Englisch
Stiftsmusik Stuttgart organizes music at the Stiftskirche Stuttgart on behalf of the Evangelische Gesamtkirchengemeinde Stuttgart. It organises 100 concerts and events per annum.
Find more information about Stiftsmusik Stuttgart.
What is Stiftsmusik Stuttgart?
Stiftsmusik Stuttgart organizes music at the Stiftskirche Stuttgart on behalf of the Evangelische Gesamtkirchengemeinde Stuttgart. The Stiftskirche (collegiate church) is the main Protestant church in the city of Stuttgart and the region.
The over 100 annual events include the Stunde der Kirchenmusik (Hour of Church Music) every Friday at 7 pm, the International Organ Summer in July and August, Bach:vokal 2011-2021, the concert cycle |:Mendelssohn:|, the daily Orgelmusik zum Weihnachtsmarkt (organ music for the Christmas market) during Advent and special concerts. In addition, visitors of the services can experience festive organ and ensemble music in the Stiftskirche throughout the year.
Kay Johannsen is the artistic director of Stiftsmusik. He also directs the various ensembles of Stiftsmusik Stuttgart:
- Stuttgarter Kantorei, a choir of 70 singers, which sings both oratorios and a cappella literature. It performs concerts and sings in church services.
- solistenensemble stimmkunst, an ensemble of 16 professional singers who sing both solo parts and as a choir.
- Stiftsbarock Stuttgart, a baroque orchestra, which consists of specialized baroque musicians.
- Stiftsphilhamonie Stuttgart, the symphony orchestra of Stiftsmusik, which is made up of professional musicians
- Stiftsmusikchor and Stiftsmusikorchester, which come together at the projects Stiftsmusik für alle. For these projects, amateur musicians meet twice a year on a weekend to rehearse a Bach cantata and perform it in the Sunday service.
What concerts are there at Stiftsmusik?
Stunde der Kirchenmusik (hour of church music):
the forum for sacred vocal music in southern Germany. The Stunde der Kirchenmusik has existed since 1958. Every Friday at 7 pm, choirs and vocal ensembles from Stuttgart, Germany and abroad present the whole spectrum of sacred choral music in the Stiftskirche. The concerts last one hour.
International Organ Summer:
In July and August, the choirs in the Stunde der Kirchenmusik are replaced by renowned organists from all over the world. On Fridays at 7 pm, guest organists play a one-hour concert on the Mühleisen organ in Stiftskirche. Afterwards there is often the opportunity to talk to the soloists at the artists' get-together.
Concerts by the ensembles of Stiftsmusik:
The concerts by Stuttgarter Kantorei and other Stiftsmusik ensembles usually take place as part of the Stunde der Kirchenmusik on Friday evenings at 7 pm. The program includes great oratorio works, such as the Passions by Johann Sebastian Bach, Messiah by Georg Friedrich Händel or Ein deutsches Requiem by Johannes Brahms, as well as a cappella literature.
Orgelmusik zum Weihnachtsmarkt (Organ music for the Christmas market):
During Advent, an organ concert takes place every day at lunchtime in the Stiftskirche. It lasts from 1:15 pm to 1:45 pm. The Stiftsmusik organists and guests from Stuttgart, the region and all over Germany play. The program includes Advent and Christmas music.
Tickets
Stunde der Kirchenmusik and International Organ Summer
Every Friday, 7 pm, Stiftskirche Stuttgart
10 Euro (pupils, students, people with severe disabilities 5 Euro)
10 tickets: 80 Euro (reduced 40 Euro)
There is free seating at the Stunde der Kirchenmusik International Organ Summer (exception: special concerts wit Stiftsmusik ensembles). Tickets are not allocated to a specific concert, but can be redeemed for all International Organ Summer and Stunde der Kirchenmusik concerts. They have an unlimited validity.
In the run-up to the concerts, tickets can be purchased at the information desk in the Stiftskirche (Mon-Sat 10am-1pm). Tickets can also always be purchased at the box office (from 18:15).
You can buy selected, numbered seats in the immediate vicinity of the stage from our partner Reservix. This guarantees you good seats, even if you are running late for the concert.
