Kultursommer Frankfurter Hof — The Golden Twenties

Kultursommer Rheinland-Pfalz is one of the most important cultural series in the state. Since 1985, it has supported events throughout the region from May to October and sets an annual thematic motto that serves as an inspirational framework for various organizers. For 2026, the motto is Die Goldenen Zwanziger (The Golden Twenties) — a homage to one of the richest and most ambivalent cultural epochs of the 20th century, characterized by artistic breakthroughs, new media, urban modernity, and the shadows of political crisis.

Frankfurter Hof Mainz, one of the city's most renowned cultural venues, has conceived its own concert series for its participation in Kultursommer 2026, unfolding the theme in four concerts of different formats and ensembles. The series opens on May 2, 2026, with a literary-musical evening featuring Ute Maria Lerner (reading) and Mark Weigel (piano), combining texts and music from the 1920s in a dialogical form. On May 31, 2026, a high-caliber liaison evening follows with actress Martina Gedeck and pianist Sebastian Knauer — a combination that explores the literary and musical lines of the era through an alternating interplay of voice and piano.

The third highlight is the concert on October 17, 2026, by Denis Wittberg and die Schellack Solisten, who present an UFA revue in the style of the golden film era. With historical instruments, authentic arrangements, and attention to detail, the ensemble brings songs from the German film and Schlager repertoire of the 1920s and early 1930s to the stage, reviving a bygone world through sound. The series concludes on October 25, 2026, with a concert by French singer Lylac, who, as a contemporary artist, reflects on the era from today's perspective, contributing a different, current viewpoint to the program.

With this conceptual diversity — readings, piano recitals, revues, contemporary concerts — the series unfolds the motto in multiple facets and offers the Mainz audience a thematically rich and artistically high-quality engagement with the Golden Twenties. Frankfurter Hof, with its historic hall and intimate atmosphere, provides the ideal setting for this.