
The authors are responsible for the choice and presentation of views contained in this event page and for opinions expressed therein, which are not necessarily those of UNESCO and do not commit UNESCO.
