Musikfest Wannsee

Three Churches, One Festival

Musikfest Wannsee spreads its concerts across three special churches on the southwestern outskirts of Berlin:

• Kirche am Stölpchensee, Wilhelmplatz 1, 14109 Berlin – a brick building by the lake, acoustically warm, almost intimate
• St. Peter und Paul auf Nikolskoe, Nikolskoer Weg 17 – a church built in 1837 by Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm III for his daughter Charlotte (who married Tsar Nicholas I of Russia), in a Russian-inspired style, high above the Havel River
• Andreaskirche, Lindenstraße 1 – a modern sacred building in Nikolassee

Three locations, three acoustic characters – the festival utilizes this diversity for a rich concert program in early autumn.

Lieder, Vocal, Early Music, Bach

The repertoire ranges from Renaissance vocal works and Baroque cantatas and Lieder to Romantic art songs. Performances by prominent Berlin ensembles for early music, such as lautten compagney BERLIN – one of the most renowned German ensembles for early music – are featured alongside performances by vocal ensembles like the Vokalconsort des Berliner Mädchenchores. The younger Concerto Festante Wannsee was founded specifically for the festival. Each edition follows a motto: in 2025, it was "Panta rhei – Everything flows," with Bach cantatas and works on the theme of water, waves, and transformation.

Wannsee and Nikolassee on the Southwestern Outskirts

The districts of Wannsee and Nikolassee belong to the Steglitz-Zehlendorf borough and are located between the Havel River, Großer Wannsee lake, and Forst Düppel forest. It is Berlin's most rural, quiet corner – with historic residential areas, the Liebermann Garden, the Liebermann Villa, the Glienicke Bridge, and Pfaueninsel island. Visitors to the Musikfest can combine their day with a walk by the Stölpchensee, a ferry trip to Kladow, or a visit to the Liebermann Villa.

Soprano, Community, Volunteer Spirit

The festival originated from an initiative by Berlin soprano Johanna Kaldewei in collaboration with the Evangelical Church Community Berlin-Wannsee. It thrives on the commitment of the singer, the community, and its volunteers, as well as a concept of free admission: donations and sponsorships support the format, and advance registration is recommended due to limited seating in the churches.