International Concerts in Neresheim Abbey Church

Concerts in a Balthasar Neumann Masterpiece

Neresheim Abbey is a Benedictine monastery in the Ostalb district on the eastern edge of the Swabian Jura. Its Abbey Church, built between 1747 and 1792 to designs by Balthasar Neumann, is one of Southern Germany's most important Baroque structures — on the UNESCO tentative list, a mandatory chapter in any art history of German Late Baroque. Its acoustics are legendary; the Holzhey organ from 1797 is considered one of the most beautiful preserved Baroque organs in Europe. It is precisely in this space that the three International Concerts of the Abbey will take place in the summer of 2026 — a concert series that embeds top-class music into the sonic environment of the building.

Concert 1: Philharmonischer Chor Schwäbisch Gmünd (July 26)

The series in 2026 kicks off on Sunday, July 26, 2026, at 4 p.m. with the Philharmonischer Chor Schwäbisch Gmünd. The choir is a well-known entity in Southern Germany — highly regarded for its quality, with a repertoire ranging from Renaissance polyphony to Romantic oratorios and contemporary choral works. In Neresheim Abbey Church, with its long reverberation time, the sacred repertoire in particular unfolds fully — concerts like these are an acoustic experience unparalleled in today's concert hall world.

Concert 2: Royal Academy of Music London (August 30)

The highlight of the series — and the actual reason for calling them "International Concerts" — is the performance on Sunday, August 30, 2026, at 4 p.m.: Students and professors from the Royal Academy of Music London, one of the world's oldest and most prestigious music conservatories (founded 1822, Royal Charter since 1830), will be guests in Neresheim. The program typically includes chamber music, solo pieces, and smaller ensemble works from the international repertoire's top tier. A rare opportunity to experience talented young musicians from the Royal Academy nearby.

Concert 3: Trumpet & Holzhey Organ (September 20)

The series in 2026 concludes on Sunday, September 20, 2026, at 4 p.m. with a concert featuring Thomas Reiner (trumpet) and Jürgen Benkö (organ). The Holzhey organ will be showcased to its full potential here — built in 1797, it has 49 stops and is considered one of the best-preserved Baroque organs in Southern Germany. The trumpet-organ combination is a classic concert formation, with repertoire ranging from Vivaldi and Telemann to contemporary composers. A program classic that is particularly effective in the acoustics of the Abbey Church.