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Not just for musical fans: from January 2026, "Moulin Rouge" will be performing at Theater 11 in Zurich. There are at least five reasons to see the show.
"At Moulin Rouge! The Musical is an unprecedented musical firework display". This big announcement of the production, which will be touring Switzerland from January 2026, made me curious. I couldn't wait and have already visited the musical in London.
The plot: a cabaret singer from the "Moulin Rouge" is supposed to seduce the rich duke in order to save the legendary nightclub's finances. However, she mistakes him for a poor singer-songwriter and falls in love with him. A love story with a few scenes to make you smile.
This storyline of the musical is relatively simple, but there are various reasons not to miss the show - and not just for musical fans. I have summarized the five most important arguments:
The wow effect when you enter the theater can hardly be put into words. You are immersed in the electrifying world of Parisian nightlife around 1900. The sumptuously decorated space recreates the Moulin Rouge nightclub with all its glamour and opulence. And even during the show, various backdrops transport you into the world of bohemia.
Most of the songs are hits that everyone knows! Over 40 classics from the 1940s to the 2010s transform the musical into a varied homage to pop music. With songs by David Bowie, Elton John, Christina Aguilera, Sia, Lady Gaga and many others, the play invites young and old to sing along. But other musical genres also find their place in the show. For example, "Roxanne" by The Police is sung in a tango version and the recognizable opera song "Habanera" from Carmen is incorporated into scenes.
Ever since I saw the musical, I've known what a medley is: a piece of music that consists of parts of different songs that merge seamlessly into one another. In "Moulin Rouge" there is a particularly funny piece in which lines from various love songs by "The Beatles", "A-ha", "Tina Turner", "The Love Affair" and other chart breakers are combined. You don't have to be a great music connoisseur to recognize the individual hits. At another point, the hits "Shut Up and Dance" (Walk the Moon) and "Raise Your Glass" (P!nk) are unceremoniously combined to "Shut Up and Raise Your Glass".
The performers can dance - and how! In addition to the famous traditional can-can, for which the "Moulin Rouge" is world-famous, visitors can experience a whole range of expressive dance styles. In addition to the passionate tango, the dancers' ballet and jazz movements are captivating.
And perhaps not quite as high quality but at least as atmospheric: by the grand finale at the latest, the people sitting next to you and possibly you yourself will be dancing in their seats.
Shared experiences are known to be the best and therefore make an excellent Christmas present. This argument could of course be used for most events. However, the "Moulin Rouge" starts shortly after the holidays and would be the perfect gift for a wide variety of people. At the show in London, the audience was mainly between 20 and 50 years old. But my companions, including teenagers and seniors over 70, were also enthusiastic about the show.
I didn't really want to mention at this point that the production has won several awards, as this fact alone has no influence on the musical experience. But perhaps it underlines once again my assessment that "Moulin Rouge" is an absolute must for fans of pop music and spectacle. That's why I'm adding this sixth argument to my contribution.
Convinced? The tickets for "Moulin Rouge! The Musical" 2026 in Zurich are already on sale.