Düsseldorf Festival
A strong show with intense emotions
The sun is setting over the Burgplatz at the banks of the river Rhine. Small groups of people are gathering in front of the large, brightly lit theatre tent of Düsseldorf Festival, excitedly expecting the show in the dedicated venue that has been the heart of this large annual event since the early 1990s. The festival with its 19-day run in September stands out due to its diverse performing arts programme. Starting out as the “Altstadtherbst Kulturfestival” (old-town autumnal cultural festival), it has developed into a fixed item on the agenda of the cultural landscape in this Rhineland metropolis that draws about 20,000 guests every year.
Düsseldorf Festival originally aimed to be a counterpoint to the classical genre operation of the town’s public theatres and classical concert venues. The event has remained faithful to this approach throughout with its genre-spanning performing arts selection that comprises cirque nouveau pieces as well as modern dance theatre and large musical theatre productions. A festival team with a headcount of about 70 is keeping busy to provide strong drama, breathtaking acoustics, and intense emotions for its guests. Their audience will reward them with standing ovations and cheers after the shows. The event is leaving its mark far beyond the Burgplatz site.
Smaller locations that usually remain inaccessible for cultural events turn into convincing sites of music on selected dates. This includes old town churches, bank foyers, and vantage floors on nearby skyscrapers, where bands and individual musicians offer concert formats that tread the line between old music, classical, jazz, and pop music. Visitors to these extraordinary sites can look forward to new experiences.
Date: 11 September to 30 September 2024