Classic Lounge Kicks Off Its 20th Season

The new season was presented to regular attendees on Monday evening, June 22, at the subscriber reception held at the Capitol Theater Offenbach. The exceptionally high turnout—with nearly 200 people in attendance at the Stadtwerke Offenbach event venue—shows that the concert series is striking the right chord with more and more people. “Nearly 350 guests—80 more than last season—have already renewed their subscriptions before they even knew the new program,” says Birgit von Hellborn happily. “Last season, we sold a total of 435 subscriptions, which—as has been the case for years—represents more than 50 percent of our total capacity.”

The architecture, ambiance, and atmosphere of the former synagogue on Goethestraße have also inspired his selection of pieces in its 20th year, explains Dr. Ralph Philipp Ziegler, the driving force behind the CCL and artistic director of the Capitol Symphony Orchestra (CSO). “The series serves to add another dimension—that of sound—to the fantastic Capitol building.” To kick off the season, the program on September 27 is dedicated to the fourth dimension: The mystery of “time” inspired composers such as Haydn and Ravel and shaped films like “Momo” and “Inception,” whose music will be performed that evening. The Capitol’s signature crossover style also includes songs by Rammstein and Enya, as well as arguably the most famous clock motif of all time—the Chimes of Westminster. “Legends” are the focus on November 1: The overture by the Offenbach-based composer and music publisher Johann Anton André for “The Hussites of Naumburg” is likely to be as new to the audience as the legend itself, while Mendelssohn’s “Scottish” Symphony No. 3 is a highly atmospheric tribute to the homeland of the legendary Queen Mary Stuart. A solo concerto for bassoon by “Star Wars” composer John Williams—who is fascinated by Celtic mythology—will be performed.

And once again, Christmas is just around the corner, with all its familiar songs and stories. “This year, the Advent season at the Capitol will have a more family-friendly atmosphere than ever before,” Ziegler announces. Members of the Volle family —singers and actors usually seen on the stages of major opera houses or on television—will sing moving traditional Christmas carols on December 6 and recite the Christmas story according to Luke, while the Capitol Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Judith Kubitz, performs some of the most beautiful Baroque Christmas works. The Classic Lounge is treating itself to a milestone birthday gift with the 20th Capitol Cinema Lounge: “As big Chaplin fans, we’ve already brought all of his famous silent films to Offenbach with live orchestral accompaniment,” says Ziegler. Now, on March 7, 2027, “The Great Dictator” will be shown with live music—“admittedly a sound film, but one that showcases Chaplin’s unique brilliance in pantomime.” Released in 1940, the film was particularly controversial in its confrontation with the murderous Nazi regime. The film score for live performances has been specially revised for this evening by Timothy Brook, the musical estate administrator for the Chaplin family. He will also be conducting in Offenbach himself.

The actual anniversary celebration is scheduled for April 11. The festival program “A Night at the Capitol” offers rich sounds and dazzling melodies, a tribute to the Capitol Theatre in New York, and the revival of an original concept that, according to Ziegler, led to “one of the greatest CCL evenings ever” in 2020: The “Skyfall Concerto” spectacularly celebrates the James Bond universe, and glittering, opulent orchestral sounds evoke the Broadway vibe of the 1920s. Ziegler was able to secure Sirintip, an experimental pop, jazz, and film music artist from New York, as the vocalist—and it is precisely this contrast, free of nostalgia, that will contribute to a truly special evening.

The anniversary season concludes on May 23 with “Stadt, Land, Swing.” British conductor, organist, and audience favorite Wayne Marshall returns to the Capitol stage for the seventh time and, for the first time, will also bring a wealth of music from his homeland. This includes the main theme from the “Miss Marple” films, the Welsh “Legend of Rihannon,” and a jazz-infused harpsichord concerto by Joseph Horowitz. Marshall, who performs almost all over the world, will once again demonstrate his ability to conduct and play the piano simultaneously in Offenbach with Gershwin’s lively “Concerto in F.”

The Capitol Symphony Orchestra is also active internationally: it has already developed projects with ARTE, as well as with cultural institutions in New York, Vienna, and Tel Aviv, among others. The “touch of glamour” that the Stadtwerke Group’s “magnificent venue” exudes with its festive atmosphere has now also enchanted China, Ziegler reports. The CSO gave eight concerts in China in the spring of 2026—and the audiences in those major cities were just as enthusiastic as the approximately 50 orchestra members. However, the heart of the CSO remains the Classic Lounge at its home base in Offenbach, assures its artistic director.

“The fact that we’ve been able to put on this high-quality concert series for 20 years now is only possible thanks to the support of sponsors, the Friends of the Capitol, and the Cultural Fund,” emphasizes Capitol Managing Director Birgit von Hellborn. In addition to Stadtwerke Offenbach, which has supported the CCL together with the city since its inception at the Capitol Theater in 2006, and the Frankfurt Rhine-Main Cultural Fund, other supporters include EVO, Sparkasse Offenbach, Messe Offenbach, the Dr. Marschner Foundation, and the Friends of the Capitol Theater Offenbach e.V. The association is made up of citizens who support the CCL series and other productions at the Capitol for a variety of cultural purposes.

Advance ticket sales with an exclusive seat guarantee based on existing subscriptions have already begun—new subscriptions will also be available starting July 6. The Capitol team handles both via email at infocapitol-onlinede or by phone at 069 / 82 90 02-24. Subscriptions for the six concerts—including one of the coveted seats at the 2027 Festival of Lights—are available at the following rates: Price Group I: 335 €, Price Group II: 269 €, Price Group III: 199 €. Single tickets cost between 22 and 66 euros. A 10 percent discount applies to schoolchildren, students (up to age 27), holders of the Volunteer Card, and people with disabilities (50% GdB or higher; a 20% discount applies for 80% GdB or higher). All prices include fees and the RMV combination ticket.