Ratzeburg Cathedral Concerts

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.