Music

visitberlin, Foto: Wolfgang Scholvien

Komische Oper Berlin

World of Music Concerts, Operas, and Festivals

Germany is one of the world's great classical music nations. World-famous composers were born in Germany and had their places of activity here. Outstanding opera houses as the Semperoper in Dresden or the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg and concert halls as the Gewandhaus in Leipzig or the Alte Oper in Frankfurt under the direction of exceptional conductors and with the participation of excellent orchestras and top-class artists offer an unique range of musical culture.

Music festivals take place throughout Germany all year round and offer classical music lovers many opportunities to enjoy exciting perfomances.

Concert of Moritzburg Festival

Johann Sebastian Bach

Johann Sebastian Bach is considered one of the most important composers in the history of music. Bach was a gifted organist and enormously productive. He wrote over 1000 pieces of music. His works are part of the established repertoire of classical music all over the world. Follow in the footsteps of his life, starting in Eisenach, the town of his birth. The Bach House Eisenach houses one of the most important exhibitions on Bach's life and music with over 300 original exhibits. The small hourly concerts on original instruments are unique. In Leipzig, where Bach lived from 1723 until his death in 1750, the Bach Museum and Bach Archive offers visitors a comprehensive insight into the composer's work. You should also see St. Thomas Church, where Bach held the office of cantor and taught the church's boys' choir. Bach concerts take place throughout the year. Pure Germany will be happy to inform you about the dates and venues.

Ludwig van Beethoven

Ludwig van Beethoven is considered one of the most outstanding composers in the history of music and is one of the most frequently performed composers in the world. He was born in Bonn in 1770, where he spent the first 22 years of his life. His birthplace is largely in its original state and is now a museum that houses the world's largest Beethoven collection with more than 150 original documents and exhibits. In the historic outbuilding, the Digital Beethoven House, visitors are offered a unique multimedia experience; in the historic vaulted cellar, the stage for music visualization transforms the space into a total work of art consisting of music and the virtual world. The Beethovenfest Bonn is one of the oldest and most important music festivals in Germany. Founded in 1845 by Franz Liszt, it pays tribute to the work and life of Ludwig van Beethoven in an innovative way every year in August and September.

Richard Wagner

Richard Wagner was already a disputed figure during his lifetime and is still viewed controversially today for various reasons. He redesigned the rules of opera, abandoning fixed musical forms and the predetermined relationship between voices and orchestra. His works had an impact far beyond the world of opera. In order to create the right setting for his opera performances, Wagner had the Festspielhaus Bayreuth built. The inauguration took place in August 1876 and was attended by Europe's political and cultural elite, including Kaiser Wilhelm I, Peter Tchaikovsky and Friedrich Nietzsche. Learn more about the unique architecture and acoustics of this special Opera house during a visit to the charming town of Bayreuth. Visit the Villa Wahnfried, Richard Wagner's former home, which now houses the Richard Wagner Museum, where the life and work of Richard Wagner, the history of the Bayreuth Festival and the impact of his work are documented. The composer's grave is also located on the estate.

The Organ Queen of instruments

Since 2017, organ music and organ building have been recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage, highlighting Germany's prominent role in the world of organ tradition. There are over 50,000 organs, most of which are in churches. Probably the oldest preserved organ in the world is in the German town of Ostönnen, and many world-famous organs are located in Germany. With its 17,974 pipes and 233 stops, the organ in Passau Cathedral is considered the largest Catholic church organ in the world and the largest organ in Europe. The Silbermann organ in Freiberg Cathedral, hardly altered for centuries and preserved in its original form, is regarded as the most famous baroque organ in the world. Nowhere else have so many compositions been written for the organ in recent centuries as in Germany - names such as Johann Sebastian Bach and Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy stand for this. Throughout Germany, there are numerous organ concerts throughout the year and top-class events lasting several days with internationally renowned organists – real highlights for organ lovers.

Johann Sebastian Bach Year 2025

The year 2025 marks the 275th anniversary of the death of the world-famous composer Johann Sebastian Bach. The baroque musician will be honored with special events and festivals in many places in Germany. Lots of concerts take place in the Bach churches of St. Thomas and St. Nikolai in Leipzig and in the Frauenkirche in Dresden, where Bach played the legendary Silbermann organ in 1736. We will be happy to provide you with information on the calendar of events.