The DVD features the Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra conducted by Matthias Kuntzsch, and the opera was directed by Menotti. The lighting and set design, so all important in this sci-fi opera, was by Nicolas Schöffer, who was also responsible for the "Globolinks". He is famous for being the inventor of cybernetic art. The costumes and the choreography were by Alwin Nikolais, an award-winning choreographer, composer and designer. Both men died some years ago. Conductor Kuntzsch, who has a long history of conducting in Germany, emigrated to the United States with his family in 1989 and is, among others, the music director of the Bay Area Summer Opera Theater Institute in San Francisco.

Looking and listening to an opera that had its premiere in 1968, one realizes very quickly that the majority of the performers, the Children's Chorus of the North German Radio (NDR) excluded, have long since either retired from active singing or are no longer among us. This makes this delightful work, which is infused with humor as well as with suspense, all the more precious as its cast is a collection of international singers. They, in true opera fashion, came together to give us— children and adults alike—a 71-minute respite from daily cares.

The story contains a message that all schools and parents should heed. When the world is invaded by outer space Globolinks, the only remedy against them is music. It seems they are literally allergic to music, especially when produced by musical instruments. The director of a co-educational private school, Dr. Stone, in some unknown country the names of students and most teachers are in English— is the only one who does not know how to play an instrument. He doesn't even care whether or not the children took their instruments along on their summer vacation to keep up their musical skills. Needless to say, something strange happened to the gent, sung by the late American baritone Raymond Wolansky. He was perfect for the role and certainly will continue to entertain children for a long time to come, thanks to this DVD.

Music teacher, Madame Euterpova, was sung by American soprano Arlene Saunders. The lady, despite her disappointment in Dr. Stone's lack of musical acumen, is determined to marry him. Ah, will she get the chance now that the Globolinks have arrived on Earth? American baritone William Workman sings the chauffeur, Tony. It is he who sends Emily, the only child who took her instrument with her on her vacation, to find rescuers when they are all stranded in a strange countryside, surrounded by Globolinsk. Will she succeed? Emily is sweetly sung by Swiss soprano Edith Mathis. We must not forget the comical major domo of the school, Timothy, who plays a mean tuba, performed by the late tenor Kurt Marschner. The remaining members of the cast are also well chosen for their brief but important parts.