During the Museumsuferfest on 30 and 31 August, Frankfurt's city centre churches are once again inviting visitors to the ecumenical choir and organ mile. Coordinated by Catholic city church cantor Peter Reulein and Protestant provost cantor Raphaël Arnault, the concert series – an integral part of the festival weekend since 1998 – takes listeners on a 13-stop tour through the soundscapes of both denominations. The principle is well established: promenade concerts begin on the hour, followed by 30 minutes of music and 30 minutes for changing locations. Admission is free and the events are barrier-free. On Saturday from 3 p.m., the stage belongs to the organs – and a repertoire that takes the theme of the year seriously. Music from the Belle Époque will be heard in the Leonhardskirche, not far from the Römerberg, while hymns, including some from the world of football, will be sung in the Deutschordenskirche. In the Dreikönigskirche am Eisernen Steg, cantor Andreas Köhs will perform Liszt's Prelude and Fugue on B-A-C-H. Later, in St. Katharinen, the pipe organ will meet electronic sounds, before a finale in St. Bartholomew's Cathedral under the leitmotif "Sun, Moon and Stars" concludes the day. One of the youngest performers is 14-year-old organist Arne Specht, who will play symphonic works by Guilmant in the Liebfrauenkirche. "The mile is poetic," says Reulein; the change "from Hibbdebach to Dribbdebach" is "part of its charm".
Sunday from 4 p.m. belongs to the voices: Frankfurt vocal ensembles span a range from Renaissance and Baroque to modern praise songs. In St. Catherine's Church at the Hauptwache, the audience is once again invited to sing along – a large temporary choir. "Both choirs and organists have once again put together a very varied programme," says Arnault. The concept is a success: according to Reulein's estimates, the Mile attracts a total of around 4,000 visitors. Dore Struckmeier-Schubert, journalist, city guide and presenter of the series since 2017, speaks of a success story: "It's always an experience to see how the programme is received." Her short introductions connect the location and the programme – if necessary, in two or three minutes from Bach to Ennio Morricone.
This year's Choir and Organ Mile is under the patronage of Michael Thurn, director of the Catholic City Church of Frankfurt, and Vice-Dean Amina Bruch-Cincar from the Protestant City Deanery of Frankfurt and Offenbach. For Reulein, the programme shows one thing above all: "Churches are not museums, but the largest and oldest cultural assets we have." Those who only want to listen to one stop are just as welcome as those who want to spend the whole afternoon drifting from hour to hour, from the Belle Époque to electronic sounds.
