Music in Saxony
Updated:
The music scene in Saxony is diverse and ranges from classical music to rock, punk and metal to electronic sounds. With one of the densest theater and orchestra structures in Germany, Saxony is considered a cultural center.
A particular highlight is the Saxon State Orchestra in Dresden, one of the oldest and most traditional orchestras in the world. In addition to the state ensembles, numerous independent orchestras enrich the musical offerings in the Free State.
Saxony's music scene at a glance
Dresden and Leipzig are world-famous places where great composers such as Johann Sebastian Bach, Carl Maria von Weber, Robert Schumann and Richard Wagner worked.
In Leipzig, the Gewandhaus Orchestra, St. Thomas Church and the St. Thomas Boys Choir are central institutions in the history of music.
The Semperoper in Dresden delights audiences with classical operas and modern productions, while the Dresden Kreuzchor is internationally renowned.
The Elbland Philharmonie Sachsen brings classical music to the regions around Dresden with over 200 concerts every year. The highlight of the musical year is the Leipzig Bach Festival, one of the most important international music festivals, which attracts visitors from all over the world.
Venues such as the UT Connewitz and festivals such as the Leipziger Jazztage offer a varied program that enriches Saxony's jazz scene.
The Dresden International Dixieland Festival, the largest and oldest festival for traditional jazz in Europe, attracts numerous visitors every year. Chemnitz has been delighting visitors since 2019 with the street music festival "City Jazz & Friends", which brings jazz sounds to the streets and creates a special musical experience.
Chemnitz has developed into a strong center of the German rock and hip-hop scene with bands such as Kraftklub, Blond and Trettmann. The well-known pop band Silbermond comes from Bautzen. The band "Die Prinzen" also come from Saxony.
Leipzig has established itself alongside Berlin as a major hotspot for electronic music and attracts DJs and fans from all over the world.
Punk and metal in particular have shaped and continue to shape Saxony's musical landscape. The raw and provocative style of music is a standard in some bars and clubs in Saxony's major cities. One of the most famous band members of Rammstein, Til Lindemann, or Bill and Tom Kaulitz of the band Tokio Hotel were born in Leipzig.
Numerous concerts with typical Erzgebirge brass band music take place in the Erzgebirge, especially at Christmas time.
Music festivals in Saxony
Saxony hosts some of the most famous music festivals in Germany. The Wave-Gotik-Treffen (WGT) in Leipzig is one of the most important festivals of gothic culture in the world. The Highfield Festival at Störmthaler See near Leipzig delights fans of rock, pop and indie music.
The Moritzburg Festival near Dresden is a renowned international chamber music festival. The DAVE (Dresden Audio Visual Experience) Festival combines music with visual art in a special way.
Other highlights include the Central Saxon Summer of Culture, the Lusatian Summer of Music and the Erzgebirge Music Festival, which offer a wide range of cultural events. The Dresden Music Festival attracts top-class artists every year.
A worldwide event is the Fête de la Musique on June 21, when musicians delight their audiences in numerous Saxon cities.
