The Romanian National Opera in Bucharest will premiere The Eichmann Trial on March 29, 2025. The opera, composed by Gil Shohat, features a libretto by renowned playwright Motti Lerner, based on his stage play of the same name, which was performed last year at Bucharest’s National Theatre.

Set against the backdrop of the 1961 trial of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann in Jerusalem, the opera unfolds not only in the courtroom but also behind the scenes. It explores the prosecution’s challenges, the legal confrontations between Eichmann and his defense attorney, and the political pressures exerted by West Germany on Israel to avoid addressing German collective guilt.

This collaboration between the Romanian National Opera and the National Theatre of Bucharest was spearheaded by Noam Semel, Chairman of the Institute for Israeli Drama, and Tova Ben Nun, President of the Jewish Education Network in Romania.