Everything revolves around the last days in the life of Jesus Christ – this time in Kassel. After two years, the television station RTL is once again bringing the live TV event “The Passion – The Greatest Story of All Time” into living rooms at Easter. With a lot of effort and prominence, the station is presenting the story of Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection this Wednesday. RTL will broadcast live on a large stage to well-known pop music from the documenta city from 8:15 p.m.
On site, actor, author and environmental activist Hannes Jaenicke guides you through the Easter story as a narrator. The 63-year-old believes it is important to “remember the foundations of our Christian-Jewish history.” For him, the role means “being able to tell a story that has shaped Europe and its history like no other,” he told the Evangelical Press Service (epd). Jaenicke already knows Kassel from other film shoots: “I shot a film there at the end of the 90s with Katja Riemann and Heinz Hoenig, it was called ‘Only for Love’.”
The suffering of Jesus at several locations in Kassel
According to RTL, Jesus’ suffering will be staged live at several locations in Kassel and transported into the present day with current songs. The central venue is a stage on Friedrichsplatz. A procession of participants will carry a large, glowing cross from the Kongress Palais to the finale. According to producer Matthias Alberti, around 800 people are said to be involved, with around a hundred acting as cross bearers.
Alberti is looking forward to Kassel: “The DNA of the Passion includes something new every year: new cast, new songs and a new city, which serves as a visual background in all respects. There must be enough iconic places in the host city for the walk of Jesus the disciples, additionally the possibility for the procession with the illuminated cross and very important: a place in the city center for the main stage.” Kassel’s Friedrichsplatz is ideal for this.
Bild: ©picture alliance/Rolf Vennenbernd
At the premiere two years ago in Essen, Alexander Klaws played the role of Jesus in “The Passion”.
Many pop and show stars are involved in the performance of the modern passion play, which tells of disappointment and betrayal, hope and confidence, forgiveness and faith. Singer, actor and presenter Ben Blümel takes on the main role of Jesus. Also there are Jimi Blue Ochsenknecht as Judas, Francis Fulton-Smith as Pontius Pilatus, Timur Ülker as Petrus and Nadja Benaissa as Maria.
RTL adopted the narrative concept from Dutch television, where the event has been a fixture at Easter for 13 years and, according to producer Jacco Doornbos, reaches up to 3.5 million viewers annually. The German premiere two years ago in Essen, at which time Thomas Gottschalk was the narrator, attracted around 3.14 million people to the television, according to RTL. This time too, the live event is intended to reach an audience of millions.
“The Passion” as an opportunity to touch people with the Christian message
Kassel is expecting 8,000 guests for the evening, and more than 6,000 free tickets have already been booked. Andreas Bilo from Kassel-Marketing as a local partner is pleased that “The Passion” is coming to his city, “at prime time and live from one of the largest inner-city squares in Germany”. As a double World Heritage city with important cultural and historical sites, Kassel offers the ideal backdrop for the spectacular TV event, “which in this way also becomes an ambassador for our diverse city in the heart of Germany.”
At the performance location, the Protestant and Catholic churches accompany the event with their own activities. The Karlskirche will be open for meetings, conversations, prayers and blessings. 5,000 small crosses will be distributed on Friedrichsplatz to remind us of the large cross in the procession. Dean Barbara Heinrich sees “The Passion” as an opportunity for people to be touched by the Christian message and come into contact with the churches: “And after RTL has left the city, we are still here.”
Von Helga Kristina Kothe (epd)