Name: St. John's Choir Rostock Concerts 2026
Start: 2026-04-03T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-07-12T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Nikolaikirche und weitere Kirchen Rostock

St. John's Choir

About St. John's Choir

The St. John's Choir Rostock, with its various ensembles, shapes the sacred concert life of the Hanseatic city. With its Motet Choir, Figural Choir, Choral Choir, and Kurrende (children's choir), the choir covers a broad repertoire – from Bach's St. John Passion to Romantic oratorios and rediscovered songs. In 2026, the choir will commemorate the 350th anniversary of the death of the hymn writer Paul Gerhardt with concerts and events. The concerts primarily take place in St. Nicholas' Church and St. John's Church; in the summer, the choir traditionally tours through Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

Dates 03 Apr — 12 Jul 2026

Venue Rostock (13003)

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Status Confirmed

Edition 2026

St. John's Choir — edition 2026

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In 2026, the St. John's Choir Rostock commemorates the 350th anniversary of Paul Gerhardt's death. The season includes Bach's St. John Passion, a walking concert with the Kurrende, the program "Forgotten Songs – Rediscovered," and a festive oratorio concert with Vivaldi, Bach, and Mozart. In the summer, the choir will tour through Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and to Hiddensee.

The 2026 concert season of the St. John's Choir Rostock is dedicated to the Paul Gerhardt Year. On April 3rd, Bach's St. John Passion BWV 245 will be performed in St. Nicholas' Church, followed on April 11th by a walking concert with the Kurrende in St. John's Church. On April 26th, the choir will present the program "Forgotten Songs – Rediscovered" in St. Nicholas'.

On June 7th, the choir will interpret works by Vivaldi, Bach, and Mozart in St. Nicholas' Church. In May, the Figural Choir will give concerts on the island of Hiddensee, and in July, a tour through the villages and small towns of the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern region will follow.

Highlights St. John's Choir 2026

Paul Gerhardt Year: 350th anniversary of death
Bach's St. John Passion in St. Nicholas'
Oratorio concert in St. Nicholas' Church
Concerts on Hiddensee Island
Summer tour through the region

Programme St. John's Choir 2026

Concerts 2026

April 3, 5 PM — Bach's St. John Passion BWV 245, St. Nicholas' Church
April 11, 5 PM — Walking concert with the Kurrende, St. John's Church
April 26, 5 PM — "Forgotten Songs – Rediscovered," St. Nicholas' Church
May 16–17 — Choir and organ concerts, Hiddensee Island
June 7, 7:30 PM — Vivaldi, Bach, Mozart, St. Nicholas' Church
July — Summer tour through Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Prices St. John's Choir 2026

Admission varies depending on the concert; some concerts are by donation at the exit. Dates and tickets are available at st-johannis-kantorei.de.

Practical information

Practical information — St. John's Choir

Getting There

The concert churches are located in Rostock's city center, easily accessible by tram and bus from the main train station. By car via A19 and A20, parking is available in the city center.

Tickets

Admission varies depending on the concert; some are by donation at the exit. Dates and tickets are available at st-johannis-kantorei.de, where a current event calendar is also provided as a PDF.

Tip

The summer tour offers an opportunity to experience the choir outside of Rostock and on Hiddensee.

Choral Music in the Heart of Rostock

The St. John's Choir Rostock is one of the traditional church music institutions of the Hanseatic city. It unites several choirs under its umbrella: the Motet Choir for sophisticated vocal literature, the Figural Choir for large oratorios, the Choral Choir as a youth choir for 13- to 20-year-olds, and the Kurrende for the youngest singers. Together, they sustain Rostock's sacred concert life.

A Broad Repertoire

The choir's concert program ranges from Baroque passions to Classical works and Romantic pieces. In 2026, highlights include Bach's St. John Passion BWV 245, a walking concert with the Kurrende, and the program "Forgotten Songs – Rediscovered." In early summer, the Figural Choir invites you to a festive oratorio concert featuring works by Vivaldi, Bach, and Mozart in St. Nicholas' Church.

Paul Gerhardt Year 2026

The year 2026 marks the 350th anniversary of the death of the significant hymn writer Paul Gerhardt. The St. John's Choir commemorates this anniversary year with concerts and other events that focus on the work of the church hymn poet. Gerhardt's chorales remain a core part of Protestant hymnody to this day.

Summer Tour through Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

In the summer, the choir leaves its home churches in Rostock and goes on tour. Concerts take the choir to the surrounding villages and small towns, as well as to the Baltic Sea island of Hiddensee, where choir-and-organ concerts and a cappella programs are performed in the island churches. In this way, the choir brings its music to the entire region.

Church Music in the Hanseatic City

The concerts are predominantly held in the churches of Rostock's city center, especially in St. Nicholas' Church and the eponymous St. John's Church. Rostock, the largest city in the Rostock district and in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, thus offers a vibrant choral music scene that extends throughout the year.