Der geschenkte Gaul - Musical About the Life of Hildegard Knef

1945: Fleeing Russian captivity, Hilde returns to her homeland of Berlin. War has destroyed everything - structures and people - but Hilde has at least a contact address and plenty of courage and foresight. So begins the incredible story of Hildegard Knef, an unforgettable actress and chanson singer of the postwar era. We follow her through her life: her first important films in devastated postwar Germany, an unsuccessful stay in the USA, the scandal surrounding a scene in the film "The Sinner", the subsequent boycott, her return to Germany, her breakthrough. It is a roller-coaster ride across two continents and more than 50 years of history.

Her autobiography "Der geschenkte Gaul" was a bestseller in 1970 and was translated into 17 languages. The musical of the same name was created in 2003 in collaboration with her husband Paul von Schell and received enthusiastic acclaim.

The piece tells of courage, emancipation, and unforgettable moments - a tribute to a woman who showed: "All or nothing!"

The musical features many of Knef's well-known songs in a production by Landesbühne Esslingen, renowned for its outstanding and compelling musical productions.