Organ Concert

Orgelstunde am Karsamstag

Olivier Latry, Organ

Olivier Latry, one of the most acclaimed organists of our time, returns to play the organ at the Elbphilharmonie. As one of the organists of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, he represents one of the oldest and most important musical traditions in the history of music. This is reflected too in his programme, which consists exclusively of works by former Notre-Dame organists or, to put it another way, Latry’s esteemed predecessors. There is Louis Vierne, for example, whose organ symphonies rank among the undisputed highlights of symphonic organ music, and particularly his Third Symphony. It is probably the best known of the six and a work full of drama, lyricism and mysticism. Pierre Cochereau’s Boléro is equally well known and loved. Originally composed as an improvisation and only set down in writing at a later date, the legendary titulaire of Notre-Dame transformed a simple theme by one of his predecessors into an intoxicating orgy of sound. Olivier Latry also has a reputation for being a gifted improviser. This is a discipline traditionally cultivated in France, where he is regarded as a maestro full of inspiration and ideas. But before giving us a taste of this, we hear music by Jean-Pierre Leguay, one of Latry’s colleagues at Notre-Dame until 2016. Leguay is regarded as a composer keen to forge a path for musical tradition into the future. A masterful improviser himself, his innovative music often transgresses from firmly cemented traditions, picking up on these traditions in original ways at the same time.

Orgelexpedition Charles-Marie Widor

Charles-Marie Widor, a prominent French Romantic organist and composer, is renowned for his ten organ symphonies. He revolutionized organ music by incorporating symphonic structures and utilizing the full potential of Romantic organs. Organ Expeditions at Sophienkirche feature concerts and discussions on famous compositions and organ history, suitable for adults and school-aged children. Free admission.

Orgelexpedition

Charles-Marie Widor, a prominent French Romantic organist and composer, is renowned for his ten organ symphonies. He revolutionized organ music by incorporating symphonic structures and utilizing the full potential of Romantic organs. Organ Expeditions at Sophienkirche feature concerts and discussions about famous compositions and organ history, suitable for adults and school-age children. Maximilian Schnaus performs, and admission is free.

Angela Metzger

Organ matinee In memory of Jean Guillou

Slovakian organist Zuzana Ferjenčíková dedicates her debut concert on the organ of the Berlin Philharmonie Berlin to her teacher Jean Guillou, who died in 2019. Guillou performed on the the Philharmonie’s organ several times himself. His speciality: his own arrangements of famous orchestral works, with which he created unexpected orchestral timbres on the organ. Zuzana Ferjenčíková plays some of Guillou's most impressive arrangements, including the delicate “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” from Tchaikovsky's ballet The Nutcracker and Mussorgsky's powerful cycle Pictures at an Exhibition.

Organ matinee with Tobias Olofsson

Through Konserthuset’s popular organ matinée subscription, audiences get to hear Sweden’s leading organists play the building’s organ – one of the largest in Europe, with 6,100 pipes. Tobias Olofsson has been working as an organist in Nylöse parish in Gothenburg since 2003, where he also obtained his organist degree from the Academy of Music and Drama. Olofsson regularly performs concerts as an organ soloist, as well as in collaboration with symphony orchestras. He is also active as a pianist, accompanist, and arranger.He begins with Prelude and Fugue in A minor, one of Bach's most beloved and performed organ works. It features explosive drama and breathtaking virtuosity, with the fugue possessing an almost dance-like character. We also hear music by Elfrida Andrée, a pioneering figure in Swedish music. Andrée composed a series of works for organ, including the evocative and melodic Cantilena.As a contrast, Tobias Olofsson plays well-known themes from Star Wars and Piazzolla's evocative Oblivion and Libertango. He concludes with his own piece titled Improvisation, Passacaglia and Fugue in G minor.***You are welcome to eat or drink something before or after the organ concert. The bar in the Main Foyer is open at 11.45–12.15 and 13.15–14.15, offering a variety of delicious food and drinks in our beautiful surroundings.

