When does the performance start?

The performance starts on 23.10.2026 at 19:30 in the Great House of the Duisburg Theater.

How long does The Chalk Circle last?

The planned duration is about 3 hours including an intermission.

Is the performance in German?

Yes, the opera will be performed in German with surtitles.

At what age is the piece recommended?

The performance is recommended from 14 years old.

What are the ticket prices?

According to the schedule, prices start at 20 euros; there are additional price tiers according to seating category.

Is the theater accessible?

The Duisburg Theater is a historic building with limited accessibility. There are ramps, a stair lift for wheelchair users, and designated disabled parking spaces on Moselstraße.

A rare opera evening full of intensity, truth, and poetic tension

Name: The Chalk Circle
Start: 2026-10-23T21:30:00+02:00
End: 2026-10-24T00:30:00+02:00
Location: Theater Duisburg – Großes Haus

An evening of opera between justice, seduction, and great stage magic

With Alexander Zemlinsky's The Chalk Circle, a rarely performed work returns to the main stage at the Duisburg Theater: an opera that bridges fairy tale, social drama, and sharply defined societal parable. On October 23, 2026, a music theater evening unfolds in the Great House, captivating the audience with late romantic richness, jazzy colors, and gripping dramaturgy.

A story of burning relevance

At the center is Haitang, who must endure abandonment, violence, and slander before the question of truth and motherhood sharpens within a chalk circle. Zemlinsky crafts an emotionally charged stage experience from Klabund's source material, infusing the old story with a startlingly modern intensity.

Sound between late romanticism and contemporary color

The music shimmers in iridescent colors: late romantic tension, distant gong sounds, cabaret hints, and echoes of jazz weave together to create a rarely unique opera score. It is this blend that gives the performance at the Duisburg Theater its special theatrical atmosphere, where orchestra, voices, and dramatic intensification form a dense web.

Direction with psychological sharpness

The production focuses on clear character direction and a precisely readable stage art. Direction, set design, costumes, and lighting interact to make visible the boundaries between power and compassion, fate and choice. Thus, an evening is created that not only tells but intensifies.

The Great House as a resonance space

The Duisburg Theater provides the ideal setting for this opera: the large hall with its concentrated acoustics and the historical aura of the house enhances the effect of each musical and scenic moment. Those seeking opera as an intense live experience will find an evening full of presence, tension, and strong audience reactions here.

Conclusion

The Chalk Circle promises a gripping opera evening in the Duisburg Theater with emotional depth, musical finesse, and a story that touches the heart. Anyone wishing to experience great stage art, compelling dramaturgy, and rarely performed music theater should not miss this date.