Gürzenich-Orchester Köln
Vita
Das Gürzenich-Orchester Köln ist das Orchester der Oper Köln. Die beiden Institutionen verbindet eine langjährige erfolgreiche Partnerschaft. In der langen Geschichte des Orchesters bündeln sich viele Entwicklungslinien des städtischen Musiklebens. Seine Wurzeln reichen zurück bis zur städtischen Ratsmusik des 15. Jahrhunderts und der Domkapelle. 1827 übernahm die Cölner Concert-Gesellschaft die Trägerschaft. 1840 bestellte sie mit Conradin Kreutzer den ersten fest besoldeten Städtischen Kapellmeister. Die Gesellschaftskonzerte fanden ab 1857 in einem Handels- und Festsaal aus der Zeit der Spätgotik statt, dem sogenannten Gürzenich.
Ferdinand Hiller, Franz Wüllner und Fritz Steinbach, Hermann Abendroth, Günter Wand bis hin zu Markus Stenz und François-Xavier Roth – so unterschiedlich die städtischen Kapellmeister in der Nachfolge von Conradin Kreutzer ihre Schwerpunkte setzten, ist ihnen gemeinsam, dass sie alle die Balance zwischen dem klassischen Kanon und dem jeweils Neuen ihrer Zeit suchen. Robert und Clara Schumann konzertierten mit dem Gürzenich-Orchester in Köln, Hector Berlioz, Giuseppe Verdi und Richard Wagner dirigierten ihre neusten Werke.
1888 ging das Orchester in städtische Trägerschaft über. Die damals 53 Orchestermitglieder bespielen vertraglich verpflichtet das Theater. Bis heute ist das Gürzenich-Orchester zugleich das Orchester der Oper Köln. Marek Janowski weihte 1986 die Kölner Philharmonie mit Gustav Mahlers Sinfonie Nr. 8, der »Sinfonie der Tausend«, ein.
Von 2003 bis 2014 leitete Markus Stenz das Gürzenich-Orchester Köln und verband traditionelles Angebot und innovative Elemente im Rahmen seiner Konzerte.
Zahlreiche Einladungen führen das Orchester auf bedeutende internationale Konzertpodien, z. B. nach Wien, Athen, Thessaloniki, Amsterdam, zum International Festival Edinburgh, zu den BBC Proms nach London sowie nach China.
Upcoming productions with: Gürzenich-Orchester Köln
Freikugeln - Der Freischütz in fünf Dimensionen
Picture a day like this
Turandot
Der Rosenkavalier
Rigoletto
Der König verschenkt was
Kain und Abel
Die Zauberflöte
Alles, was klingt
Die verkaufte Braut
My Fair Lady
Das Grand Hotel der Gefühle
Siegfried
Così fan tutte
Macbeth
Rusalka
Die Nachtigall
Madama Butterfly
Die Krönung der Poppea
Manon Lescaut
Der Wunschpunsch
Das Rheingold
Saul
Hänsel und Gretel
La Cenerentola
Max und Moritz
Le nozze di Figaro
Die Walküre
Ernani
All events with Gürzenich-Orchester Köln
May 2026
Please note: This performance has been rescheduled from 30 May to 31 May 2026.
Konzertante Aufführung
Premiere
June 2026
September 2026
Curtain up: The festive reopening
October 2026
With the presentation of the „Operettenfroschs“ award by BR-Klassik
World premiere
For everyone aged 6 and up
The individual ticket sale for the children’s opera performances begin on 22 May 2026.
For everyone aged 6 and up
The individual ticket sale for the children’s opera performances begin on 22 May 2026.
For everyone aged 6 and up
The individual ticket sale for the children’s opera performances begin on 22 May 2026.
For everyone aged 6 and up
The individual ticket sale for the children’s opera performances begin on 22 May 2026.
For everyone aged 6 and up
The individual ticket sale for the children’s opera performances begin on 22 May 2026.
For everyone aged 6 and up
The individual ticket sale for the children’s opera performances begin on 22 May 2026.
For everyone aged 6 and up
The individual ticket sale for the children’s opera performances begin on 22 May 2026.
For everyone aged 6 and up
The individual ticket sale for the children’s opera performances begin on 22 May 2026.
November 2026
For everyone aged 6 and up
The individual ticket sale for the children’s opera performances begin on 22 May 2026.
For everyone aged 6 and up
The individual ticket sale for the children’s opera performances begin on 22 May 2026.
For everyone aged 6 and up
The individual ticket sale for the children’s opera performances begin on 22 May 2026.
For everyone aged 6 and up
The individual ticket sale for the children’s opera performances begin on 22 May 2026.
For everyone aged 6 and up
The individual ticket sale for the children’s opera performances begin on 22 May 2026.
