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Culture and Arts

Halle is not the state capital. However, it is rightly called the “cultural capital” of Saxony-Anhalt. The reason: its varied and lively cultural scene, with an opera, ballet, theatre, classical music, music hall, cabaret, museums, galleries and cinemas. Halle literally is a cultural city.

Students and university members can vividly experience the entire cultural scene. As almost all of the university buildings are found in and around the city centre, the cultural institutions are only a few steps away.

Right next to the University Square (Universitätsplatz) is the "Cultural Island" (Kulturinsel), with the New Theatre (Neues Theater), Halle's main theatre. Here you can also find the Puppet Theatre (Puppentheater) – not only for children! – as well as a restaurant, café, and reading room. In the immediate vicinity of the university, you can also find the opera house (Opernhaus), where the complete spectrum of musical theatre – from opera to ballet to the musical – can be experienced. Both facilities, as well as the Thalia Theater, a children’s and youth theatre, offer many special rates for students.

Those who are interested in classical music can choose from two concert halls, which both have outstanding first-rate organs. Classical music is important to the cultural history of Halle, because the famous Baroque composer, George Frederick Händel, was born here. In honour of him, the Händel Festival (Händelfestspiele) takes place in Halle every year in June. It is a musical event that reaches far beyond the borders of Germany. To find out more about the life and accomplishments of this great musician, you can visit the Handel House Museum (Händel-Haus). Halle leaves barely any wishes unfulfilled, even for fans of jazz, rock or pop. It even has its own Beatles Museum.

For museum lovers, a must-see: the State Art Gallery (Landeskunstmuseum) of Saxony-Anhalt.  It is located in the Moritzburg, a castle in the centre of the city. The State Museum of Prehistory (Landesmuseum für Vorgeschichte) is well-known far beyond the borders of Germany, because of the sensational finding of the “sky disc” (Himmelscheibe) of Nebra.  The "sky disc" opened the way for a completely new perception of people, economy, society and religion in central Europe during the early Bronze Age. One can also study the history of the city in the State Museum of Prehistory.

There are many movie theatres: from the large cinema with 10 theatre halls to the small studio theatres, there is a great range of choices.

And don't forget the many galleries, large and small, which the School of Art and Design Burg Giebichstein uses to display their work, thereby keeping the fine arts ever present in Halle.

It is also important that students and university members have the opportunity to do extra-curricular activities. The university offers many options. To name just a few: the University Choir, with a repertoire ranging from folk songs to large classical choir works; the academic orchestra (classic in symphonic and chamber music instrumentation); the Uni-Bigband    (jazz and swing); and the student theatre. There are also many opportunities to do sports at the University Sports Centre – from volleyball to diving, from fencing to skiing, from martial arts to dance.

And who, after an exhausting university day or visit to the theatre, doesn't want to just sit down with friends and have a good conversation? The city centre offers many possibilities, with its numerous cafes, bars and beer gardens, where life stays lively, late into the night. It is especially nice in the warm summer months, when they open up their terraces, back yards and gardens for drinks, snacks and music in the open air.

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