Overview
- Giovanni Zarrella recorded an open‑air five‑year anniversary episode on the ZDF‑Fernsehgarten grounds in Mainz on 8 August, using five separate stages across the Lerchenberg site.
- The special will air on ZDF on 29 August at 20:15 and will be available to stream in the ZDF‑Mediathek through 27 September.
- Producers faced tight timing and transport challenges because performers and Zarrella had to move between distant stages, with on‑site routing handled by foot and golf cart to hit musical cues precisely.
- The show assembles national and international guests such as Adam Lambert, Chris Norman, Andrea Berg, Andreas Gabalier and Sarah Brightman, included a last‑minute cancellation by Mark Medlock, and featured an on‑stage engagement by Neonlicht members Julian Fiege and Nadine Ellrich.
- Since launching in September 2021 the programme has become a recurring ZDF music staple, and this Lerchenberg experiment will shape whether future specials keep larger outdoor setups despite the added logistical and weather risks.