Manfred Krug: Abgehauen

Ludwig Blochberger and the Goin' Out West Quintet give Manfred Krug's songs a new lease of life. The setting for this special concert is Krug's autobiographical book "Abgehauen".

With his unconventional manner and inimitable charm, the actor, singer and entertainer Manfred Krug, who was born in Duisburg in 1937, thrilled an audience of millions in the GDR and later in West Germany. At his concerts, people encounter the undisguised, uncensored, unbending artist, who often uses the breaks between songs to make jabs at the state.

From 1971, Krug released several long-playing records together with the composer and saxophonist Günther Fischer, on which he sang sophisticated, artfully arranged hits and chansons. He wrote the lyrics himself under the pseudonym Clemens Kerber. Erich Honecker is said to have said in 1972: "We need many jugs". But the jug that the Chairman of the State Council had actually wanted to multiply was broken by his state.

In November 1976, he was one of the prominent signatories of the open letter against the expatriation of Wolf Biermann. This led to a conversation between the initiators and SED officials in Krug's private home, which he secretly recorded on tape. Krug refuses to take back his signature. The comrades reacted harshly and the rebellious actor was sidelined: The Stasi put him under surveillance, two films that had already been shot were not shown, further offers of roles were withdrawn and concerts were suddenly canceled for no reason. After months of reprisals, Manfred Krug is forced to apply to leave the country. He keeps a diary of the 32 days between submitting his application and receiving approval.

He kept this manuscript under lock and key for almost 19 years - Manfred Krug's notes are not only an exciting and harrowing contemporary document, but also an eye-opener for all generations. Ludwig Blochberger reads and sings Manfred Krug, accompanied by the jazz musicians of the Goin' Out West Quintet under the direction of Arseny Rykov. Manfred Krug died in Berlin on October 21, 2016 at the age of 79.

Playing time: approx. 120 minutes, incl. interval

Goin' Out West Quintet:
Arseny Rykov - piano
Oren Levanon - guitar
Efim Braylovskiy - saxophone
Fabian Timm - bass
Axel Filip - drums
Arrangements: Arseny Rykov