Silbermann Days Freiberg

Gottfried Silbermann and the Silbermann Organs

Gottfried Silbermann (1683–1753), born in Kleinbobritzsch near Frauenstein and died in Dresden, is considered the most important Saxon organ builder of the Baroque era. Between 1710 and 1753, he built around 50 organs, 31 of which are preserved today — almost all in Saxony, mainly in the Ore Mountains, the Freiberg-Dresden region, and the Vogtland. His most famous works are the grand cathedral organ in the Freiberg Cathedral of St. Mary (1714, three manuals, 44 stops), the organ in the Dresden Court Church (1750/55, completed by his pupil Hildebrandt), and the small St. Petri organ in Freiberg. Silbermann's organs are characterized by a clear tonal language, perfect balance of stops, and extraordinary tonal stability.

Festival since 1978 — every two years

In 1978 — during the late GDR era — the Saxon State Church and the city of Freiberg jointly initiated a festival dedicated to Silbermann's work. The concept: every two years, always in September (Silbermann's birthday was on January 14th, but September is the most acoustically and touristically favorable month), with concerts on as many Silbermann organs as possible simultaneously. For almost 50 years, this format has shaped the cultural landscape between Freiberg, Dresden, and the Ore Mountains. The artistic director is Cathedral organist Albrecht Koch (Freiberg).

International Gottfried Silbermann Organ Competition

In 1993, the International Gottfried Silbermann Organ Competition was added to the festival. Young organists from all over the world compete in several rounds, with the final always taking place on the closing Sunday of the festival at St. Petri Church and the Cathedral. The competition is considered one of the most prestigious in the world for Baroque organs; many leading organists today have won first or second prize here. The 18th edition of the competition will take place in 2027.

Venues — Cathedrals and Village Churches

What makes the Silbermann Days unique: They are not held in a single concert hall but lead the audience through the entire region. Concerts take place in the Freiberg Cathedral of St. Mary, St. Petri Church in Freiberg, the Dresden Court Church, the Dresden Frauenkirche, but also in small village churches — Forchheim (one of the most valuable Silbermann organs in its original condition), Großhartmannsdorf, Reinhardtsgrimma, Frauenstein, Glauchau, Crostau, and many others. For concertgoers, this means traveling through Saxony for ten days — discovering not only the organs but also the landscapes of the Ore Mountains and Central Saxony.

Saxony, Central Saxony, and Freiberg

Freiberg is located in the district of Mittelsachsen, about 40 km west of Dresden, on the northern edge of the Ore Mountains. With around 40,000 inhabitants, the silver mining town, documented since 1186, is the center of Saxon mining history (today a UNESCO World Heritage site «Ore Mountains/Krušnohoří Mining Region»). The Freiberg Cathedral of St. Mary — late Gothic, with the Golden Gate (one of the most important Romanesque portals in Germany) and the grand Silbermann organ — is the spiritual and cultural heart of the city. The TU Bergakademie Freiberg, founded in 1765, is the oldest mining university in the world. The Silbermann Days, alongside the Bergstadtfest, are the city's most important cultural event.