When does the performance take place?

The performance is on 11.10.2026 at 18:30 at the Duisburg Theatre – Grand House.

How long does The Chalk Circle last?

The performance lasts about 3 hours including an intermission.

In which language is it sung?

The opera is performed in German with subtitles.

What age is the work recommended for?

The theatre recommends attending from the age of 14.

What is the ticket price?

Tickets are available from €22.50.

Is the theatre accessible?

The Duisburg Theatre is a historic building with limited accessibility; there are wheelchair spaces and disabled parking spaces on Moselstraße.

Zemlinsky's The Chalk Circle unfolds sound, conflict, and strong images at the Duisburg Theatre

Name: The Chalk Circle
Start: 2026-10-11T20:30:00+02:00
End: 2026-10-11T23:30:00+02:00
Location: Theater Duisburg – Großes Haus

A rarely performed opera evening between fairy tales, power, and music

Alexander Zemlinsky's The Chalk Circle brings a work to the stage at the Duisburg Theatre that oscillates between poetic realism, social drama, and shimmering sound fantasy. The opera tells the story of Haitang, who endures injustice, violence, and slander until the question of justice presents itself with painful clarity within a chalk circle.

A material with sharp edge and great imagery

The origin of the work traces back through Klabund's play to a Chinese singspiel from the 14th century. Zemlinsky fashioned an opera in three acts from it, which combines late romantic warmth with jazz inflections, gong colors, and cabaret moments. Exactly therein lies the fascination: The stage experience swings between fairy tale enchantment and bitter social diagnosis.

Musical finesse and scenic tension

At the center lies not only the fate of a woman but also the question of how music can make truth visible. The score shimmers between Strauss and Mahler, while simultaneously opening up a sound space reminiscent of Kurt Weill. For the production by David Bösch, this promises a theatrical atmosphere where direction, dramaturgy, light, and set design are put to the test.

Large house, great feelings

The Duisburg Theatre provides the perfect setting for this evening: a historic grand building with impressive architecture, central location, and a long tradition of opera. Anyone looking for an opera that is not told smoothly but rather charges questions of love, power, and justice with musical intensity will find an extraordinary evening here.

Conclusion

The Chalk Circle promises in Duisburg a compelling operatic experience with strong imagery, sonic finesse, and emotional impact. Those who love rarely performed repertoire, demanding directorial work, and great ensemble artistry should experience this date live.