Music

Enjoy culture in the heart of Rothenburg's old town

The Rothenburger Klosterhof impresses not only with its idyllic location directly on the city wall in the heart of the old town, but also with its cultural offerings. You too can experience a colorful summer cultural program in the area between the monastery garden, RothenburgMuseum and the Toppler Theater concerts, readings, exhibitions, guided tours, theater and much more in the period from June to September.

You can find our program flyer with an overview of all events and formats planned in this context here

Tickets are available at the Rothenburg Tourist Information at Marktplatz 2 or online at: www.reservix.de

We look forward to your visit!

The Rothenburg-born writer Manfred Kern talks about Bob Dylan's influences on his life and writing, relates his own poems to the great musician and poet's texts and self-statements, resulting in an attractive, extraordinary and very personal double portrait. Manfred Kern is accompanied by the Erlangen guitarist Dschubbi Meyer-Wanke, who has been performing on stages in Franconia for over forty years in various formations with different styles - from rock to jazz to classical. A thank you and declaration of love to a genius of the century!

Reading: Manfred Kern

Musical accompaniment on the guitar: Dzhubbi Meyer-Wanke

Enjoy a musical and literary evening in the summery courtyard of the RothenburgMuseum. In case of bad weather, this event will take place on the premises of the RothenburgMuseum.

Tickets are available in advance at the Rothenburg Tourist Information at Marktplatz 2 and online via the Reservix ticket portal here. As well as on the day of the event at the RothenburgMuseum box office and at the evening box office.

The ticket includes entry to the RothenburgMuseum on the day of the event (opening hours: 10 a.m. to 18 p.m.), so feel free to stop by the Klosterhof during the day!

Date: June 3, 2024

Start: 19 a.m., Inlet: from 18 pm

Location: Inner courtyard of the RothenburgMuseum, Klosterhof 5

Price: 12 euros per person, reduced: 10 euros per person

This event is part of our “Culture in the Klosterhof” series. You can find our program flyer with an overview of all the formats planned in this context here

The anarchist Erich Mühsam was a leading participant in the Bavarian Revolution of 1918/19. A modern Don Quixote, who rebelled against the power of the rigid living conditions of the imperial era with only the tools of wit and courage. With the sharp eye of an outsider, Erich Mühsam highlighted the social injustices of the period of upheaval during and after the First World War. Sharp-tongued, humorous, sarcastic. A non-conformist rebel who fought throughout his life for a different, more humane society.

In 1934, Erich Mühsam was murdered by the National Socialists in the Oranienburg concentration camp. This evening is intended to commemorate this upright fighter against fascism on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of his death.

»We, who are spiritual people, want to stand together. In a row with vagabonds and beggars, with outcasts and criminals, we want to fight against the rule of unculture! [...] Justice and culture - these are the elements of freedom!" Erich Mühsam

Acting and singing: Matthias Klösel

Musical accompaniment on the piano: Tom Gratza

Enjoy a musical and literary evening in the summery courtyard of the RothenburgMuseum. In case of bad weather, this event will take place on the premises of the RothenburgMuseum.

Tickets are available in advance at the Rothenburg Tourist Information at Marktplatz 2 and online via the Reservix ticket portal here. As well as on the day of the event at the RothenburgMuseum box office and at the evening box office.

The ticket includes entry to the RothenburgMuseum on the day of the event (opening hours: 10 a.m. to 18 p.m.), so feel free to stop by the Klosterhof during the day!

Date: June 10, 2024

Start: 19 a.m., Inlet: 18:30

Location: Inner courtyard of the RothenburgMuseum, Klosterhof 5

Price: 12 euros per person; reduced: 10 euros per person

This event is part of our “Culture in the Klosterhof” series. You can find our program flyer with an overview of all the formats planned in this context here

Jean LeLá, singer/songwriter from Hanover, often thinks about the local music culture. Due to various social media channels and musical streaming services, hardly anyone knows which song was originally written by whom. Or is it?

