Name: 8. Chamber Concert
Start: 2026-06-16T19:30:00
Location: Lübeck Town Hall

Johanna Jung

Vera Dörmann

Waldo Ceunen

Theater Lübeck

Giselle falls in love with Duke Albrecht, unaware of his noble origins. When his identity is revealed by the gamekeeper Hilarion, Giselle loses her mind and dies. She now finds herself in the circle of the Wilis, ghosts of brides who died before their weddings. At night, they force young men to dance with them until they die of exhaustion. As a Wili, Giselle could take revenge on Hilarion and Albrecht – but love will prove to be the stronger force.

Giselle

A little man in a forest? Quite the opposite: A tree stands on A.'s balcony. It seems to have grown overnight from a crack, a crevice in the concrete. The city's gardening department doesn't feel responsible, and the forestry department soon proves overwhelmed, as forests suddenly sprout up in every European city. Volunteers are sought to clear vegetation from the Eiffel Tower, and Bambi grazes in the canyons of high-rise buildings.

Forest

In his play "Birthday Candles," American playwright Noah Haidle spins a thread of life on which birthdays (some more, some less solemnly celebrated) are strung like pearls on a necklace. 100 years of life – 100 birthday cakes that Ernestine bakes each year according to her mother's recipe as she searches for her place in the universe. At 18, Ernestine is convinced she'll find that place on a theater stage, far away from her tranquil hometown, but as the saying goes, "Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans." Ernestine starts a family with her childhood sweetheart, experiences highs and lows, and ultimately finds herself reflected in the questions, wishes, and dreams of those who come after her.

Birthday Candles

He is one of the greats of American rock music: an Oscar and Tony Award winner, a 20-time Grammy winner – and more than 60 million albums sold make him one of the most successful musicians of all time. His songs, sometimes melancholically dark, sometimes powerfully earthy, have won a huge fan base around the world. Autobiographical elements are repeatedly reflected in the songs: his difficult relationship with his father, his working-class background, but also social themes such as rural exodus in the USA or everyday racism in the provinces. His childhood and youth experiences – growing up in a small town in New Jersey, in a home shaped by a choleric father who failed to build an emotional relationship with his children – flow into his songs. With a mixture of anger, a longing for escape and freedom, but also with wistful nostalgia, he describes his roots and simultaneously expresses what concerns the "little man" on the street. In "My Hometown," for example, he sings about the decline of his hometown, empty shops, violence, and unemployment. He tells of failed lives, lost dreams, and defiant rebellion. His songs deal with life and death, friendship, family, idealism, the American Dream, and homelessness—and they reflect the psychological state of a nation.

My Hometown

The most powerful man in the Roman Empire, Emperor Nero, covets the beautiful and power-hungry courtesan Poppea. She demands that he marry her and crown her empress. To do so, however, Nero must first disown his unloved wife Ottavia. The philosopher Seneca tries in vain to temper Nero's desires, but this only draws his wrath. Empress Ottavia, fighting to maintain her position, commissions a courtier to murder her rival Poppea. But the plan backfires. Ottavia is found guilty, and Nero finally has a plausible reason to exile her and enthrone his lover.

The Coronation of Poppea L'incoronazione di Poppea

People of all ages wear their shirts, and their songs have become the soundtrack of entire generations: Nirvana. But what accounts for the enthusiasm for this band, even though it disbanded over thirty years ago? Not only the suicide of grunge star Kurt Cobain, but also the life and personality of the unforgettable Nirvana frontman still raise questions today: resignation or revolt? Angry outsider, highly sensitive artist, lifelong seeker? Drinks, drugs, and depression. Voice of Generation X, ally, feminist?

