Gregorian chant resounds in the Romanesque vaults of the basilica of Knechtsteden Abbey near Dormagen. Clear, high voices fill the candlelit nave, whose special acoustics create a soulful and intense atmosphere. Once a year, the brothers of the Spiritan Order open the large church portal to music enthusiasts. This is when the Knechtsteden Early Music Festival transforms the monastery church into a concert hall of international standing.
In addition to the Gregorian Night, visitors are then drawn to concerts of virtuoso baroque music, medieval sound art and compositions dating back to the late Romantic period - including modern premieres, which are often heard for the first time after centuries of library dormancy. The spectrum ranges from intimate song recitals to passionate chamber music and large-scale oratorios, which are performed and staged by renowned artists in exclusive festival productions.
The impressive Romanesque basilica is the main attraction of the ten-day festival. Other venues include the Kreismuseum Zons, Arff Castle and the Kulturhof Knechtsteden with its converted bull barn and theater barn.
The idea behind the festival, which was founded in 1992 by Hermann Max, is to bring early music into the present in a lively way. The vocal ensemble "Rheinische Kantorei" has been part of the festival's DNA since the very beginning. Michael Rathmann took over as Festival Director for the 2024 season. Since then, together with Dorothee Oberlinger as Artist in Residence, it has been providing new thematic impetus.
Musical bike tour expands the festival cosmos
Launched in 2021 on the initiative of the festival, "MOVIMENTO - The Musical Bike Tour" has quickly developed into a successful model at the interface between cycling tourism and music enjoyment. Once again this year, around 250 participants will have the opportunity to experience the diverse cultural region on the Erft and Rhine with a full program for legs, head and ears in just one day. Along the 42 and 35 kilometers of the route, baroque castles and futuristic parking lots, medieval churches and zoos become the backdrop for extraordinary cabaret and short concerts with top-class performers from old to new music.