For everyone aged 6 and up
The individual ticket sale for the children’s opera performances begin on 22 May 2026.
For everyone aged 6 and up
The individual ticket sale for the children’s opera performances begin on 22 May 2026.
For everyone aged 6 and up
The individual ticket sale for the children’s opera performances begin on 22 May 2026.
December 2026
For everyone aged 6 and up
The individual ticket sale for the children’s opera performances begin on 22 May 2026.
Family Matinee
January 2027
Premiere
Opera for the very youngest audiences
For children under 3 years accompanied by an adult
The individual ticket sale for the children’s opera performances begin on 22 May 2026.
Opera for the very youngest audiences
For children under 3 years accompanied by an adult
The individual ticket sale for the children’s opera performances begin on 22 May 2026.
February 2027
March 2027
Family Matinee
April 2027
Premiere
For everyone aged 5 and up
The individual ticket sale for the children’s opera performances begin on 22 May 2026.
For everyone aged 5 and up
The individual ticket sale for the children’s opera performances begin on 22 May 2026.
For everyone aged 5 and up
The individual ticket sale for the children’s opera performances begin on 22 May 2026.
For everyone aged 5 and up
The individual ticket sale for the children’s opera performances begin on 22 May 2026.
For everyone aged 5 and up
The individual ticket sale for the children’s opera performances begin on 22 May 2026.
For everyone aged 5 and up
The individual ticket sale for the children’s opera performances begin on 22 May 2026.
For everyone aged 5 and up
The individual ticket sale for the children’s opera performances begin on 22 May 2026.
For everyone aged 5 and up
The individual ticket sale for the children’s opera performances begin on 22 May 2026.
For everyone aged 5 and up
The individual ticket sale for the children’s opera performances begin on 22 May 2026.
May 2027
For everyone aged 6 and up
The individual ticket sale for the children’s opera performances begin on 22 May 2026.
June 2027
For everyone aged 6 and up
The individual ticket sale for the children’s opera performances begin on 22 May 2026.
For everyone aged 6 and up
The individual ticket sale for the children’s opera performances begin on 22 May 2026.
For everyone aged 6 and up
The individual ticket sale for the children’s opera performances begin on 22 May 2026.
For everyone aged 6 and up
The individual ticket sale for the children’s opera performances begin on 22 May 2026.
For everyone aged 6 and up
The individual ticket sale for the children’s opera performances begin on 22 May 2026.
For everyone aged 6 and up
The individual ticket sale for the children’s opera performances begin on 22 May 2026.
For everyone aged 6 and up
The individual ticket sale for the children’s opera performances begin on 22 May 2026.
For everyone aged 6 and up
The individual ticket sale for the children’s opera performances begin on 22 May 2026.
July 2027
For everyone aged 6 and up
The individual ticket sale for the children’s opera performances begin on 22 May 2026.
For everyone aged 6 and up
The individual ticket sale for the children’s opera performances begin on 22 May 2026.
For everyone aged 6 and up
The individual ticket sale for the children’s opera performances begin on 22 May 2026.
For everyone aged 6 and up
The individual ticket sale for the children’s opera performances begin on 22 May 2026.
For everyone aged 6 and up
The individual ticket sale for the children’s opera performances begin on 22 May 2026.
For everyone aged 6 and up
The individual ticket sale for the children’s opera performances begin on 22 May 2026.
September 2025
Premiere
Introduction 30 minutes prior to the performance.
October 2025
Introduction 30 minutes prior to the performance.
Introduction 30 minutes prior to the performance.
Introduction 30 minutes prior to the performance.
Introduction 30 minutes prior to the performance.
Introduction 30 minutes prior to the performance.
Follow-up discussion following the performance.
Introduction 30 minutes prior to the performance.
Introduction 30 minutes prior to the performance.
Introduction 30 minutes prior to the performance.
Tickets are available through the Cologne Philharmonie ticket service here.
Premiere
Reference to sensory stimuli: The performance includes rapidly changing lighting or strobe effects.
Premiere
Introduction 30 minutes prior to the performance.
Introduction 30 minutes prior to the performance.
Reference to sensory stimuli: The performance includes rapidly changing lighting or strobe effects.
Introduction 30 minutes prior to the performance.
November 2025
Reference to sensory stimuli: The performance includes rapidly changing lighting or strobe effects.
Introduction 30 minutes prior to the performance.
Follow-up discussion following the performance.
Reference to sensory stimuli: The performance includes rapidly changing lighting or strobe effects.
Introduction 30 minutes prior to the performance.
Reference to sensory stimuli: The performance includes rapidly changing lighting or strobe effects.
With the awarding of the Offenbach Prize
Introduction 30 minutes prior to the performance.