With her concert format “Sing me a song!” she wants to get to the bottom of this question. Part quiz, part live concert, in this musical hybrid format the interested audience can look forward to the diverse range of Jean Lelá's own and covered repertoire, which is performed with sweet singing and rhythmic guitar playing, accompanied by her long-time colleague Martin Halbe Piano.

In order to optimally increase your chances of having fun while singing along, the audience is warmly invited to submit their own song requests online until June 07.06th. at 12 p.m to submit. Simply wear your desired title here in the online form a. A jury then selects a few titles for the afternoon from all the submissions. During the musical interpretation, you as the audience can contribute your music knowledge in a fun quiz. Look forward to a musical afternoon of singing along and guessing!

Music and singing: Jean Lelá and Martin Halbe

Enjoy a musical afternoon in the summery courtyard of the RothenburgMuseum. In case of bad weather, this event will take place on the premises of the RothenburgMuseum.

Date: July 21, 2024

Start: 15 pm

Location: Inner courtyard of the RothenburgMuseum, Klosterhof 5

Price: To visit this event you only have to pay the regular museum entrance fee of 6 euros per person, reduced: 5 euros per person.

This event is part of our “Culture in the Klosterhof” series. You can find our program flyer with an overview of all the formats planned in this context here

Eddy Danco takes his audience on a musical journey through Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales. The accomplished singer and piper presents a varied program full of emotional depth and impressive diversity. Known for his passionate performances, he enchants audiences with a mix of gentle and powerful tones. His repertoire includes songs inspired by his travels and experiences. The concert is divided into four fascinating chapters that tell stories of home and abroad, seafaring, fairy tales and myths as well as love and friendship. Experience an unforgettable evening full of musical highlights with Eddy Danco and let yourself be inspired by his singing and guitar playing. Additional Information: www.eddydanco.de

Music and singing: Eddie Danco

Enjoy a musical evening in the summery courtyard of the RothenburgMuseum. In case of bad weather, this event will take place on the premises of the RothenburgMuseum.

Tickets are available in advance at the Rothenburg Tourist Information at Marktplatz 2 and online via the Reservix ticket portal here. As well as on the day of the event at the RothenburgMuseum box office and at the evening box office.

The ticket includes entry to the RothenburgMuseum on the day of the event (opening hours: 10 a.m. to 18 p.m.), so feel free to stop by the Klosterhof during the day!

Date: July 30, 2024

Start: 19 a.m., Inlet: 18:30

Location: Inner courtyard of the RothenburgMuseum, Klosterhof 5

Price: 12 euros per person, reduced: 10 euros per person

This event is part of our “Culture in the Klosterhof” series. You can find our program flyer with an overview of all the formats planned in this context here

The Ambassadors of Music have been coming to Rothenburg ob der Tauber for 48 years. As part of the award-winning American high school orchestras, students from all parts of the USA begin their journey through Europe as winners of their respective states. The final stop is traditionally Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Here the Ambassadors of Music play their one-hour concerts on the market square, performing both popular classical pieces and melodies from Hollywood blockbusters. This is traditionally followed by concerts by the Ambassador Choirs in the Rothenburg churches.

Current concert dates of the Ambassadors of Music 2024:

- June 17: Tennessee Ambassadors of Music
- June 29: Florida Ambassadors of Music
- July 2: Colorado Ambassadors of Music
- July 5: Missouri Ambassadors of Music
- July 14: Arkansas Ambassadors of Music
- July 17: Minnesota Ambassadors of Music
- July 20: California Ambassadors of Music
- July 23: Washington Ambassadors of Music

All groups play at 14 p.m. in the Franciscan Church (except July 2.7nd and 17.7th in St. Jacob's Church) and at 16 p.m. on the market square.

