A word of welcome
Dear audience, dear friends of Theater & Orchester Heidelberg,
we are overjoyed to join this institution, which has been an integral part of the community since its establishment almost 175 years ago and is met with such palpable interest and enthusiasm, as directors. We believe that there is strength to be gained from those ties with the community and also recognise them as a clear invitation to join hands with you and to create a place to meet and to experience first-rate arts and culture.
Theatre is a dynamic space for democratic practice – a place for people to come together and share perspectives. Discernment, attitude and empathy are called for, especially so in challenging times. Theatre invites people to tolerate complexity and appreciate the ambivalence of the world. That may give rise to something that endures: a community that binds.
We believe that Theater & Orchester Heidelberg is an institution for everyone: for established visitors and new audiences alike. We are keen to open access, invite participation and foster respectful and inquisitive exchange. Therefore, we are throwing the doors wide open for a range of artistic styles and participative formats as well as for collaboration with other cultural institutions and initiatives. At the same time, our TheaterMobil will take our programme into the districts, purposefully stopping in places where theatre is not otherwise par of the course.
To kick off, please join us for a multi-day opening party and catch a first glimpse of the extensive new programme! Multilingual productions, poignant classics, comedies, premieres and, of course, the established festivals – Heidelberger Stückemarkt, Schlossfestspiele, Winter in Schwetzingen as well as Tanzbiennale – will stir up the town.
BEƎTHOVEN | DAS FESTIVAL is an additional special highlight. We are celebrating the great composer for a full week; the programme stretches from symphonies via breakdance and intercultural encounters to events for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. Expect many different encounters as well as touching and surprising moments.
We are looking forward to working together with our newly assembled companies and ensembles, Philharmonisches Orchester Heidelberg, Opernchor and all the highly dedicated and professional staff at this institution!
We have the great pleasure of inviting you to join in for this new season – we cannot wait to shape it together with you!
Yours,
Bernadette Sonnenbichler, artistic director
& Thomas Eisenträger, commercial director