2:15 p.m. WHOOSH: Introduction for families
Following the performance PLAUSCH AM BÜHNENRAND
Reference to sensory stimuli: The performance includes rapidly changing lighting or strobe effects.
Reference to sensory stimuli: The performance includes rapidly changing lighting or strobe effects.
Introduction 30 minutes prior to the performance.
2:15 p.m. WHOOSH: Introduction for families
Following the performance PLAUSCH AM BÜHNENRAND
Reference to sensory stimuli: The performance includes rapidly changing lighting or strobe effects.
Introduction 30 minutes prior to the performance.
Reference to sensory stimuli: The performance includes rapidly changing lighting or strobe effects.
Reference to sensory stimuli: The performance includes rapidly changing lighting or strobe effects.
Reference to sensory stimuli: The performance includes rapidly changing lighting or strobe effects.
2:15 p.m. WHOOSH: Introduction for families
Following the performance PLAUSCH AM BÜHNENRAND
Reference to sensory stimuli: The performance includes rapidly changing lighting or strobe effects.
Premiere
Introduction 30 minutes prior to the performance.
Introduction 30 minutes prior to the performance.
Follow-up discussion following the performance.
Introduction 30 minutes prior to the performance.
December 2025
Introduction 30 minutes prior to the performance.
School classes should contact gruppen@buehnen.koeln directly
Reference to sensory stimuli: The performance includes rapidly changing lighting or strobe effects.
Introduction 30 minutes prior to the performance.
Reference to sensory stimuli: The performance includes rapidly changing lighting or strobe effects.
Introduction 30 minutes prior to the performance.
10:45 a.m. WHOOSH: Introduction for families
Following the performance PLAUSCH AM BÜHNENRAND
Reference to sensory stimuli: The performance includes rapidly changing lighting or strobe effects.
Reference to sensory stimuli: The performance includes rapidly changing lighting or strobe effects.
Reference to sensory stimuli: The performance includes rapidly changing lighting or strobe effects.
Introduction 30 minutes prior to the performance.
Introduction 30 minutes prior to the performance.
For blind and visually impaired visitors, we offer audio description during the performance and a tactile tour before the performance, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in Hall 3. To participate in the audio description and tactile tour, please register in advance at tickets@buehnen.koeln or +49 221 221 28400.
Introduction 30 minutes prior to the performance.
Reference to sensory stimuli: The performance includes rapidly changing lighting or strobe effects.
Reference to sensory stimuli: The performance includes rapidly changing lighting or strobe effects.
Reference to sensory stimuli: The performance includes rapidly changing lighting or strobe effects.
Reference to sensory stimuli: The performance includes rapidly changing lighting or strobe effects.
Reference to sensory stimuli: The performance includes rapidly changing lighting or strobe effects.
Reference to sensory stimuli: The performance includes rapidly changing lighting or strobe effects.
January 2026
Premiere
School classes interested in the mobile opera MAX AND MORITZ should contact gruppen@buehnen.koeln directly.
School classes interested in the mobile opera MAX AND MORITZ should contact gruppen@buehnen.koeln directly.
February 2026
Rheinische Musikschule – Regionalschule Ehrenfeld, Vogelsanger Straße 28-32, 50823 Köln-Ehrenfeld
Rheinische Musikschule – Regionalschule Ehrenfeld, Vogelsanger Straße 28-32, 50823 Köln-Ehrenfeld
Rheinische Musikschule – Regionalschule Ehrenfeld, Vogelsanger Straße 28-32, 50823 Köln-Ehrenfeld
Rheinische Musikschule – Regionalschule Ehrenfeld, Vogelsanger Straße 28-32, 50823 Köln-Ehrenfeld
March 2026
Rheinische Musikschule – Regionalschule Ehrenfeld, Vogelsanger Straße 28-32, 50823 Köln-Ehrenfeld
Rheinische Musikschule – Regionalschule Ehrenfeld, Vogelsanger Straße 28-32, 50823 Köln-Ehrenfeld
Premiere
Introduction 30 minutes prior to the performance.
Introduction 30 minutes prior to the performance.
Introduction 30 minutes prior to the performance.
Introduction 30 minutes prior to the performance.
Introduction 30 minutes prior to the performance.
Introduction 30 minutes prior to the performance.
Introduction 30 minutes prior to the performance.
Introduction 30 minutes prior to the performance.
Introduction 30 minutes prior to the performance.
Introduction 30 minutes prior to the performance.
April 2026
Introduction 30 minutes prior to the performance and follow-up discussion following the performance.
Here you will find information about the sensitive content of the play.
Premiere
Konzertante Aufführung
Konzertante Aufführung
Konzertante Aufführung
Unfortunately, the performance on 29 April 2026 has been canceled.