On the occasion of the anniversary year "750 Years of the Imperial City of Rothenburg", a three-day open-air event with a varied program will take place from August 2nd, 2024 to August 4th, 2024 on the market square in front of the backdrop of the impressive Rothenburg town hall.

August 2, 2024, 20.30:XNUMX p.m.: “History you can touch” 750 years of city history as an entertaining live performance with the well-known actor and author of historical novels Markus Grimm in the Kaisersaal. Scenic highlights of the historical festival “Der Meistertrunk” on the market square.
On a big stage: story you can touch, accompanied by music and multimedia.
This event is funded by the Bavarian Culture Fund 2024.

August 3, 2024, from 20.30:XNUMX p.m.: “One night with ABBA” concert experience with all the big hits from “Waterloo” to “Mamma Mia”. If the ABBA fans come to the concert in their 70s look, the party will be perfect.

August 4, 2024, 19 p.m.: Additional concert -  "One night with ABBA" with all the big hits from "Waterloo" to "Mamma Mia". 

Tickets are available directly from the Rothenburg Tourist Information at Marktplatz 2, as well as online via the ticket portal of the organiser, Artcon Cultural Events here.
 

Since then Taubertal Festival  Founded in 1995, contemporary pop and rock music also has a permanent place in Rothenburg's annual musical calendar. Year after year, thousands of visitors line the ice meadow outside the city gates in August and let themselves be carried away by the rhythm and sound of electric guitars, keyboards and drums.

The next Taubertal Festival will take place from August 8th to August 11th, 2024. All information can be found here here.

One of the highlights of the annual musical calendar is the traditional Rothenburg Master Concert, which is performed every two years in November in the Reichsstadthalle with the Nuremberg Symphony Orchestra. The concert series was launched by former music director Helmut Weigel in 1987. 

The next Rothenburg Master Concert, in its 30th edition this year, will take place on November 30, 2024 at 19 p.m. in the Reichsstadthalle instead. Advance ticket sales begin on Monday, May 27, 2024. The evening promises a musical treat for all fans of classical music.

You can find our leaflet with all the information about the event here.

The Rothenburg Master Concert is made possible by the kind support of VR-Bank Mittelfranken Mitte eG and the STAEDTLER Foundation Nuremberg.

The Municipal music school Rothenburg was founded in September 1989 and has been a member of the Association of Bavarian Singing and Music Schools since 1991. The city made the former armory schoolhouse at Kirchplatz 12 available to her as a teaching building. In 2002 it was extensively renovated by the city of Rothenburg. Modern teaching and rehearsal rooms with a lot of atmosphere were created, which, together with the municipal music hall on the ground floor, form today's “House of Music”. Around 300 students are taught on site in basic musical subjects and many instrumental subjects in small and large ensembles. In recent years, many students from the music school's instrumental classes have successfully competed in the “Jugend musiziert” competition at regional and state levels, and even in the national competition. The work of the music school, both in its breadth and the promotion of talent at its peak, have firmly anchored the Rothenburg Municipal Music School in the city's cultural work. The extensive range of courses is supplemented by regular events and concerts by Rothenburg music students.

Current event dates of the Municipal Music School 2024:

• Saturday, June 22, 2024, 15 p.m.: Free concert in the Rothenburg Franciscan Church in Herrngasse

Class auditions for the instrumental classes in the Municipal Music Hall, Kirchplatz 12:

• Tuesday, July 16, 2024, 19 p.m.: Flute class by Thomas Meyer
• Sunday, July 20, 2024, 15 p.m.: Dirk Semmler's drum class

Further dates will be announced in the local daily press.

