Eröffnung VOCAL ART 2026 – Am Anfang war das Wort

The opening of VOCAL ART Frankfurt RheinMain 2026 on 7 October 2026 at the WDC Hub of the Museum Angewandte Kunst Frankfurt is entitled In the Beginning Was the Word and is dedicated to the theme of democracy through the example of the Czech Republic, the Guest of Honour Country of the Frankfurt Book Fair 2026.

The programme explores music and language as expressions of cultural identity and social development. At its centre are works by Czech composers: Leoš Janáček’s Diary of One Who Disappeared for tenor, female voices and piano, as well as Bohuslav Martinů’s Petrklíč – duets on texts of Moravian folk poetry for soprano, alto, violin and piano. The programme is complemented by a tribute to Václav Havel and his central idea of “living in truth” on the occasion of his 90th birthday.

The selection of works reflects the historical development of the Czech Republic: following independence in 1918, the Czech language became a fundamental element of cultural self-determination. Even during the period of Soviet occupation, language remained an important carrier of identity, freedom and democratic consciousness.

With Czech tenor Petr Nekoranec, pianist Ahmad Hedar, the Frankfurt VOICES ensemble and the MUSIC CAMPUS Frankfurt RheinMain 2026, international artistic excellence meets regional support for young talent. The Frankfurt VOICES ensemble brings together outstanding singers dedicated both to solo performance and to the diverse repertoire of vocal ensemble music.

The opening concert thus establishes the artistic direction of VOCAL ART Frankfurt RheinMain 2026: music becomes a universal language that reflects historical experiences, creates cultural connections and brings democratic values to life.

The non-profit cultural association Bell’Arte Frankfurt RheinMain e. V., founded in 2008 and registered in Frankfurt, operates throughout the FrankfurtRheinMain metropolitan region, including parts of Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate. Its aim is to strengthen FrankfurtRheinMain as a shared cultural region. Since 2015, Bell’Arte has organised VOCAL ART Frankfurt RheinMain, the festival of the spoken and sung word in connection with the Frankfurt Book Fair.