International Organ Summer at the Gedächtniskirche

Concert with a City View

Anyone strolling through West Berlin on a Saturday afternoon can hardly miss the Gedächtniskirche: The ruined old tower from the late 19th century stands right next to Egon Eiermann's new building from the 1960s, whose blue glass windows bathe the interior in mystical light when the sun is low. Here, in this unique architectural constellation, the International Organ Summer takes place every summer.

The Schuke Organ

The instrument is the centerpiece of every concert: The Schuke organ in the Eiermann new building has around 6,000 pipes and is one of Berlin's most versatile concert organs in terms of sound. Its romantic disposition allows for both Baroque works (Bach, Buxtehude, Couperin) and grand symphonic soundscapes – such as French symphonic music (Vierne, Widor, Duruflé) – as well as contemporary improvisations.

International Guests

The artistic director is Sebastian Heindl, an internationally acclaimed organist himself (ARD Music Competition, St. Albans). Heindl programs the festival with a mix of emerging and established voices in the organ scene. Past years have brought artists such as Kevin Birch (USA), Victoria Ulriksen (Sweden), Francesca Ajossa (Italy), Mari Fukumoto (Japan), and Thomas Mellan (USA) to the Schuke organ.

Berlin City West – Concert with Context

The Gedächtniskirche is located in the Charlottenburg district on Breitscheidplatz, within sight of Kurfürstendamm, Bahnhof Zoo, and KaDeWe. West Berlin, long criticized as 'City West,' has regained its own identity in recent years – and the Organ Summer is one of the symbols of this cultural self-confidence. It's the perfect place for those who want to combine a concert with a city walk.