Vom kleinen Maulwurf, der wissen wollte, wer ihm auf den Kopf gemacht hat
© SLT / Tobias Witzgall

The Story of the Little Mole Who Knew It Was None of His Business

Elisabeth Naske

Age 5

Children’s opera based on the book by Werner Holzwarth

Austrian Premiere: January 29, 2026 / Rehearsal Centre Aigen

Synopsis

Just what does it sound like when fresh horse droppings are produced? Or a cowpat? Even more importantly, the short-sighted little mole would like to find out what the droppings of various animals look like – after all, someone has done their business on top of his head when he was looking out of his molehill unsuspectingly one morning. “It looked a little like a sausage, and the worst thing was that it landed right on his head.” In order to solve the mystery of the poop, the little mole starts to investigate, interviewing every animal in his neighbourhood. Can the flies support the little amateur detective and help him find the culprit?

Renowned composer Elisabeth Naske has set the 1989 classic children’s book by Werner Holzwarth with illustrations by Wolf Erlbruch to music, adding the characters of the gardener and Viola to help the little mole. Viola is the little mole’s playmate, who only speaks through her instrument, a viola. She helps the little mole get through this exciting day and expresses her emotions through music.

This children’s opera for one singer, one actor and a viola brings out the sounds of falling excrements and illustrates the diversity of animal droppings in a playful, musical manner.