Bach Marathon: 22 hours of organ art in the Thomaskirche Leipzig!

Bach Marathon: 22 hours of organ art in the Thomaskirche Leipzig!

A unique musical event is coming: From October 31st to November 1st, 2025, a spectacular organ marathon will take place in the famous Thomaskirche in Leipzig. The church's organist, Johannes Lang, pushes himself to the limit to interpret all of Johann Sebastian Bach's works on Gerald Woehl's impressive Bach organ. This unique project, which Lang describes as the fulfillment of a long-held dream, lasts approximately 22 hours, punctuated by breaks during which the audience can choose between individual concerts or sections. Those interested can choose between individual concerts, a “half marathon” or even the complete “marathon” to be carried away into the fascinating world of Bach's music. The first concert begins on October 31, 2025 at 1:30 p.m., the last concert follows on November 1st at 9:00 a.m., in which the third part of the “Clavier Exercise” will be performed. Tickets are available online and on site in the Thomasshop and in the Oelsner music store in Leipzig.

Preparing for this marathon was anything but easy. Johannes Lang, who has been playing the organ at St. Thomas Church for years, has put a lot of time and energy into this prestigious project. Its goal is to present Bach's organ works in all their diversity and to arouse enthusiasm among both enthusiasts and newcomers. The long duration of the performance allows listeners to immerse themselves in the impressive acoustics of the church and to perceive the depth of the music that Johann Sebastian Bach created during his lifetime.

Multimedia documentation

The entire marathon will not only be experienced live, but also recorded. The result is a 90-minute concert documentary that will be shown on Arte and later in the ARD media library and MDR. The performance will also be broadcast live on Arte Concert, and selected excerpts will be broadcast on MDR KLASSIK and MDR KULTUR on the first day of the event from 8:03 p.m. This media support ensures that the fascinating experience is made accessible to a broad audience beyond Leipzig.

A noteworthy note: Johann Sebastian Bach himself was St. Thomas Cantor at St. Thomas Church from 1723 until his death in 1750. His grave has been in the chancel of the church since 1950, making it not only a temple to the Muses, but also a historical place of great importance. The organ marathon is therefore not just a concert, but a tribute to one of the greatest composers in music history and to the tradition of the Thomaskirche.

For all music lovers who are looking forward to this extraordinary event, all that remains to say is: secure your tickets and let yourself be enchanted by the sounds of Bach! Further information can be found on the websites of Deutschlandfunk and MDR.