Opera highlights under the stars: magical nights at the Tanzbrunnen!

Opera highlights under the stars: magical nights at the Tanzbrunnen!

On June 7, 2025, Cologne will experience a very special opera event: The Cologne Opera invites you to “Opern-Air” at the Tanzbrunnen. This great event is all about musical highlights in the open air on the picturesque Rhine. It will not only be a feast for the eyes and ears, but also an opportunity to immerse yourself in the different roles of heroes, villains and lovers.

The Cologne Opera ensemble will present a colorful mix of performances in which the soloists will show off their skills. In particular, the voices of soprano Magdalena Hinterdobler, known from Cologne's “Elektra,” and the Egyptian tenor Ragaa Eldin, who will debut as Don José in “Carmen,” promise magical moments. Felix Bender will conduct the Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne and thus ensure a melodious setting for this event.
You can find more information about this on the City of Cologne website, as stadt-koeln.de reports.

A sound feast for the senses

What makes an orchestra? This question can be easily answered with a look at history. Orchestras with a permanent core of musicians have existed in Europe since the 16th century. Often financed by noble and ecclesiastical dignitaries, they received important support from music-loving princes. The sound of an orchestra is the result of centuries of tradition, also shaped by changes over time, as planet-wissen.de states.

Nowadays, orchestras are very well thought out in their structure. They usually consist predominantly of string instruments, which shape the sound of symphonic music. The arrangement of the musicians follows a fixed rule: from the first violins, which sit on the left, through the violas and cellos to the brass and percussion instruments. This discipline ensures that making music becomes a fine art form. The conductor, who holds the strings, has his back to the audience, and the orchestra forms a closed community.

The world of musicians

Musicians often compare their orchestras to families. There is friction and the typical clichés that provide entertainment. It is said that cherry-pickers, Lacoste-wearing bassoonists or the “rigid” timpani player are always only in the canteen. The fact is that things never really stay still in an orchestra - and rehearsals are often viewed as unnecessary. Despite all this, the interaction has to be right so that the music shines in the best possible light, as in the upcoming performances at the Tanzbrunnen.

So if you have the opportunity to experience this special event in Cologne, you should definitely secure the date! From opera highlights to music that touches the heart: this is where the diversity of opera art is shown at its best, combined with a great ambience on the Rhine. For detailed information about the performances, those interested can visit the orchestergraben.com website.