International organ concerts in Freiburg Minster

This series of organ concerts has been an integral part of Freiburg's summer cultural life for over 90 years. The unique organ installation in the wonderful space of the cathedral is a magnet for outstanding international performers and organ enthusiasts from all over the world. The symbiosis of space and sound inspires and fascinates performers and listeners alike - creating very special sound experiences and thrilling concert experiences.

Nicolaus Bruhns (1665-1697)
Prelude in e (the "Great")

Georg Böhm (1661-1733)
"Ach wie flüchtig, ach wie nichtig"
Choral partita in 7 verses

Charles Tournemire (1870-1939)
From "L'orgue mystique", volume 35:
Paraphrase-Carillon

Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992)
From the "Livre d'orgue":
Chants d'oiseaux

César Franck (1822-1890)
Grande Pièce symphonique op. 17
I Andantino serioso - Allegro non troppo e maestoso
II Andante - Allegro - Andante
III Final

Gerhard Löffler is one of the most versatile church musicians of his generation. Since 2016, he has been cantor and organist at the main church of St. Jacobi in Hamburg, where he is the director of the choir and initiated and established the weekly series "30-Minuten-Orgelmusik" on Thursdays. He can also be heard in church services and concerts on the famous Arp Schnitger organ from 1693.
Gerhard Löffler's organ repertoire includes music from all eras. He regularly performs as a guest on important historical instruments as well as on symphonic organs. He makes guest appearances in the cathedrals of Kaliningrad, Bamberg, Ottobeuren, Erfurt and Berlin, as well as in the Konzerthaus (concert halls) of Hamburg, Berlin, Bochum and the Alte Oper Frankfurt. As an organist, he works with ensembles such as the Junge Deutsche Philharmonie, the Bochum Symphony Orchestra, the Juilliard Symphony Orchestra and the NDR Choir. Many of his concerts have been documented by radio and television.
To mark the 300th anniversary of the death of organ builder Arp Schnitger, his recording "Christmas with Johann Sebastian Bach" was released by Musikproduktion Dabringhaus und Grimm in May 2019. His repertoire as a conductor is just as varied. In addition to works from the classical choral repertoire, he also works with his choirs on numerous compositions ranging from early to contemporary music. He also regularly wins over audiences with rarely performed works.
His work regularly brings him together with soloists such as Lothar Odinius, Michaela Schuster and Christof Fischesser. He has conducted the Frankfurt Opera and Museum Orchestra, members of the Staatskapelle Berlin, the baroque orchestras Aris & Aulis, Ensemble Schirokko Hamburg and Elbipolis Hamburg.
Gerhard Löffler studied with Martin Lücker (Frankfurt am Main), Ludger Lohmann (Stuttgart),
John Weaver (New York) and worked as a church musician in Frankfurt and Berlin.

Copyright: Gerhard Löffler