The “Toddler Concert” has become a permanent fixture in the Ruhrfestspiele repertoire. In a relaxed atmosphere, young and old alike can listen to the music that surrounds them. The “classical” concert situation is dissolved: the young listeners—right at the center of the action—are allowed to crawl, sit, dance, or lie down while the musicians of Musa! ensemble perform works by Debussy, Handel, or Schumann around them. Music educator Andrea Apostoli is convinced that music is a universal language that even the youngest children understand intuitively, without the music having to be “small” or “simplified.” For Ruhrfestspiele 2026, the “Toddler Concert” is moving into Bürgerhaus Süd for the first time. With its bright rooms that offer a fantastic view of the surrounding parkland, this beautiful brick building in Recklinghausen-Süd promises to be a wonderful backdrop for our musical journey.