Opening Night: “Last Call – Final Round” celebrates German Premiere in Hamburg
18. February 2026
What happens when two of the greatest conductors of the 20th century meet by chance? The answer is delivered by “Last Call – Final Round” by Peter Danish, which celebrated its acclaimed German-language premiere on February 18, 2026, at the Hamburg Kammerspiele.
Director Gil Mehmert stages the play—based on a true story—about a 1988 encounter between Leonard Bernstein and Herbert von Karajan in the Blue Bar of Vienna’s Hotel Sacher as a witty verbal duel about art, vanity, and morality. Helen Schneider shines as Bernstein, Lucca Züchner as Karajan. The decision to cast two women proves to be a masterstroke. Countertenor Victor Petersen completes the ensemble as the waiter and a dazzling Maria Callas.
Following its 2025 Off-Broadway premiere, apiro entertainment now brings the production to the stage in its original cast, in a co-production with the Hamburg Kammerspiele—beginning with a successful opening run of seven performances in Hamburg.
Himmel und Kölle
January 2026
“Himmel & Kölle,” an award-winning comedy musical by apiro Entertainment, has been thrilling audiences since 2020 with over 500 performances and more than 192,000 viewers. The plot revolves around Elmar, a young priest from the countryside who discovers Cologne’s nightlife and reaches the limits of his faith. The humorous yet thought-provoking story has won numerous awards, including four categories at the German Musical Theater Awards. Performances will take place at the Volksbühne am Rudolfplatz until March 29, 2026. The musical will return to the Volksbühne am Rudolfplatz in November 2026 and will once again captivate audiences with several innovations and new special guests.
Media inquiries may be directed to the Public Cologne team
Media-Contact
Public Cologne GmbH
Agentur für Public Relations
Gertrudenstrasse 9, 50667 Köln
Tel: (+49) 221 27 2026-2
Fax: (+49) 221 27 20 26-1
Email: info(at)publiccologne.de