"ERSTE LETZTE SEKUNDE" (PREMIERE)

Galas are a relic of an era when glamorous public ceremonies were staged with enormous effort and watched or attended by millions. There were gigantic decorations, orchestras, ballets, international star guests, showers of gold, wind machines, and elegantly silver-haired hosts with a wry sense of humour.

Galas still exist today - probably more of them than ever. But they compete in ever-identical formats, interchangeable scripts for hosts and acceptance speeches, and stage designs straight out of Dubai. Absurd trophies are handed out for individual and group achievements in film, music, and theatre, alongside lifetime achievement awards and prizes for civic courage.

When Christoph Marthaler directs a gala, people are still honoured between the overflowing bouquets on either side of the stage - but this particular gala is really only concerned with itself, celebrating the very nature of the gala in every conceivable sound, form, and colour. Past, present, and future of this art form merge into a single first last second. And because homo sapiens handles that kind of thing poorly, a question immediately arises: what can the gala do that we cannot? Does it offer comfort in the difficult moments of change, farewell, and new beginnings? Yes and no - because as we all know, it is not the gala that passes, but always, again and again, the individual human being.

A co-production of Internationales Sommerfestival Kampnagel, Lausitz Festival, and Symphoniker Hamburg.