Köln, 2025-09-12

3 Concerts celebrating the 254th birthday and renovation of St. Gregory at Elend in Cologne

Concert ll.

The Baroque Rediscovery – Works by Paul Ignaz Liechtenauer

The music of the Baroque composer and Osnabrück Cathedral Kapellmeister Paul Ignaz Liechtenauer, whose works had long been forgotten, is experiencing an exciting rediscovery in this concert.

The Kölner Akademie, conducted by Michael Willens, will perform Liechtenauer’s works for the first time since their remarkable rediscovery.

Liechtenauer, born into a musical family – his father was an organ builder and organist in Vienna – pursued his musical career from Koblenz-Ehrenbreitstein to Osnabrück. There, he quickly gained recognition for his liturgical music and was soon celebrated as “Kapellmeister.”

His music is characterized by formal simplicity, yet it is full of charm and surprising twists. Often playful and virtuosic, it is immediately accessible and engages the audience from the start. The works performed in this concert are a rewarding rediscovery, offering a fascinating glimpse into the musical life of the 18th century.