Brundibár is a children’s opera, composed in 1938 by Czech musician Hans Krása, and performed 55 times between 1943 and 1944 in the Theresienstadt concentration camp in Czechoslovakia—a site propagandized by the Nazis as a “model ghetto.” In 2011, inSIGHT partnered with the Kravis Center’s STAR Series for Students, the Palm Beach Opera, and Lynn University Conservatory to bring this historically significant performance to life for over 2,000 middle school students, as well as members of the broader Palm Beach community.

A particularly moving highlight was the presence of Ela Weissberger, who portrayed the character of “Cat” in all 55 original performances at Theresienstadt. Ela shared her personal story with students and audience members, offering a rare and powerful firsthand account of life, art, and resilience within the camp. Her testimony, combined with the hauntingly beautiful music of Brundibár, created an unforgettable educational and emotional experience that connected history, music, and the enduring human spirit.