Zelenka Festival 2025: Music connects Prague and Dresden in harmony!

Zelenka Festival 2025: Music connects Prague and Dresden in harmony!

The Zelenka Festival Prague – Dresden will bring a touch of musical history to the two cities in October 2025. The 11th edition of the festival will be celebrated from October 16th to 21st. The kick-off will take place on October 16, the anniversary of Jan Dismas Zelenka's baptism, with a lecture by Adam Viktora, who is considered not only the founder but also the organizer of the festival. His topic: “Jan Dismas Zelenka – Famous, Unknown”.

The next day, October 17th, things get serious: the festival's opening concert presents the complete performance of Zelenka's fourth psalm cycle, "Psalmi Varii", performed by the well-known ensemble Inégal and the Dresden Chamber Choir under the direction of Adam Viktora. For anyone who misses the concert this Friday, there is a second chance on Saturday, October 18th, in the Dreikönigskirche in Dresden, where the performance will take place again.

A diverse program with special highlights

Sunday, October 19th also has a lot to offer: visitors can expect a traditional mass from the 19th Sunday after Pentecost in the Tridentine rite. This is accompanied by Renaissance music and starts at 11:00 a.m. In the afternoon it will be “Improvisations on Zelenka's Themes” – an event with the talented German organist Martin Sturm in the Basilica of St. Margaret in Břevnov.

The festival continues with the final concert on October 21st, where Zelenka's famous trio sonatas will be performed by the French ensemble Sarbacanes. These different facets of Zelenka's music demonstrate once again the versatility and cultural richness that his works offer.

A bridge between Prague and Dresden

The Zelenka Festival concerts are an integral part of both ensembles' concert calendars and aim to renew the musical connection between Prague and Dresden. Zelenka's works combine Czech, German and Italian influences and thus offer a fascinating insight into early modern cultural exchange.

Overall, the festival is publicly supported by various institutions, including the Ministry of Culture, the City of Prague and the Czech-German Future Fund. The general partner for the event is Urban Developers and Investors Ltd. Group. This broad support shows the importance of this festival for cultural cooperation across borders.

So prepare yourself for an eventful musical October weekend that offers both old masterpieces and new interpretations. The legendary compositions of Jan Dismas Zelenka are coming back into the spotlight - don't miss the opportunity to experience this unique musical journey.

You can find more information about the events on the website Bandsintown, Zelenka festival and GoOut.