The Rothenburger City and youth brass orchestra eV was founded in 1982 by Herbert Meißner and has now grown to around 70 active musicians, including 50 in the main orchestra and 20 in the junior orchestra. It is a symphonic wind orchestra that, under the direction of Jan-Peter Scheurer, maintains a lively performance culture. The qualitative demands of a good upper level up to the highest level is a challenge that orchestras and conductors are looking for. The two orchestras rehearse once a week in the modern rehearsal room of the “Haus der Musik” in the center of Rothenburg. The traditional performances of the city and youth wind orchestra include the “Ascension Concert”, with which it opens the annual series of open air concerts on the town hall square, as well as the concert evening at the wine festival of the “Glock Winery”, the concert for German Unity Day on the Marktplat, the “Bohemian Serenade” on the Stöberleinsbühne, as well as the performances on Remembrance Day and at the opening of the Rothenburg Christmas market.

Current dates of the city and youth wind orchestra:

- May 9th, 11 a.m.: “Ascension Concert” on the market square

- May 15th, 17 p.m.: Central celebration of the anniversary year "750 Years of the Imperial City" on the market square with a speech by Mayor Dr. Markus Naser and performance of the festival overture as a wind orchestra version

- May 19th, 15 p.m.: Leading the military procession of the historical festival “The Master Drink”

- July 14th or July 20th, 16 p.m.: Joint concert on the market square with the "Ambassadors of Music" Arkansas

- October 3rd, 14 p.m.: Concert on the market square for "German Unity Day"

- November 17th, 11:30 a.m.: Remembrance Day ceremony in the Burggarten

- November 29th, 17 p.m.: Concert to open the Rothenburg Christmas market

- Advent, 17 p.m.: brass quartets at the Christmas market

- December 27th, 20 p.m.: 1st Christmas concert in the Rothenburg Reichsstadthalle

- December 28th, 20 p.m.: 2nd Christmas concert in the Rothenburg Reichsstadthalle

- December 31st, 18 p.m.: Bubbles on the town hall steps during the mayor's New Year's Eve speech

The Rothenburg Pub Festival always takes place in the first third of the year and invites its visitors to enjoy the best live music from a wide variety of genres in a cozy pub atmosphere. From punk to salsa or world music to indie rock and Italian pop to bluegrass, music lovers will get their money's worth here.

The next Rothenburg pub festival will take place in 2025.

Welcome to the “Franconian Summer”, the music festival in Middle Franconia.

Every two years, the “Fränkischer Sommer” presents a top-class music program. Outstanding artists with diverse programs invite you to the enchanting places of Middle Franconia, to lively cities and picturesque villages, to historic churches and beautiful castles - to enjoy culture with beautiful music. Rothenburg ob der Tauber is also always there.

The next “Franconian Summer” will take place in the summer of 2025.

The history of Rothenburg church music goes back to the early days of the Reformation. Some of the cantors at the city's most important place of worship, St. Jacob's Church, were well-known composers and musicians far beyond the city limits. The Baroque masters Erasmus Widmann and Franz Vollrath Buttstett are among them, as is Georg Falck, who was a composer and bandmaster, musicologist and researcher in his hometown of Rothenburg.

The imposing St. Jacob's Church remains the center of the city's church music to this day. This is primarily due to the Rieger organ, which replaced the old Steinmeyer organ in 1968 and whose powerful, warm sound fills the entire Gothic nave during church services and concerts. Around a hundred concerts a year with e.g. Top-class soloists and ensembles from home and abroad take place here every year. Jasmin Neubauer is the cantor of St. Jakob.

A flyer with an overview of the church music program is available at the Rothenburg Tourist Information Office at Marktplatz 2. Current concert dates and other events of the Rothenburg Protestant community can be found at the following link: http://rothenburg-evangelisch.de/veranstaltungen

The Wildbad Rothenburg presents itself as a unique gem in the Taubertal. Located directly near the river, the Evangelical Conference Center is a place of peace and contemplation where you can spend the night, dine or experience culture. The building looks like a dreamy fairytale castle. The spa complex, built from 1894 to 1903 in the historicist style, now also serves as a location for conferences, Concerts and art exhibitions.

You can find an overview of all concerts and other events currently planned at Wildbad Rothenburg on a daily basis under the following link: https://wildbad.de/veranstaltungen/