Der Kontrabass
Why does a musician play the most unwieldy and ungrateful of all instruments, on which "nobody can play beautifully"? For the double bass player at the third desk in the State Orchestra, his bulky instrument is not only his livelihood, but also fate, which he must carry above all else. The relationship to his instrument as lover, friend, enemy and destroyer of a self-determined life is heightened by the alcohol to the point of megalomania.
Ingeniously funny Patrick Süskind tells the story of a musician who is connected to his instrument in love-hate relationship. Since its premiere, this piece has advanced to become one of the most performed German-speaking theatre monologues.