The 35th Kurt Weill Festival will take place from 26 February to 14 March 2027 under the theme “More Than Words”. The theme marks the centenary of the first meeting between Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht, which gave rise to one of the most important artistic partnerships of the 20th century. Building on this legacy, this year’s festival will focus on the distinctive interplay between words and music.
“For many years, the Kurt Weill Festival has combined Kurt Weill’s musical legacy with contemporary artistic perspectives. This year’s theme, ‘More Than Words’, illustrates the power of words and music when they come together,” said Ingrid Spletter-Weiß, Member of the Managing Board of NORD/LB. “At a time when we are exposed to an ever-growing volume of information, arts and culture create space for dialogue and fresh perspectives. As the Landesbank for Saxony-Anhalt, we are therefore very pleased to continue supporting the Kurt Weill Festival in 2027.”
This year’s Kurt Weill Festival will feature 77 events at 23 venues. The programme ranges from concerts, musical theatre and readings to exhibitions presenting projects by emerging artists. It includes works by Kurt Weill, film scores and songs by Marlene Dietrich and David Bowie.
The 2027 Artist in Residence is Sven Ratzke, whose work combines cabaret, chanson and a range of concert formats. Ratzke will open the festival on 26 February at the Anhaltisches Theater Dessau, accompanied by the Anhaltische Philharmonie Dessau under the direction of Markus L. Frank.
Attracting around 20,000 visitors each year, the Kurt Weill Festival has long been one of Saxony-Anhalt’s major cultural events.
NORD/LB regards the promotion of arts and culture in Saxony-Anhalt as an important part of its wider social commitment. As the Landesbank for Saxony-Anhalt, the bank has longstanding ties to the state and supports projects in communities across the region.
About NORD/LB
NORD/LB Norddeutsche Landesbank is one of Germany’s leading commercial banks, and a pioneer in renewable energy project finance since the 1990s, across more than 30 markets. As an institute under public law, it is part of the S-Finance Group. Its core business segments include corporate customers, special financing in the energy and infrastructure sectors, financing commercial real estate via Deutsche Hypo, capital market business, association business with the savings banks, and private and commercial customers including private banking. The bank is based in Hanover, Braunschweig, and Magdeburg and has branches in Oldenburg, Hamburg, Schwerin, Düsseldorf, and Munich. Outside Germany, NORD/LB is represented by a Pfandbrief bank (NORD/LB Covered Bond Bank) in Luxembourg and by branches in London and New York.
