University “Long Night of Democracy”: Get-Together in Haus Buhl

Musical numbers and the opportunity to socialize with personal conversations feature on the program of the final event of the “Long Night of Democracy” on Friday, 2 October 2026. Heidelberg University is hosting this get-together in its recently opened Haus Buhl – Heidelberg Forum Democracy, Science and Society. Besides those organizing and contributing to the whole action day, all interested citizens are also welcome. Georg Kreisler’s sharp-tongued song “Mit dem Rücken gegen die Wand” (Back against the wall) is the motto of the musical program later in the evening, put together by musicians and singers under the leadership of University Music Director Michael Sekulla. The gathering in the Hall of Mirrors and garden of Haus Buhl (Hauptstraße 232/234) begin as early as 7.30 p.m. and will be accompanied by jazz guitarist Marcus Armani and Simon Schallwig on the double bass.

The “Long Night of Democracy” is a state-wide event featuring many different formats that encourage people to meet up, engage in discussion and get involved – organized by a host of initiatives, associations, institutions and enthusiastic representatives of civil society. While others follow on Saturday and Sunday, the Heidelberg offerings around the topics of democracy and societal participation on 2 October are concluding with the get-together in Haus Buhl, Ruperto Carola’s event and conference venue in the heart of Heidelberg’s Old City. Haus Buhl is home to the Heidelberg Forum Democracy, Science and Society recently established by the university Rectorate.

For the musical part from 9.30 p.m. Michael Sekulla and his team have put together a selection of profound-entertaining and sarcastic-satirical works mainly from the first half of the 20th century – Brecht songs arranged by Kurt Weill and Hanns Eisler along with chansons by Friedrich Hollaender or “Everblacks” by Georg Kreisler. They will include, for example, “The Ballad of Mack the Knife” from Brecht’s “Threepenny Opera” and Hollaender’s classic “Wenn ich mir was wünschen dürfte” (If I could wish for something) or Kreisler’s “Kapitalistenlied” (Capitalist song). The performers are Sarah Gros, Heidi Sekulla and Matthias Eschli (vocal), Franz-Jürgen Dörsam (bassoon) and Michael Sekulla (piano).