Numbered seats: 15 euros (pupils, students, people with severe disabilities 10 euros)
Orgelmusik zum Weihnachtsmarkt
Every day in Advent, 13.15-13.45, Stiftskirche Stuttgart
5 euros (pupils, students, people with severe disabilities 4 euros)
Free choice of seats (if available)
In the run-up to the concerts, tickets can be purchased from mid-November at the information desk in the Stiftskirche (Mon-Sat 10am-1pm). Tickets can also always be purchased at the box office from 12:45 pm.
Special concerts
There are various price scales and seating options for the special concerts.
There are concerts with free seating and double admission of 20 euros (pupils, students, people with severe disabilities 10 euros). This corresponds to two of the regular Stunde der Kirchenmusik tickets. Examples include the |:Mendelssohn:| concerts with a cappella motets by solistenensemble stimmkunst.
For other concerts, in particular with the Stiftsphilharmonie Stuttgart or Stiftsbarock Stuttgart, we have numbered seats and staggered prices. Tickets are available in advance at the information desk in the Stiftskirche and at StuttgartKonzert (0049-711-52 43 00 or www.stuttgartkonzert.de).
We provide information about prices and advance booking on the respective event page and in our advertising material.
What does Stiftsmusik do apart from concerts?
Stiftsmusik für alle (Collegiate music for everyone):
Twice a year, Stiftsmusik Stuttgart invites to Stiftsmusik für alle. In this participatory project, interested amateur singers and string instrument players meet for a weekend, practice a Bach cantata on Saturdays and perform it in the church service on Sundays. The Stiftsmusikorchester and Stiftsmusikchor rehearse separately on Saturday, with a joint main rehearsal taking place in the morning on Sunday. The cantata is then performed in the church service at 10 am.
Königin-Katharina-Orgel (Queen Catherine organ):
The Protestant Schlosskirche (Castle Church) in the Old Castle in the heart of Stuttgart is a church of outstanding architectural and historical significance. Built in 1558-62 as the first new Protestant church in Württemberg, it is furnished with important works of art, such as 12 relief panels by Sem Schlör (around 1530-1597/98). In 1865, the church was completely redesigned in the English late Gothic style.
The acoustics of the castle church are also wonderful, but the previous organ from 1980 lacked timbre and power. After more than 40 years, the organ from the workshop of Stuttgart organ builder Diethelm Berner had technical defects. In addition, the organ did not harmonize visually with the enchanting ceiling and the precious works of art.
The Königin-Katharina-Orgel project was launched in summer 2019 under the sponsorship of the Evangelische Gesamtkirchengemeinde Stuttgart and with the support of the association Freunde der Stiftsmusik Stuttgart e.V.. The new organ is due to be completed in 2026, after the church has been completely renovated. The aim of building the new organ is to make the castle church an attractive, lively place for church music in an intimate, personal setting. Music can also raise awareness of the church space in urban society. Furthermore, the new organ will make the entire church community an attractive training center for the next generation of organists.
In terms of sound, 25 resgisters on 3 manuals are planned. The new organ will be built by the renowned Austrian organ builder Rieger. Visually, the new organ will be based on the Walcker organ, which was installed in connection with the redesign in 1865 and formed a harmonious architectural unit with the church interior.
How you can help: Become the sponsor of an organ pipe!
Donation account:
BW Bank Stuttgart
IBAN: DE32 6005 0101 0001 3134 42
BIC: SOLADEST
Special events such as organ walks or workshop rehearsals
During our organ walks, you can get to know organs, organ music and church rooms in Stuttgart. You can also learn interesting facts about the Königin-Katharina organ and the status of the organ building project.
Organ walks have been taking place twice a year since 2022, after this event had already been held around 20 years earlier to collect donations for the Mühleisen organ in the Stiftskirche, which was inaugurated in 2004.
Workshop rehearsals, staged readings and lectures take place at irregular intervals around the special concerts of the Stiftsmusik, for example as part of the |:Mendelssohn:| concert cycle.
Digital channels
Videos of concerts by the Stiftsmusik ensembles and organ music can be found on the YouTube channel Kay Johannsen.
Information on all Stiftsmusik events, background information and exclusive insights can be found on the social media channels on Instagram and Facebook as well as on the Stiftsmusik websites:
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