A French summer dream
From June 20 to July 20, the Kissinger Sommer International Music Festival enters its 39th season and presents itself with the auspicious motto "Je ne regrette rien". Named after the famous chanson by Édith Piaf, the festival is dedicated to the musical treasures of France and celebrates the diversity of French music history with an exclusive program.

The Kissinger Sommer is an extraordinary cultural highlight in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Bad Kissingen in Lower Franconia. Every year, it becomes the center of the international music scene and offers an impressive festival program in the historic ambience of the concert halls.

Focus on French sounds
This season, the festival invites its guests to embark on a sonic journey through French music history - from baroque masters such as François Couperin to 19th and 20th century icons such as Hector Berlioz, Georges Bizet and Claude Debussy. A special highlight of the program is the 150th birthday of Maurice Ravel, whose works will be performed on several evenings. Contemporary composers such as Camille Pépin combine tradition with modernity.

World-class orchestra and top-class artists
The Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France under Mikko Franck will open the concert. Also on the program: the Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège with Lionel Bringuier and cellist Johannes Moser. Other renowned orchestras such as the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra, the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, the WDR Symphony Orchestra and the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra will delight audiences with works by Berlioz, Brahms, Mahler, Bizet, Debussy and Strauss.

Variety burlesque revue, Sheila Wolf © FeistyCatPhotography

Soloists include Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Vilde Frang, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Lisa Batiashvilli, Gautier Capuçon, Hilary Hahn, Isabelle Faust, Igor Levit, Daniil Trifonov, Alisa Weilerstein, Katharine Mehrling, Julie Fuchs, Sabine Devieilhe and many more. Unconventional formats such as the burlesque revue with Sheila Wolf or the second Kissinger Sommer Techno Rave in the Kurtheater provide fresh impulses.

Exceptional venues and a diverse program
The concert venues in Bad Kissingen are just as remarkable as the program: the Max Littmann Hall is one of the best concert halls in the world, while the Rossini Hall is ideal for chamber music. The spa theater, spa baths and open-air venues round off the experience.
In addition to the major concerts, the Kissinger Sommer offers numerous free formats: Prelude concerts in public squares, concert introductions in the Green Hall, artist talks "For a coffee with ..." or the Symphonic Mob - Bavaria's largest spontaneous orchestra in the spa gardens, where amateur musicians can make music together with professionals.
June 20 to July 20, 2025