We all know the famous magic words “Open Sesame” spoken by Ali Baba who defeats 40 dangerous thieves with the help of his canny donkey. Now this timeless story of Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves is presented in an actually very new way, namely as a threefold work: for one we have the musical highlights from the children’s opera, then the thrilling adventure is read out aloud and last but not least colourful pictures capture the oriental setting of this most famous piece of Arabic literature. In 2012, the Komische Oper in Berlin assigned Taner Akyol, a Turkish composer from Berlin, to write this children’s opera. It is based on the libretto by Cetin Ipekkaya and Marietta Rohrer-Ipekkaya and the book is illustrated by well-known Regina Kehn.

Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves

The creators Taner Akyol was born in Bursa (Turkey) in 1977. Even as a schoolboy, he performed with the Balama, the Turkish lute, and his violin. In 1996 he moved to Berlin to study composition. He completed his education as master-class student in 2006. Cetin Ipekkaya was born in Diyarbakir in 1937. As a series actor, he is well-known to viewers of German television. He also works as director and author. Regina Kehn, born in 1962, studied illustration in Hamburg. Since 1988 she has been working for magazines and children’s book publishers. For her illustrations she has been awarded several prizes. Regina Kehn lives in Hamburg with her family.

By the same illustrator Frida in the Bottle

Open Sesame!

Foreign Rights & Licenses Ina Feist

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Germany

ALI BABA UND DIE 40 RÄUBER / ALI BABA AND THE 40 THIEVES Children’s opera by Taner Akyol Text by Cetin Ipekkaya and Marietta Rohrer-Ipekkaya Illustrations by Regina Kehn 40 pages, hardcover, with CD Colour throughout 14 x 12 ins. / 14,2 x 12,6 cm 14.95 Euros From 5 years onward

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