Musik in der Sophienkirche: Orgelkonzert Megumi Hamaya

Japanese organist Megumi Hamaya, known for her technical brilliance and subtle playing, will perform at the Sophienkirche. The concert features her recently recorded CD's program, including Japanese works and world premieres by Ofer Ben-Amots and Emre Dündar, composed specifically for Hamaya. A video transmission will showcase the organist's impressive skills.

Insight Organ with Thomas Cornelius

As the name suggests, »Insight Organ« focuses on the »king of instruments«. How does an organ work? What is a windchest, what is a stop? Just a couple of the many questions that organist Thomas Cornelius answers clearly at this discussion concert at Brakula. The handful of organ pipes that he has with him and the organ samples on his computer enable him to give a deep insight into how this many-faceted instrument works. If you attended his course, you are sure to discover completely new sides to the king of instruments at your next organ concert: the Elbphilharmonie organ can be heard in all its splendour on 3 June 2025, with Iveta Apkalna operating the manuals and the pedalboard. The Elbphilharmonie’s »Insight« events give people deeper insights into musical phenomena. Experts in different fields explain aspects from their day-to-day work clearly and entertainingly and are happy to answer the public’s questions.

Organ and dance

There are organ concerts, and then there are very special organ concerts. When palace organist Olivier Latry joins forces with Shin-Young Lee on the keys, the magnificent sound of the concert hall organ becomes an even more impressive musical event. This time, the program includes works that were not originally written for the organ, but their polyphony and orchestral colors create a unique effect on this instrument. "Le sacre du printemps" by Igor Stravinsky is one of these works. And even the famous "Sunrise" from Ravel's "Daphnis et Chloé" gains a special colorfulness on the organ. By invitation of the Dresden Philharmonic Concert as part of the Dresden Music Festival

The power of brass, the might of the manuals

Although the organ is traditionally associated with sacred music and grand concerts, it can also be a fascinating complement to less typical chamber settings. The untypical combinations in this year’s organ concert series provide unique sounds and new, unexpected combinations. The result? We become more open to new interpretational possibilities and free experimenting. The programme of the concert, including pieces by Petr Eben, Otto Hoser, Thierry Escaich and Craig Phillips, shows how well the organ can sound paired with brass instruments and percussion. Hear it for yourselves: a fascinating richness of new possibilities! [Alexandra Kozowicz] Concert duration: approximately 50 minutes

Orgelstunde an Christi Himmelfahrt

Iveta Apkalna, organ

Iveta Apkalna pursues two milestones in organ music: Johann Sebastian Bach’s enormous Chaconne and César Franck’s ground-breaking »Grande pièce symphonique«, whose title alludes to the symphonic sound possibilities of the organ and fully exploits them. The titular organist of the Elbphilharmonie complements her solo programme with three further pieces, which also showcase »her« instrument in full splendour. Johann Sebastian Bach’s Chaconne was originally composed for violin. The contrapuntal entanglements which Bach created within it have, however, inspired several composers to arrange this work for organ. Also, the »Danse Macabre« by Camille Saint-Saëns, originally composed for voice and piano, only became famous in its orchestral version and sounds just as very wonderfully eerie on the organ. César Franck dedicated his »Prélude, fugue et variation« to his friend and organ colleague Saint-Saëns; the three movements seem very different and yet hang together thematically. As one of the forefathers of organ symphony, Franck is at the inception of a development which had far-reaching consequences for organ building and organ music: to this day (and so also at the Elbphilharmonie), the thousand organ pipes of one instrument should ideally cover the full range of symphonic sound. Iveta Akpalna, who, as the titular organist, knows the Elbphilharmonie organ like hardly anyone else, can exploit the entire colourful richness of the instrument to perfectly set the scene for each piece of her programme.

