Extreme heat:
This weekend’s performances by Ballett am Rhein at the Düsseldorf Opera House and the Duisburg Theatre have been cancelled
Due to the current heatwave, with temperatures expected to reach 40 degrees in Düsseldorf and Duisburg this weekend, the Deutsche Oper am Rhein has cancelled two performances by the Ballett am Rhein. The cancellations affect the performance of “Endstation Sehnsucht” at the Düsseldorf Opera House on Friday 26 June 2026, as well as the three-part ballet programme “Signaturen” at the Duisburg Theatre on Saturday 27 June 2026. The opera premiere of Giuseppe Verdi’s “Il trovatore” on Saturday and the performance of Rossini’s “La Cenerentola” on Sunday (both at the Düsseldorf Opera House) will, however, go ahead; nevertheless, the two introductory talks and the traditional public premiere celebration on Saturday have been cancelled, as the foyers are not air-conditioned. The “Symphoniker im Foyer” concert, scheduled for Sunday 28 June 2026 at 11.00 am, will be moved to the Neanderkirche.
“Following a thorough analysis of the available data and continuous monitoring of the weather forecasts, we must assume that, this weekend, temperatures on stage during performances will reach levels unprecedented to date. Consequently, in close consultation with the artistic director of the Ballett am Rhein and with a heavy heart, we feel compelled to cancel the two ballet performances. Safety and health protection are our top priority,” said Alexandra Stampler-Brown, Managing Director of the Deutsche Oper am Rhein. “The forecast temperatures are already extremely challenging for all the artists involved in an opera performance, our technical staff and all other employees. For the dancers of the Ballett am Rhein, given the exceptionally high physical demands placed on them, these temperatures pose an acute health risk,” added Marwin Wendt, Artistic Director of the Deutsche Oper am Rhein.
Background: Neither the Düsseldorf Opera House (built in 1875 / reopened in 1956) nor the Duisburg Theatre (built in 1912 / reopened in 1950) are structurally designed to accommodate performances during long periods of extreme outdoor heat; in these historic buildings, which are in need of refurbishment, technical cooling systems are only present in the auditoriums, but not on stage or in the backstage areas. Due to the prolonged extreme weather conditions, the air on the stages heats up more quickly and intensely during performances – as a result of radiant heat from, amongst other things, spotlights, stage equipment and the auditoriums – than was the case in previous seasons during the summer months.
The Deutsche Oper am Rhein will contact ticket holders for the two cancelled ballet performances directly. Those who purchased tickets through an external ticket office or a visitor organisation are asked to contact them directly.
“Following a thorough analysis of the available data and continuous monitoring of the weather forecasts, we must assume that, this weekend, temperatures on stage during performances will reach levels unprecedented to date. Consequently, in close consultation with the artistic director of the Ballett am Rhein and with a heavy heart, we feel compelled to cancel the two ballet performances. Safety and health protection are our top priority,” said Alexandra Stampler-Brown, Managing Director of the Deutsche Oper am Rhein. “The forecast temperatures are already extremely challenging for all the artists involved in an opera performance, our technical staff and all other employees. For the dancers of the Ballett am Rhein, given the exceptionally high physical demands placed on them, these temperatures pose an acute health risk,” added Marwin Wendt, Artistic Director of the Deutsche Oper am Rhein.
Background: Neither the Düsseldorf Opera House (built in 1875 / reopened in 1956) nor the Duisburg Theatre (built in 1912 / reopened in 1950) are structurally designed to accommodate performances during long periods of extreme outdoor heat; in these historic buildings, which are in need of refurbishment, technical cooling systems are only present in the auditoriums, but not on stage or in the backstage areas. Due to the prolonged extreme weather conditions, the air on the stages heats up more quickly and intensely during performances – as a result of radiant heat from, amongst other things, spotlights, stage equipment and the auditoriums – than was the case in previous seasons during the summer months.
The Deutsche Oper am Rhein will contact ticket holders for the two cancelled ballet performances directly. Those who purchased tickets through an external ticket office or a visitor organisation are asked to contact them directly.