Copenhagen is set to be abuzz with the harmonious sounds of organ music and summer concerts in 2026. The Church of Our Lady in Copenhagen will host a series of organ matinees, featuring the renowned Søren Christian Vestergaard, and a captivating summer concert series. These events, organized by Københavns Domkirke, promise to deliver enriching cultural experiences that highlight the talents of seasoned musicians and the unique ambiance of this historic venue. Join us as we delve into the details of these musical gatherings.

Exploring Musical Mastery: The Organ Matinee and Summer Concert Series in Copenhagen

Copenhagen's Københavns Domkirke invites music enthusiasts to an exceptional series of organ matinees and summer concerts at the Church of Our Lady. Featuring Søren Christian Vestergaard, a prominent figure in the Danish organ scene, these events promise an auditory experience like no other. Spanning from February to August, this musical journey showcases the profound talent of Vestergaard alongside other accomplished organists, offering a rich tapestry of classical and contemporary works.

Echoes of the Organ: A Year of Melodic Matinees and Summer Serenades in Copenhagen

Søren Christian Vestergaard is a well-known name in the Danish organ world, and in addition to being organist at Trinitatis Kirke in Copenhagen, he has recently been appointed professor at the Copenhagen Conservatory.

Organ matinee

Church of Our Lady Copenhagen

On February 21, two organ students from the Royal Danish Academy of Music will be presenting the matinee. The two organists are Nabil Hanna and Benas Aleksas Jonušas, and they will present a program with music by the Czech composer Petr Eben.

Anne Mathiesen is organist at Køge Church and also an extremely active concert performer in many contexts, both as a soloist and chamber musician. At the matinee on February 14th, she will be alone on stage and will play a Nordic program with works by, among others, 'our own' JPE Hartmann, Bengt-Göran Skjöld and Jean Sibelius.

This year's matinees will be opened on Saturday, February 7th by Signe Buch Ladehoff, organist at Budolfi Church in Aalborg. She will present an exciting program with lesser-known works, namely Ludwig Thuille's Sonate in A minor, Gerald Finzi's Romance and last but not least Pamela Decker's Tango toccata on a theme by Melchior Vulpius.

'La Nativité du Seigneur' – The Nativity of the Lord – is a large organ work by Olivier Messiaen, which describes the prophecies of Jesus' birth and death and the events surrounding Christmas itself and the Epiphany.

Concert - La Nativité du Seigneur

Parish priest Sine Munch is the liturgist at this year's Christmas Eve service in the Cathedral from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., where, as is tradition, there is a special focus on Christmas music and hymns .

Christmas Eve by Stine Munch

Our Lady's Choir and Camerata Øresund perform GF Handel's famous Christmas classic.

GF Handel: The Messiah with Our Lady Kantori

As is tradition, the last matinee before Christmas features a visit from the chamber choir HYMNIA. This year it will take place on December 20th, and the program will feature Danish and English Christmas music, including an excerpt from Benjamin Britten's iconic youth work A Boy Was Born . HYMNIA will be conducted by the choir's permanent conductor for more than 40 years, Flemming Windekilde.

Choral matinee with Hymnia

Christmas concert in aid of Reden International and Reden Copenhagen with the choir Paradox, Ensemble Hovaldt, soloists and well-known invited speakers.

Ensemble Hovaldt: Support concert for Reden

One of the most enduring Christmas traditions is the Copenhagen Phil and Copenhagen Boys' Choir's performances of Bach's  Christmas Oratorio . So forget about gift shopping, Christmas stress and overeating for a few hours and instead join us in Bach's wondrous Christmas world.

Christmas Oratorio: Copenhagen Phil & Copenhagen Boys' Choir

Charles-Marie Widor wrote 10 symphonies for organ, and the 9th – Symphonie Gothique adapts a Gregorian Christmas theme Puer natus est nobis. The beautiful themes of the symphony are charged with anticipation and are therefore particularly well suited to the Advent season. The music will be performed by organist Frank Jarlsfelt at the matinee on December 13.

Organ matinee w/ Frank Jarlsfelt

Copenhagen Phil & Copenhagen Boys' Choir

As is tradition, we will mark Lucia Day with a musical service. Here, children from the 4th grade at Zahles Gymnasieskole will lead the atmospheric Lucia procession, and Our Lady's Choir will sing beautiful Advent and Christmas music. After the Lucia service, mulled wine and snacks will be served in the Rotunda.

Music Service With Lucia Procession

Cathedral organist Hanne Kuhlmann will be at the organ at the matinee on December 6, and here it is one of the great Advent hymns, Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland (Come, Saviour of the Gentiles), that will be the focal point. We will hear the hymn in recent arrangements by composers Denis Bédard and Margaretha Christina de Jong – and of course also in the great classical arrangements by Johann Sebastian Bach.

Organ matinee w/ Hanne Kuhlmann

The Academic Orchestra and Choir will perform GF Handel's  Messiah  in its entirety in Copenhagen Cathedral, Vor Frue Kirke,  on Monday, December 1, 2025 at 7 p.m.  with excellent soloists and under the direction of conductor Nenia Zenana.

Københavns Domkirke

Mar 7 - Apr 25, 2026

Organ matinee

Jul 4 - Aug 29, 2026

Summer concert

Feb 28, 2026

Organ matinee

Feb 21, 2026

Organ matinee

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