Gembalski / Organ improvisations / From the baroque to the present day

What did his principals most frequently reprimand Johann Sebastian Bach for? For his musical improvisations between parts of a service being too long. Such improvised organ interludes, fantasias and capriccios provided inspiration for the creation of organ concertos. Today, we also enjoy improvised jazz concerts – let us remember that it all began with the baroque, and musicians such as Leszek Możdżer owe Bach more than we might think. Prof. Julian Gembalski’s recital is such a return to the improvised organ roots and to a spontaneous expression of genius. It is a tribute to the rich tradition, transporting listeners to times, when music was created here and now, before the audiences’ very eyes and in their ears. [Alexandra Kozowicz]Concert duration: approximately 80 minutes

Merseburger Hofmusik, Michael Schönheit Leitung/Orgel

Orgel-Matinee am Pfingstmontag

Orgelpräsentation für Familien

Musik in der Sophienkirche: Orgelkonzert Maximilian Schnaus

The concert centers around Olivier Messiaen's "Messe de la Pentecôte" from 1951, a modern organ music masterpiece combining Pentecostal mysticism with Messiaen's unique musical language: birdsongs, complex rhythms, and luminous harmonies. The program is complemented by Pentecostal works by Martin Herchenröder, known for his powerful and innovative organ works. And, of course, Johann Sebastian Bach, whose works significantly shaped sacred and organ music, will also be featured. Video projections in the nave provide a close-up view of the organists' fascinating handiwork during the organ concerts at Sophienkirche.

Organo con stromenti

Orgelwanderung

Essen is blessed with magnificent organs, which can be admired year-round during services, celebrations, or concerts. The "Organ Hike" offers a unique opportunity to experience three organs up close and learn about their history. The tour starts at the Essen Philharmonic, moves to Kreuzeskirche, and concludes at Essen Cathedral, showcasing each venue's unique instrument.

Orgelexpedition "Königliche Klänge"

Discover the "King of Instruments" through an engaging concert-conversation exploring its majestic sounds and rich history. Famous compositions and stories of prominent organists will be presented in the Sophienkirche, suitable for adults and school-aged children. Free admission.

Interstellar

Film music on the concert organ, how does that work together? Anna Lapwood herself says: "In recent years, I have increasingly stopped defining music by genres, and started thinking about what music brings joy to me and my listeners. The boundaries between genres are so flexible anyway, and it's really fun to experiment with blurring these boundaries even more." You can feel this joy in this concert as well, when she plays her transcriptions from the films "The Da Vinci Code," "Interstellar," and "Pirates of the Caribbean" (Hans Zimmer) and "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" (Alan Menken). In addition, classics such as the famous Prelude by Johann Sebastian Bach, which was turned into "Ave Maria" by Charles Gounod, and Benjamin Britten's "Four Sea Interludes" from the opera "Peter Grimes" can be heard, as well as new works written for Anna Lapwood.

Organ and Tuba Quartet

In our traditional organ concert on New Year's Eve, the queen of instruments and four tubas come together in an unusual combination. Together, Katharina Königsfeld and the Melton Tuba Quartet present well-known classics in a new light. From the delicate, dance-like melodies of Tchaikovsky's "Flower Waltz," to the rapid Allegro from Rossini's overture of the opera "William Tell" with its dramatic energy, to Badinerie and March by Bach - the artful arrangements for organ and tuba also make his music shine in completely new colors. From profound passages to festive sounds - this evening is a musical highlight that bids farewell to the old year with style and energetically accompanies you into the new year! By invitation of the Dresden Philharmonic.

Bach Reger Bruckner

Raphael Attila Vogl demonstrates the diverse sounds of the organ in a program that brings works from Bach to Bruckner to life through impressive transcriptions. The opening piece is Carl Maria von Weber's Overture to "Der Freischütz," which surprises with dramatic contrasts and a romantic sound ideal - in the version for organ, it unfolds with an almost orchestral force. Johann Sebastian Bach's Third Brandenburg Concerto in G major, originally intended for strings, becomes a virtuosic challenge in the organ transcription, emphasizing the clarity and brilliance of the Baroque period. With an excerpt from Max Reger's String Quartet in E-flat major, Vogl adds a chamber music touch that preserves the sonic intimacy of the original while exploring the vastness of the instrument. The conclusion is the finale from Anton Bruckner's Symphony No. 8 - a monumental work whose transcendent power gains even more grandeur in the organ arrangement. Invited by the Dresden Philharmonic.