Hamilton in Hamburg

What did I (maybe) miss? Hamilton is now in Hamburg!

On 30 September the Stage Operettenhaus invited guests to a preview of the American hit musical Hamilton, to experience it live in Hamburg. Freshly translated, the German version delighted the audience with phenomenal performers, costumes and performances.

The musical tells the life of the founding father Alexander Hamilton – from his childhood in the Caribbean through his career to his rise and fall in American society and politics during the War of Independence and the country's political beginnings.

The musical impresses on many levels: the choreography, the costumes and of course the vocal performances, for example by Benét Monteiro as Alexander Hamilton or Chasity Crisp as Angelica Schuyler. What is particularly remarkable is that it combines more traditional musical music with influences from hip-hop, contemporary R&B, jazz and 1990s pop, which leads to fast-paced and often energetic moments. Beyond excellent live performances, the audience also learns about important milestones of American history; the War of Independence and the establishment of institutions and systems are taken up. Songs such as the election of 1800 meanwhile reveal domestic feuds with almost uncanny parallels to modern political campaigns and discourse.

The many elements that went into the production show an incomparable attention to detail, for instance the role of the personified shot. Eliza Hamilton's burning of Alexander's letters, removing herself from the historical narrative, is part of this too. These symbolic subtleties invite you to see this musical more than once, to discover new details each time and to enjoy its many layers.

Before we saw the German version we wondered whether it is possible to translate Hamilton in a way that preserves both the linguistic brilliance of the original and its pace and entertainment value. The answer is a unanimous YES. The German version works remarkably well. Even where it is not always a direct translation, Kevin Schröder, the rapper Sera Finale and their team have managed to capture the essence of the original and adapt it to the German cultural space, in the form of idioms and German pop culture.

Since the premiere of the piece in 2015 the story of the founding father Hamilton has fascinated audiences. The musical has already captivated thousands of visitors in New York, and now Alexander Hamilton is being sung about in Hamburg too. The musical shows the interest in American history and culture, which we as a centre very much welcome and enthusiastically support.