38th International Organ Cycle Frankfurt (Oder)

St. Gertrude's Church — Gothic Brick Cathedral

St. Gertrude's Church in the center of Frankfurt (Oder) is one of the most impressive examples of North German Brick Gothic in Brandenburg. It was built between 1253 and the 15th century; its west tower ensemble has shaped the cityscape of the Oder city for centuries. The interior, with its slender nave and high Gothic lighting, creates a unique acoustic for late Romantic to contemporary organ literature.

Seven Concerts Between June and September

The 2026 International Organ Cycle, in its 38th edition, runs from June 23 to September 15. Six organ concerts and an opening evening for voice and organ form the program — every Tuesday at 8:00 PM, every two weeks. This stable, traditional structure allows regular visitors to plan the entire series, and weekend guests from Berlin (RE1 hourly) to connect with a summer evening in Frankfurt (Oder).

International Soloists and Thematic Programs

The series opens on June 23, 2026, with the program “Wir sehen jetzt durch einen Spiegel” (We now see through a mirror) — baritone Stefan Adam and cathedral organist Dietrich Modersohn present works for voice and organ. This is followed by six concerts with international soloists: Thorsten A. Pech (Wuppertal, July 7), Sara Musumeci (July 21), Stefan Donner (August 4), Lilo Kunkel (August 18), Sonja Betten (September 1), and an experimental closing concert “Improvisations for Saxophone, Percussion, and Organ” on September 15 with Warnfried Altmann, Hermann Naehring, and Stephan Hardt.

Tradition Since 1989

The Frankfurt (Oder) Organ Cycle is one of the oldest continuous concert series in the region. Since 1989, the Protestant parish of St. Gertrude, under the direction of church musicians, has organized the program — a constant in the cultural landscape of the twin city Frankfurt (Oder)/Słubice. The series is part of a broad range of church music offerings, including cantatas, choir concerts, and the annual Advent program.

Frankfurt (Oder), Brandenburg, and the Oder Region

Frankfurt (Oder), with 56,000 inhabitants, is the easternmost independent city in Brandenburg and lies directly on the Polish border. The city was a Hanseatic League member in the Middle Ages, is now home to the Europa-Universität Viadrina, and looks back on a rich musical history: Karl Liebknecht was born here, Heinrich von Kleist is buried in nearby Wilhelmsdorf, and the composer Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach studied here. St. Gertrude's Church is a concrete testament to this musical heritage.