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World record in Leipzig: Experience Bach’s masterpieces live for 22 hours!
On October 31, 2025, Johannes Lang will play Bach's entire organ works in a 22-hour marathon in the Thomaskirche in Leipzig.
World record in Leipzig: Experience Bach’s masterpieces live for 22 hours!
The anticipation is increasing! On October 31, 2025, the legendary Thomaskirche in Leipzig will become the stage for an extraordinary musical event. As part of the “Gravity Bach” project, Thomas organist Johannes Lang will perform the entire organ works of Johann Sebastian Bach within around 22 hours. The marathon starts at 1:30 p.m. and ends on November 1st at around 10:45 a.m. It is an event that makes the hearts of all Bach lovers beat faster.
In this spectacular concert marathon, over 200 works by Bach - including toccatas, chorale arrangements, trios, partitas, preludes and fugues - are performed in a continuous cycle. The order of the pieces was determined by Bach researcher Christoph Wolff and is based on the course of the church year. The result is 14 thematically structured concerts that combine both classical and chorale works. This special sequence immerses listeners deeply in Bach's spiritual and musical legacy.
Ballet, art and science
But the event offers much more than just organ music. During the breaks, visitors can look forward to interesting conversations with guests from all over the world. Musicians from the Gewandhaus Orchestra and the King’s Singers will be accompanied in interviews by Julia Sophie Wagner and Daniel Hope. There are also remarkable dance performances by five renowned ballet ensembles, such as the Semperoper Ballet, which translate various organ works into contemporary dance performances.
The connection between music, fine art and science is a central aspect of this project. Participants such as rock keyboardist Jordan Rudess and physicist Douglas R. Hofstadter, one of today's leading thinkers, will inspire creative works in real time, while live images of Earth from the ISS provide a universal perspective. This makes the event a global experience that brings people together across borders.
Cards and transfer
Various ticket options are available for the event: individual concerts cost between 10 and 15 euros, the half marathon costs 18 to 25 euros, while the entire marathon is available for 35 to 50 euros. Tickets can be purchased in the Thomasshop and at the box office.
Anyone who cannot be there live has the opportunity to follow the entire event via livestream, as Arte Concert and MDR will broadcast the performances. There will also be a 90-minute documentary about the concert, which will be broadcast in the ARD media library and on Arte.
The “Gravity Bach” project not only represents a highlight in the musical calendar, but also the 25th anniversary of the Bach organ in Leipzig, which was first presented in November 2000. And so it is said in St. Thomas Church: “Bach is everywhere!” The continually rediscovered appeal of his music can be impressively experienced here.
Be prepared for an unforgettable experience at St. Thomas Church, where the spirit of Johann Sebastian Bach is revived in all its glory. daily news reports that Johannes Lang has been preparing for this unique marathon for over a year. An event not to be missed!
The entire music world is looking forward to this great event, which not only celebrates the tradition of classical music, but also integrates innovative formats into church music. Arte and LVZ have already reported on the preparations and scope of this project, which will certainly provide unforgettable musical moments.