Der Fall Strauß

Set against the restless streets of post‑war Berlin, the story follows Emil Strauß, a cultured yet ruthless figure who has earned a legendary reputation as the city's most audacious burglar. From scaling façades to slipping through prison bars, his daring escapades draw both awe and terror from the public and the authorities. The narrative opens with a haunting prayer that reveals his inner conflict and the weight of guilt he carries.

Emil's motives are tangled between a fierce loyalty to his younger brother, whose fate hangs on a murder conviction, and a restless need to test the limits of his own ingenuity. Each heist is described with crisp, almost mechanical precision, highlighting his uncanny skill and cold logic. Yet his refined manners and artistic sensitivity make him an unlikely gentleman‑thief, unsettling both the elite he robs and the police who pursue him. As the first act unfolds, listeners are drawn into a cat‑and‑mouse chase that questions whether a man can ever escape the shadows of his own making.