Mephisto

In the organizer's words:

In 1926, the eccentric and ambitious actor Hendrik Höfgen initially made his way as a provincial star at the Hamburg Künstlertheater, but within a very short time he became the darling of those in power and the artistic director of the Berlin Staatstheater. When the National Socialists came to power, he initially fled, like many of his colleagues, for fear of possible persecution. But living as a poor refugee in exile while the intoxication of celebrity and success beckons in Germany? Hardly. He quickly returns and comes to terms with the new rulers, betraying not only his own political and ethical ideals, but also his friends and colleagues. He gives in completely to the urge to be at the top, no matter what the cost, and thus becomes a "monkey of power, a clown, a distraction for murderers". Klaus Mann wrote this "novel of a career" in anger (and in exile in Amsterdam) in 1936: He had to register bitterly how rampant a baseless opportunism was taking hold. With "Mephisto", he created a highly detailed observation of human nature that poses questions about personal integrity, opportunism and resistance, and about how art relates to power.

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Klaus Mann wrote his first novellas at the age of 15. This was followed by the founding of a theater ensemble with his sister Erika, Pamela Wedekind and Gustaf Gründgens. In emigration, he became a central figure in international anti-fascist journalism. He published the magazines Die Sammlung (1933-35) and Decision (1941-42) and initially returned to Germany as a US correspondent. Mann wrote his most important novels in exile. He died in Cannes in 1949.