Bach Weeks at Hamburg's St. Michael's Church

A Soundscape Under the Baroque Dome

When St. Michaelis Church – affectionately called "Michel" by Hamburgers – opens its doors for the Bach Weeks, the city's landmark becomes a world-class concert hall. The Baroque church in Hamburg's Neustadt district, with its 132-meter-high tower and the famous 1962 Steinmeyer organ, offers acoustics that have fascinated musicians for generations. For three weeks, the focus is on Johann Sebastian Bach, his contemporaries, and his influence on later composers.

Mozart's World – The Theme for 2026

The 2026 edition, under the title "Mozart's World – Symphonies and Arias," dedicates itself to an unusual approach to Bach: the composer who, a few years after Bach's death, received his legacy and continued it with his own means. The renowned Freiburg Baroque Orchestra, with soprano Siobhan Stagg, will open the festival with a Mozart program of symphonies and arias. The Long Bach Night with free admission, crypt concerts with chamber ensembles, an organ concert featuring Bach's works, and the performance of Franz Schmidt's oratorio "Das Buch mit sieben Siegeln" (The Book with Seven Seals) will round out the program.

Ten Concerts, Spanning from Baroque to Modernity

• Opening concert with the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra and soprano Siobhan Stagg
• Long Bach Night with free admission – Bach chamber music throughout the church
• Crypt concerts with specialist ensembles in the historic crypt of the Michel
• Solo organ concert on the Steinmeyer organ
• Franz Schmidt's "Das Buch mit sieben Siegeln" as the grand finale
• Closing service with Johannes Brahms' "Ein deutsches Requiem"
• Cantata services on Sundays featuring works from Bach's Leipzig years

A Hamburg Musical Institution

The Bach Weeks are organized by Michel-Musik, the concert operations of St. Michaelis Church. The Michel cantor, the Michel Orchestra, and the St. Michaelis Chamber Choir form the core ensemble, supplemented by invited soloists and ensembles. The Michel itself is not just a venue but part of the performance: the acoustics, architecture, and history of the landmark shape the sound.

Hamburg-Neustadt as a Cultural Center

St. Michaelis Church is located in the Neustadt district within the Hamburg-Mitte borough, in close proximity to the Speicherstadt, the Elbphilharmonie, and the Reeperbahn. Those planning a festival visit can easily combine it with other Hamburg cultural highlights. Tickets go on sale in mid-June.