Haniel Klassik Open Air Duisburg

Season Opening in the Heart of the City

Since 2018, the Haniel Klassik Open Air has been the joint season opening for the Duisburg Philharmonic and the Deutsche Oper am Rhein. It is made possible by the sponsorship of the Duisburg-based family company Franz Haniel & Cie. GmbH and is considered an annual benchmark for the cultural vibrancy of the Ruhr area city. The Opernplatz – the central square framed by the Theater Duisburg – is opened up and transformed into an open-air concert stage.

2026 Program: New GMD, New Voice

The 7th edition on Friday, September 11, 2026, at 7:30 PM marks several premieres: For the first time, Stefan Blunier will conduct the Duisburg Philharmonic on the Opernplatz as the new General Music Director. The well-known host Götz Alsmann will guide through the evening – as in previous years. First-class soloists and the choir of the Deutsche Oper am Rhein will jointly present a classical opening evening for the 2026/27 season, combining opera and concert classics with entertaining interludes.

Special Performance: Koray Berat Sari and Karsu

A highlight in 2026 is the engagement of Koray Berat Sari, who will present a commissioned work specially composed for the Musikzirkus Marxloh. Marxloh is the northwestern district of Duisburg with a predominantly migrant population; the Musikzirkus is an inclusive educational project of the Deutsche Oper am Rhein. The Dutch-Turkish singer Karsu Dönmez – known for her crossover between pop, jazz, and Turkish music – will perform as a soloist. The Klassik Open Air thus sets a signal for intercultural bridges, far beyond the classical concert canon.

Free Admission: Classical Music for the City

The event is free to attend. Even before 7:30 PM, the Opernplatz fills with picnic blankets, folding chairs, and families – similar to the tradition of summer concerts in the park. This low-threshold form of classical music education is a core element of the event. Several thousand spectators have experienced the concerts in recent years; the city of Duisburg sees the Open Air as a signal of cultural identity in a region undergoing significant cultural reorientation.

Duisburg and the Ruhr Area

Duisburg is located in the western Ruhr area in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and, with Europe's largest inland port (duisport), is an important economic, transport, and steel location. The Deutsche Oper am Rhein is jointly operated with Düsseldorf; the Klassik Open Air in front of the theater on the Opernplatz underscores the high-quality opera and concert sector in the city at the confluence of the Rhine and Ruhr rivers.