Ratzeburg Cathedral Concerts
Summer concert series in the Lion Cathedral of Henry the Lion — Bach, Schütz, Duruflé, and Gospel
About Dommusiken Ratzeburg
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Concerts in the Lion Cathedral of Henry the Lion
Ratzeburg Cathedral — the "Lion Cathedral" — was founded in the 12th century by Henry the Lion and is one of the oldest and most important brick Romanesque buildings in Northern Germany. Its tall, narrow interior boasts remarkable acoustics that perfectly showcase sacred music of all eras — from Gregorian roots to late Romanticism and modern works. The Ratzeburger Dommusiken utilizes these acoustics in the summer for a focused concert series from May to August.
Summer Concert Series for Decades
Initiated by the Ratzeburg Cathedral Choir under the direction of the Domkantorei, the concert series has developed over decades into a fixed date in the Northern German classical summer calendar. The program alternates between organ concerts (Sunday afternoons, usually 4:30 PM), choir concerts with the Domkantorei or guest choirs, and musical services featuring cantatas and gospel concerts. The repertoire is deliberately broad: Bach is central (cantatas, organ works), alongside Heinrich Schütz, Thomas Tallis, César Franck, Maurice Duruflé, Jehan Alain, Louis Vierne, Jean Langlais, and contemporary composers such as Naji Hakim and Hubert Ritter.
Wednesday Evening Concerts and Sunday Afternoons
The program structure has been stable for years: Wednesday evening concerts (6:00 PM–7:00 PM) offer shorter organ recitals or chamber concerts, ideal for a summer evening after work. Longer concerts take place on Sundays at 4:30 PM — choir concerts with the Domkantorei, guest performances by renowned ensembles (Thomanerchor Leipzig, Hochschulkammerchor Lübeck), and organ recitals by distinguished organists. Several times each summer, there is also a gospel concert.
Ratzeburg, the Cathedral Lake, and the Duchy of Lauenburg District
Ratzeburg, with around 14,000 inhabitants, is the district town of the Duchy of Lauenburg district and is located on an island in the Ratzeburger Domsee. The old town with the cathedral fills almost the entire island — one of the most unusual city locations in Germany. The Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival regularly uses the cathedral as a venue; the Dommusiken are the year-round, local counterpart under the self-management of the Cathedral Parish.
Dommusiken Ratzeburg — edition 2026
2026 Concert Series
The 2026 summer concert series in Ratzeburg Cathedral includes nine confirmed dates between May and early August. Initiated by the Ratzeburg Cathedral Choir and the Cathedral Parish, the series presents organ concerts, choir concerts, and musical services in one of Northern Germany's most significant Romanesque spaces.
Programme Dommusiken Ratzeburg 2026
Confirmed Concert Dates 2026
- May 24, 2026 — Cantata Service — Bach "Erwünschtes Freudenlicht" BWV 184 with soloists, Baroque ensemble, and Ratzeburg Cathedral Choir
- June 7, 2026 — Hochschulkammerchor Lübeck: Works by Bach, Shaw, and Lewandowski
- June 26, 2026 — Thomanerchor Leipzig: Bach, Schütz, Tallis, and others
- July 4, 2026 — Concert (Detailed program to be announced)
- July 8, 2026 — "Tower Concert Total Baroque" — Baroque program from the cathedral tower
- July 12, 2026 — Organ or Choir Concert
- July 18, 2026 — Organ or Choir Concert
- July 25, 2026 — Organ or Choir Concert
- August 1, 2026 — Concert
Repertoire Focus
- Johann Sebastian Bach (Cantatas, Organ Works)
- Heinrich Schütz
- Thomas Tallis (Renaissance Polyphony)
- César Franck, Maurice Duruflé, Louis Vierne, Jean Langlais (French Organ Romanticism and Modernism)
- Contemporary Composers
- Gospel Concerts several times each summer
Current concert details and tickets available through the Ratzeburg Cathedral Parish.
Highlights Dommusiken Ratzeburg 2026
- Concerts in the Lion Cathedral of Henry the Lion — one of Northern Germany's most significant Romanesque buildings
- Guest performances by the Thomanerchor Leipzig and the Hochschulkammerchor Lübeck
- Repertoire from Bach and Schütz to Duruflé and Gospel
- Wednesday evening concerts and Sunday afternoon concerts
- "Total Baroque" Tower Concert on July 8
Prices Dommusiken Ratzeburg 2026
Ticket prices vary depending on the concert. Booking through the Ratzeburg Cathedral Parish (Tel +49 4541 3406, Email [email protected]) and on-site.
Practical information — Dommusiken Ratzeburg
Getting Here
By train: Regional trains from Lübeck and Hamburg-Bergedorf to Ratzeburg. From the station, it's about a 15-minute walk to the old town and the island where the cathedral is located. By car, take the A 24 (exit Mölln or Schwarzenbek), then follow the B 207/B 208 to Ratzeburg. Parking is available at the edge of the island, with short walking distances.
2026 Dates
Concert series from May to August 2026. Confirmed concert dates: May 24 (Cantata Service), June 7 (Hochschulkammerchor Lübeck), June 26 (Thomanerchor Leipzig), July 4, July 8 (Tower Concert "Total Baroque"), July 12, July 18, July 25, August 1.
Tickets
Ticket prices vary depending on the concert. Booking through the Ratzeburg Cathedral Parish (Phone +49 4541 3406, Email [email protected]) and on-site at the concert box office.
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Travel to this festival
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Where it takes place Dommusiken Ratzeburg
Ratzeburger Dom (Löwendom)
Domhof 35, 23909 Ratzeburg