Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in Wismar

A Classical Music Festival for the Entire State

The Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern were founded in 1990 and are among Germany's major classical music festivals. Over the summer, more than a hundred concerts take place at venues throughout the state – castles, manor houses, churches, and barns are transformed into concert halls. The Hanseatic city of Wismar in the Nordwestmecklenburg district is one of the most established and charming venues.

Venues in Wismar

In Wismar, the festival primarily uses two locations. The St. George's Church, a Gothic brick basilica from the 14th century, offers an acoustic space of extraordinary effect with its high nave – symphonic and chamber music concerts are held here. The Old Harbour serves as an open-air stage: concerts by the water, against the backdrop of Hanseatic warehouses and ships, combine music with the maritime flair of the World Heritage old town.

From Classical Music to Jazz

The Wismar program of the festival is deliberately broad: in addition to orchestral and chamber music concerts featuring works from the classical and romantic periods, there are open-air evenings with jazz, chanson, and swing. Internationally acclaimed soloists perform for the Wismar audience, as do artists who combine the classical repertoire with other genres.

Music in a UNESCO World Heritage Site

The special appeal of the festival in Wismar lies in the interplay of music and location. Attending a concert in St. George's Church or at the Old Harbour means experiencing the city's brick Gothic architecture and Hanseatic heritage not as a museum, but as a vibrant resonance space for music – a hallmark of the Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.