International Organ Concerts St. Peter

International Organ Concerts St. Peter — Summer Tradition in the Hochschwarzwald

For decades, the International Organ Concerts St. Peter have been a firm fixture of summer church music in Southern Germany. The venue is the Baroque Church of St. Peter in the Hochschwarzwald (Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald district), one of the most beautiful baroque churches in Southern Germany. Every summer, organists from several countries come to the small monastery village to perform on the church's two significant organs.

The Two Organs — Klais and Rieger

The concert series is brought to life by two exceptional instruments: The large Klais main organ on the west gallery — extensively renovated in 2014 — offers an opulent, wide-ranging sound spectrum that perfectly fills the baroque architecture of the church. Next to it, in the choir, is the Rieger choir organ from 2015, a precise instrument for more intimate programs and for accompanying vocal and chamber music. Both instruments are used alternately and sometimes together in the series.

Program Profile — From Bach to Improvisation

Over the years, the program ranges from classical organ literature (Bach, Buxtehude, Mendelssohn, Reger, Messiaen) to contemporary works and free improvisations. Well-known concert dates in 2026 include:

• July 4, 2026, 7:30 PM — Opening concert with a connection to the 21st Solsberg Festival
• July 26, 2026 — Concert with Lambert Bumiller (piano) and Johannes Götz (organ)
• Further concerts throughout the summer with international soloists

A festive program strand includes four-hand and four-foot concerts — dual performances on one or both organs — as well as pairings with other instruments (harp, piano, trumpet).

The Baroque Church — Location and Acoustics

The former monastery church of St. Peter was built between 1724 and 1732 as a new monastery building for a Benedictine abbey. The architect was Peter Thumb, and the ceiling fresco was created by Franz Joseph Spiegler. The church is a major work of Southern German Baroque — and acoustically almost purpose-built for organ music: a long, high church space with balanced reverberation that carries the voices of the Klais organ deep into the space without blurring. Anyone who has heard a toccata in St. Peter will not forget the acoustics.

Hochschwarzwald — The Monastery Village Landscape

St. Peter, located about 14 km east of Freiburg at an altitude of 720 meters, is situated in the heart of the monastery village landscape of the Hochschwarzwald. The village itself is small, but the monastery complex is significant: besides the church, there is the magnificent library hall and the former monastery, which is now the spiritual center of the Archdiocese of Freiburg. Visitors attending a concert can combine the day with a hike in the Hochschwarzwald or a visit to Freiburg.