Carl Orff Festival Andechs
Orff's stage works on the Holy Mountain above Lake Ammersee — from 'Der Mond' in the Florian-Stadl to Carmina Burana on horseback in the Kaltenberg Arena
About Orff Festival Andechs
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Orff's Legacy on the Holy Mountain
Carl Orff, one of the most significant German composers of the 20th century, wished for his final resting place to be in the pilgrimage church of Andechs Monastery. The monastery sees its international importance and Orff's last will as an obligation to keep his work alive at this consecrated site. Thus, in 1992 — on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of Orff's death — a "Weekend with Music" was initiated by Wilfried Hiller and Anselm Bilgri. In 1998, under Hellmuth Matiasek, it became an annual festival.
The Florian-Stadl
The venue is the Florian-Stadl, a former hay barn and pigsty at the foot of the Holy Mountain, which was converted into a festival hall between 1997 and 2000. The concert hall offers up to 580 seats in the stalls and 200 in the gallery — an intimate, atmospherically dense stage for Orff's world theatre.
Orff's Stage Works
The festival's repertoire includes Orff's central stage works: Carmina Burana, 'Die Kluge', 'Der Mond', 'Die Bernauerin', and 'Antigonae'. 'Die Bernauerin' was even presented at EXPO 2000 in Hanover as part of the festival. Today, the festival is in the hands of the Bavarian Philharmonic under its conductor Mark Mast.
From Song Recital to Carmina on Horseback
The festival spans a wide range: from a song recital in the historic Andechs Prince's Hall to the stage works in the Florian-Stadl, culminating in the grand finale at the Kaltenberg Arena, where Carmina Burana is performed in a spectacular equestrian version with around 30 horses, a quadriga, acrobatics, and fire effects. Combined with the famous monastery brewery and the pilgrimage site, Andechs is thus one of Bavaria's most unusual festival destinations.
Orff Festival Andechs — edition 2026
The 2026 edition spans just over a week. It opens on July 28 with a song recital in the historic Andechs Prince's Hall — Orff dedicated himself early to the song, and many of these pieces still await their premiere. The centerpiece is Orff's fairy-tale opera 'Der Mond' (1939, based on a Brothers Grimm fairy tale) in the Florian-Stadl of Andechs Monastery, performed on August 1 and 2, 2026, at 7 PM each, under the direction of Mark Mast with the choir, children's choir, and orchestra of the Bavarian Philharmonic. The grand finale on August 5 features Carmina Burana in a spectacular equestrian version with around 30 horses — including animals from the Spanish Riding School —, a quadriga, acrobatics, and fire effects.
Programme Orff Festival Andechs 2026
Tuesday, July 28, 2026 — Opening
- Song recital in the Andechs Prince's Hall: Songs by Carl Orff, many of them previously unperformed
Saturday, August 1, 2026, 7:00 PM — Florian-Stadl, Andechs Monastery
- Carl Orff: 'Der Mond' — Fairy-tale opera based on the Brothers Grimm
- Conductor: Mark Mast
- Choir, children's choir, and orchestra of the Bavarian Philharmonic
- Soloists include members of Singer Pur (Christian Meister, Manuel Warwitz, Jakob Steiner, Marcel Huber, Silas Bredemeier) as well as Christian Springer and Tobias Pfülb
Sunday, August 2, 2026, 7:00 PM — Florian-Stadl, Andechs Monastery
- Second performance of 'Der Mond' with the same cast
Wednesday, August 5, 2026 — Grand Finale, Kaltenberg Arena
- Carmina Burana on Horseback — Equestrian version with around 30 horses (incl. Spanish Riding School), quadriga, acrobatics, and fire effects
- Performers: Mendelssohn Vocal Ensemble, Tölzer Knabenchor, Salzburg Philharmonic, international vocal soloists
Highlights Orff Festival Andechs 2026
Prices Orff Festival Andechs 2026
Practical information — Orff Festival Andechs
Getting There
Kloster Andechs is located on the Holy Mountain above Lake Ammersee in Upper Bavaria (Starnberg district). Take the S-Bahn (S8) to Herrsching, then a bus or walk up the pilgrim's path to the mountain. By car, take the A 96 (exit Herrsching/Inning); parking is available at the monastery. The Kaltenberg Arena for the finale is near Geltendorf.
Tickets
Tickets and the full program are available at www.orff-festival.com and from the Bavarian Philharmonic. A visit to the festival can be combined with a meal at the Klostergasstätte Andechs.
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Travel to this festival
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Where it takes place Orff Festival Andechs
Florian-Stadl, Kloster Andechs