Smiling through the seriousness of time

“... Hopp's approach is not just a game, but penetration: It reveals layers, shifts perspectives, sharpens contours. This also applies to the fantastic Heinz Erhardt homage “Smiling through the seriousness of time.” Here, Erhardt appears not as a harmless humorist, but as a precise language artist — composer and poet at the same time.” Ronald Klein, Berliner Morgenpost — 24.04.26

The great comedian, poet, composer and musician Heinz Erhardt has shaped the way of life of many people.

He is not only the master of twisting words and intelligent nonsense, his delicately naive compositions and lyrics also create a unique pull, full of melancholy and zest for life. They are not only profoundly amusing, but also a reflection of his sensitive soul and remarkably timely.

Erhardt struck a chord with an audience who wanted to leave the dark ages of war and disaster behind them in the Federal Republic of the Economic Miracle. His jokes and songs were and are still common knowledge today and still ensure that you not only cry from laughter.

With the support of his orchestra, consisting of handpicked Berlin musicians, Max Hopp brings the funny, indiscriminate and profound twists of words to the stage in a selection of well-known songs, more unknown piano compositions, poems and moving stories.

The arrangements by Max Knoth interpret Erhardt's melodic juggling in a cheeky, light-footed way and bring the sound of the 20s to 60s elegantly to the present day.

“Whether singing or writing poetry — Heinz Erhardt always requires meticulous timing. You can tell that Max Hopp and the band really enjoy it. ”

Petra Volquardsen in NDR's cultural journal 90.3 — 18.10.2024

“Max Hopp is a creative actor — not one who reproduces existing images. And this creative potential is the icing on the cake in the entertaining Heinz-Erhardt homage. ”

Ronald Klein in the Berliner Morgenpost, 28.2.2025

Max Hopp and Doris Decker at THE TAG IN BERLIN & BRANDENBURG on March 18, 2025

Max Hopp, known from numerous TV and cinema productions (e.g. Usedom Krimi) began his career at the Bremen Theatre and was engaged at the Schauspielhaus Hamburg, the Volksbühne in Berlin and the Salzburg Festival, among others.
Since 2010, the Komische Oper Berlin has been his artistic home, where he can be seen in celebrated productions by Barrie Kosky, such as “Anatevka,” “Orpheus in the Underworld,” and “A Woman Who Knows What She Wants.” For several years he has been making a name for himself as an opera director (including at the Zurich Opera House, Graz Opera House and at the Komische Oper Berlin).

Max Knoth works as a composer, arranger and orchestrator. He composes for films, concerts, theatre and recording sessions. Collaboration with Ryuichi Sakamoto, Lou Reed, Danny Elfman, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Nils Frahm, Rachel Portman, Alan Silvestri, David Newman, Tom Tykwer, Christoph Schlingensief, Irmin Schmidt (CAN) and Carsten Nicolai | Alva Noto. He has been a lecturer at the Darmstadt Media Academy and the BIMM Institute for many years.