Come As You Are

In 1985, Rocko Schamoni gave his first concerts as the support act for the Goldenen Zitronen, back then still under his early pseudonym "Roddy Dangerblood." In 1986, he accompanied the Toten Hosen on tour, from then on as "King Rocko Schamoni." Since then, he has performed well over 1,000 times, released over 20 albums with his own band "Little Machine," with "Studio Braun" and "Fraktus," written 10 books, produced 10 plays, founded the Golden Pudel Club, and supported various other projects. The "King"—as close friends may call him—will present a cross-section of his musical and literary output on this anniversary tour. He will be accompanied by Joachim Franz Büchner.

40 years of Rocko Schamoni the King is here

In his drama fragment "Woyzeck," shortly before his untimely death in 1837, Georg Büchner became one of the first playwrights to turn his attention unsparingly to social reality. Inspired by a real court case, he depicts a simple man trying to lead a normal life against all odds—living in poverty, subjected to questionable medical experiments, and humiliated from all sides, he increasingly loses his mind. The play wasn't staged until 1913.

Wozzeck

For the first time this season, a soundscape concert will take place in the DIE EICHE columbarium. An urn cemetery has been created in the historic granary at Hansahafen, enabling a pioneering form of commemoration of the dead and simultaneously serving as a venue for cultural encounters. The events focus on a different theme each year; in 2026, the theme will be nature. The soundscape concert will present works for string quartet and voice that touch on the themes of nature, love, life, and death in diverse ways. The songs in Paul Hindemith's cycle "Melancholie" based on texts by Christian Morgenstern are filled with dreams, moonlight, and ghostly voices in the forest and fog. Johannes Brahms' five Ophelia songs focus on the woman from Shakespeare's "Hamlet," driven to madness and suicide. Her fate is also taken up in the first of Robert Schumann's Six Songs, Op. 107. In addition to and between the sung songs in the program, songs without words from the cycle "Cypresses" for string quartet will also be heard, with which Antonín Dvořák created a touching portrait of his childhood sweetheart.

3.  Sound Images Concert

Columbario El Roble GMBH

Miss Allie is considered one of the most humorous singer-songwriters in the German-speaking world and a superb entertainer. She brings a unique blend of modern songwriting, charming humor, and sharp social commentary to the stage. Her concerts are truly communal events, where she often interacts spontaneously and wittily with the audience, embedding her songs in humorous anecdotes and personal stories. Her music and warm personality create waves of emotion that sweep through the concert hall either gently or with full force. Stunningly authentic, with daring determination and a powerful voice, she captivates the audience night after night.

Miss Allie Bird of Paradise Tour 2025/26

When Mozart spent a few days in Linz in 1783, the opportunity to give a concert spontaneously arose. However, he had no finished works at hand. So, within four days, he composed a symphony that later—and quite rightly—became known as the "Linz Symphony." Mozart clearly follows in the footsteps of Haydn, whose symphonies he had previously studied and copied. For the first time, he also opens a symphony with a slow introduction, thus continuing the path he had begun toward a large-scale symphonic form.

7th  Symphony Concert

Music and Congress Hall Lübeck

Güllen is bankrupt. No tax revenue and empty coffers, even though the country's economy is booming: Güllen is to be seized! The long-awaited rescue is approaching in the person of Claire Zachanassian, née Klara Wäscher, who was impregnated and abandoned by Alfred Ill at a young age, lost the paternity suit due to false witness statements, disgraced and driven from the city in poverty, lost her child, forced into prostitution, married and inherited from a wealthy oil baron, and is now a billionaire! Now it's time: With the hope of welcoming a generous benefactor in the former Güllen resident, Claire Zachanassian is being treated to a big welcome. And indeed, she is willing to donate a billion to the city, but under one condition – Alfred Ill must die! Naturally, this caused great outrage among all Güllen residents, who immediately and consistently rejected the immoral offer in the name of humanity. But strangely, little by little, an increased propensity to consume is evident throughout the city, loans are being granted generously, a new town hall is being built, and even the church is buying new bells. And Alfred Ill feels that the people of Güllen are behaving increasingly strangely toward him...