Evenitto's guide · Classical music in Germany
There is a venue for every size of music: the Gewandhaus and the Thomaskirche in Leipzig, the Semperoper, Kulturpalast and Frauenkirche in Dresden, the Kölner Philharmonie, the Tonhalle in Düsseldorf, the Konzerthaus Dortmund and the Philharmonie Essen in the Ruhr, and the Theater Münster.
Home of Gewandhausorchester
The Gewandhaus on Augustusplatz, opened in 1981, is home to the Gewandhaus Orchestra, which has existed since 1743. The orchestra plays in the Great Hall with about 1,900 seats; chamber music is heard in the smaller Mendelssohn-Saal.
The Frauenkirche, reconsecrated in 2005 after its reconstruction, is church and concert hall in one: organ music, choral and orchestral concerts under the dome.
Home of Gürzenich-Orchester Köln
The Philharmonie next to the cathedral, opened in 1986. Its hall with about 2,000 seats is home to the Gürzenich-Orchester Köln and the WDR Sinfonieorchester.
Home of Dresdner Philharmonie
The former multi-purpose hall on the Altmarkt reopened in 2017 as a concert hall. The Dresdner Philharmonie plays here, and big concerts of the Dresdner Musikfestspiele are held here.
Home of Dortmunder Philharmoniker
Dortmund has had its own concert hall since September 2002. The hall seats about 1,500; the Dortmunder Philharmoniker play here, and major orchestras from all over the world are guests.
Home of Thomanerchor
The church of the Thomanerchor, founded in 1212, and the church of Johann Sebastian Bach: he was Thomaskantor here from 1723 to 1750, and his grave lies in the chancel. This is where the Thomaner sing their motets.
Home of Bochumer Symphoniker
The concert hall on Marienplatz, opened in 2016, is the home of the Bochumer Symphoniker. The main hall seats about 950, and a smaller hall hosts chamber music.
Home of Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden
The Semperoper, reopened in its present form in 1985, is the home of the Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden. Wagner's Rienzi, The Flying Dutchman and Tannhäuser were premiered in Dresden, in Gottfried Semper's first opera house.
Home of Essener Philharmoniker
The Saalbau of 1904, inaugurated by Richard Strauss, has been the Philharmonie Essen since 2004. The Essener Philharmoniker play in the Alfried Krupp Saal with about 1,900 seats.
Home of Düsseldorfer Symphoniker
Between 1976 and 1978 a concert hall was built under the dome of the Rheinhalle of 1926. The Great Hall with about 1,850 seats is home to the Düsseldorfer Symphoniker, and the Schumannfest begins here.
Home of Gewandhausorchester
Opera and ballet on Augustusplatz, opposite the Gewandhaus. The Gewandhaus Orchestra plays here too, in the pit.
Home of Beethoven Orchester Bonn
The Beethovenhalle in Beethoven's home town reopened in December 2025 after its renovation. The Beethoven Orchester Bonn plays here, and this is where the Beethovenfest takes place.
Home of Sinfonieorchester Münster
The Großes Haus opened in 1956 and seats about 900. The Sinfonieorchester Münster plays here, and the theatre also stages opera and ballet.
The Baroque city palace by Johann Conrad Schlaun, built between 1753 and 1757. Chamber concerts take place in its festival hall, where you hear Baroque music in a fitting room.
The halls, churches and stages with the most classical concerts in the next twelve months.
