When does the event take place?

On December 8, 2026, at 7:30 PM.

Where is the concert?

In the Red Hall of JGU - University of Music, Jakob-Welder-Weg 28, 55128 Mainz.

What can the audience expect?

An evening concert with a lecture, vocal ensemble, works by Hoffmann and Palestrina, as well as a premiere of Hoffmann's Harp Quintet in a new arrangement.

Is the event accessible?

Information about accessibility should generally be checked with the organizer; the Mainz event page refers to the website of the respective organizer.

Mainz Experiences E.T.A. Hoffmann Anew: An Evening Concert Between Dream, Sound, and Fantasy

Name: Dream Worlds – E.T.A. Hoffmann for His 250th Birthday
Start: 2026-12-08T20:30:00+01:00
End: 2026-12-08T22:30:00+01:00
Location: JGU - Hochschule für Musik, Roter Saal

An Evening Between Fantasy, Music, and Romance

For the 250th birthday of E.T.A. Hoffmann, the Mainz University of Music invites you to a concert evening that brings the poet, composer, and music thinker to life in all his facets. On December 8, 2026, chamber music, vocal ensembles, and insightful arrangements will fill the Red Hall of HfM Mainz with a program that brings Hoffmann's dream worlds to life. ([mainz.de](https://www.mainz.de/info-networking-event?id=168748&p=sig%3A14ER2VcKGfdY2g6X%2C1330%2C1546%2C49600%2C%2Fangebote-entdecken%2Ffreizeit%2Ffeste-und-veranstaltungen%2Fveranstaltungskalender.php%2C1428))

When Literature Becomes Sound

The first part of the evening is dedicated to Hoffmann's writing Old and New Church Music as well as the novel The Devil's Elixirs. Accompanied by a vocal ensemble, works by Hoffmann and Palestrina come into dialogue, connecting the historical depth of Romanticism with the precision of vocal sound culture. This unique blend of analysis and performance gives the concert evening a special authority. ([mainz.de](https://www.mainz.de/info-networking-event?id=168748&p=sig%3A14ER2VcKGfdY2g6X%2C1330%2C1546%2C49600%2C%2Fangebote-entdecken%2Ffreizeit%2Ffeste-und-veranstaltungen%2Fveranstaltungskalender.php%2C1428))

A Harp Quintet as a Premiere Moment

The focus of the second part is on Hoffmann's Harp Quintet. The newly created arrangement for guitar duo and string quartet will be premiered this evening and promises a finely balanced orchestration between string sound, transparency, and chamber music tension. With students from the Mainz University of Music and under the direction of Prof. Dr. Immanuel Ott, a concert experience emerges that is both academically grounded and emotionally immediate. ([mainz.de](https://www.mainz.de/info-networking-event?id=168748&p=sig%3A14ER2VcKGfdY2g6X%2C1330%2C1546%2C49600%2C%2Fangebote-entdecken%2Ffreizeit%2Ffeste-und-veranstaltungen%2Fveranstaltungskalender.php%2C1428))

Free Admission, a Great Stage for a Great Idea

The concert evening begins on Tuesday, December 8, 2026, at 7:30 PM in the Red Hall of JGU - University of Music in Mainz. Admission is free. This opens a powerful cultural moment for all who want to not just read E.T.A. Hoffmann but rediscover him anew in music and atmosphere. Those who appreciate romantic sound colors, academic depth, and a live atmosphere should mark this date firmly. ([mainz.de](https://www.mainz.de/info-networking-event?id=168748&p=sig%3A14ER2VcKGfdY2g6X%2C1330%2C1546%2C49600%2C%2Fangebote-entdecken%2Ffreizeit%2Ffeste-und-veranstaltungen%2Fveranstaltungskalender.php%2C1428))

At the end is an evening that convincingly brings together literary history, musicology, and vibrant stage practice. This concert portrays Hoffmann not as a monument but as an inspiring presence. Experience it live in Mainz now. ([mainz.de](https://www.mainz.de/info-networking-event?id=168748&p=sig%3A14ER2VcKGfdY2g6X%2C1330%2C1546%2C49600%2C%2Fangebote-entdecken%2Ffreizeit%2Ffeste-und-veranstaltungen%2Fveranstaltungskalender.php%2C1428))