MAGIC AT HOLSTENTORPLASTE
I simply have a fantastic workplace. That much is certain! The view of the Holsten Gate and the tower of St. Petri Church is priceless all year round. The aroma of coffee and freshly baked cinnamon rolls from Café Schneckenhaus wafts through my office window every morning. And for the past few days, the unmistakable sound of Roncalli rehearsals has been added to the mix from midday onwards. How I've missed it! The blue and white striped tent, the lights, the anticipation. Yes, the Roncalli season in Lübeck has finally begun again. Yesterday, I had the pleasure of attending the premiere of this year's show, " ARTistART Lübeck ZWISCHENZEILEN
When the heart dances
A palpable sense of anticipation filled the air at the Holstentorhallen meadow. Visitors waited with bated breath before the entrance. A touch of magic hung in the air even before the curtain rose on an evening filled with wonder, laughter, and joy.
The visionary Roncalli founder, Bernhard Paul, made sure to personally greet the audience again this year. At his side was Lübeck's mayor, Jan Lindenau , who has never made a secret of his passion for the colorful world of the circus. Take a look at his private website, Circussammlung .
Roncalli has been telling stories since 1976 – without many words. Since 2008, they've also performed regularly in Lübeck. The Roncalli family always finds these performances within sight of the historic old town particularly delightful, because the people of Lübeck love "their" Roncalli Circus. " We don't want a spectacle, but a complete work of art – with attention to detail, with soul and a sense of beauty ," says Bernhard Paul. And that's exactly what was palpable yesterday.
We witnessed a sensitive and deeply moving performance. Every step, every note, every gesture seemed imbued with the delicate touch that characterizes great art, a quality that must be painstakingly cultivated time and time again. It's almost impossible to imagine the discipline the artists must possess to execute their acts in the ring with pinpoint accuracy. Whether juggling, contorting themselves, performing robot dances, slapstick, aerial acrobatics, or equilibristics, the highest level of concentration is required amidst the confetti, bubbles, and glitter. Roncalli's show crew once again demonstrated exceptional skill yesterday. These artists, some of whom have received multiple awards, have studied at renowned circus schools around the world and have continually perfected their performances.
The fact that they come from such diverse countries is part of the Roncalli philosophy. "Circus is magic. Culture. But also tolerance and respect." That's how whiteface clown Gensi , a crowd favorite who will celebrate his 20th Roncalli anniversary in 2025, put it last night. He had his hands full with his clumsy companions Matute and Canutito Junior , much to the delight of the opening night audience. His repeatedly announced "Concerto Classico" simply didn't happen. Matute and Canutito Jr. had their own musical ideas. Audience participation is another Roncalli trademark, guaranteed to elicit hearty laughter and a touch of schadenfreude.
holograms , projected onto a net via laser projectors, were once again a major attraction
It's wonderful, by the way, that the circus show is accompanied by its own orchestra. The eight-member Roncalli Royal Orchestra greeted guests at the entrance yesterday and then accompanied the captivating performances, in part with original compositions by the musical director, Hans Georg Pommer.
My personal highlight was the Chinese equilibrist Zhenyu Li , who joined the famous "China National Acrobatic Troupe" at the age of six. He demonstrated body control and strength of the highest perfection on two swaying pole towers, the so-called "high crutches." Simply magical!
I'm just barely able to do a handstand against the wall. That's probably one of the reasons why I'm sitting in this – admittedly wonderful – office and not traveling the world with the artists and the blue and white crew.
Don't miss this soothing journey into the magical world of Roncalli.!
Roncalli Circus Theatre
📍 More info at: roncalli.de
📸 Instagram: @circus-theater roncalli
🕒 Wednesday to Sunday, 2 shows per day
✉️ Tickets: Lübeck tour , running until August 31, 2025
