Performances in the Basilica, Palace of Arts, Matthias Church etc.
Going to an organ concert in a church is a perfect combination of musical entertainment and sightseeing. Here are the most popular organ concert venues in Budapest.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents – Organ Concerts in Budapest
Organ Concerts in St Stephen’s Basilica
Enjoy the excellent acoustics of St Stephen’s Cathedral on an organ concert. You have several options regarding dates and concert duration.
Basilica: Festive Unique Grand Organ Concert
Where the most beautiful Christmas melodies will be played.
Concert Starts: 28.12.2024 11.00 am
Duration: 45 min. â Price: âŹ75
#1. Concert on the Grand Organ with Visitor Ticket To the Basilica, Treasury, Panorama Terrace – â BEST VALUE
Basilica: Unique Grand Organ Concerts & TICKETS
Every Wednesday at 10.00 am
– 20 minutes long exclusive small group concert and explanation by the Organist
– All inclusive ticket to the venue: Access to the Church, the Treasury and the Panoramic Terrace
– Detailed explanation about the Grand Organ; visitation of the venue is non-guided
Price: From âŹ51
Date & Time:
- Wednesday and some Saturdays at 10.00
Duration:
- cc. 1 hour: 20-minute live concert plus introduction to the grand organ then you’re free to explore he church, tresury and lookout terrace at your leisure.
Price of the Grand Organ Concert With Basilica Visitor Ticket:
- 51 EUR
For a full experience and to appreciate the church’s 6 000-pipe grand organ go on a 20-minute concert that also includes visitor ticket to the Basilica, Treasury and the Panorama Lookout Terrace.
A host will escort you up to the gallery where the grand organ is located.
Highlights of the Program:
- Meet the organist, who will share fascinating insights into the history and intricate workings of the instrument.
- Learn about the impressive console, the heart of the instrument, and how it commands the vast array of pipes
Then he will play organ music pieces by Baroque and Romantic composers like
- Handel,
- Bach and
- Liszt
đ You can see the full concert program here.
This program includes:
- Detailed explanation of the Grand Organ by the organist
- Live 20-minute organ concert featuring pieces by various composers
- Entry to the Basilica, Treasury, and Panoramic Terrace
#2. 70-minute Organ Recital with Flute Solo, On Thursdays at 20.00
The 70-minute organ recital on Thursday evenings is performed by one of Hungary’s most talented pipe organ players, Kolos KovĂĄts.
The program includes a flute solo by EleonĂłra Krusic a famous Hungarian flute player who regularly performs with other European orchestras.
Performances are held every Thursday at 20.00 between May – November.
Dates in 2024:
Concerts start at 20:00 on Thursdays, and last about 70 minutes, without break.
- May: 23, 25, 30
- June: 6, 13, 20, 27
- July: 4, 11, 18, 25
- August: 1, 8, 22, 29
- September: 5, 12, 19
- October: 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
- November: 7, 14, 21, 28
- December 05, 12, 19, 26
đ See availability and book your place!
Ticket Prices – 70-Min Organ Concert:
- I Category ticket – row 1 to row 6 : 38 EUR / Student 36 EUR
- II Category ticket – row 7 to row 16: 34 EUR / Student 31 EUR
- III Category ticket – row 17 to row 26: 29 EUR / Student 25 EUR
Note: Assigned seating. You will be assigned the best seats available in the chosen category at the time of purchase.
Program of the Concert
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791): Fantasie in F minor K 506
- Alessandro Stradella (1639-1682): PietĂ Signore
- Tomaso Albinoni (1671-1751): Adagio
- Franz Liszt (1811-1886) – Camille Saint-SaŃns (1835-1921): Legend in A major (St. Francis of Assisi’s Sermon to the Birds)
- Johannes Brahms (1833-1897): Prelude and Fuge in G minor
- Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901): Prayer of Fiesco from opera Simone Boccanegra
- Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750): Polonaise, Minuet and Badinerie from Suite in B minor BWV 1067
- Johann Sebastian Bach: Toccata and Fugue in D minor BWV 565
Book An Organ Concert in St. Stephen’s Basilica
Basilica: Grand Organ Concert & Visitor Ticket
Every Wednesday at 10.00
Duration: 1 hour
Price: From âŹ51
Organ Concert & Hungarian Dinner Cruise
Every Thursday
Concert starts: at 20.00
Cruise starts: at 22.00 (1.5-hour long)
Price: From âŹ105
TIP: See also our Cristmas and New Year Concert recommendations at various Budapest venues.
Organ Concert + Danube Cruise with Dinner
After the concert a night boat tour with buffet dinner will make the evening even more memorable.
In the romantic candlelight atmosphere you can enjoy the wonderful view of Budapest decked out in lights.
What’s more, you can enjoy traditional Hungarian dishes like goulash and stuffed cabbage.
After dinner you can also admire the panorama from the open upper deck of the ship.
- Full price: 1. cat: 105 EUR, 2. cat: 101 EUR, 3. cat: 96 EUR
- Students: 1. cat: 103 EUR, 2. cat: 98 EUR, 3. cat: 92 EUR
After the concert a host or hostess will escort you to the pier when the boat departs at 22.00.
The tour lasts approx. 1.5 hours. đ See more details and booking!
Organ Concert in the Basilica & Night Cruise with Dinner
From May to November, every Thursday
Concert Starts: 20.00
Cruise Starts: 22.00
Price: From âŹ105
Organ Concerts in the Palace of Arts/MĂŒpa
Address:
- Komor Marcell utca 1., Bp 1095 district IX., (View on Map)
Getting there:
- Tram 2 or H7 HĂV/suburban railway MĂŒpa-Nemzeti SzĂnhĂĄz stop,
- Tram 1 KözvĂĄgĂłhĂd stop
The Palace of Arts on the Pest bank of the Danube next to RĂĄkĂłczi Bridge frequently hosts organ concerts.
The unique and famous organ of the Palace of Arts is in the BĂ©la BartĂłk National Concert Hall and was made by the PĂ©csi OrgonaĂ©pĂtĆ ManufaktĂșra and MĂŒhleisen Orgelbau Stuttgart in 2006 .
The world-renowned 5-manual instrument has
- 6804 pipes and
- 92 registers.
In the past decade numerous concerts were played on it and it will bring to life classic organ pieces on this weekend festival too.
See tickets and detailed program on the MĂŒpa’s website.
Classical Music Concerts in Matthias Church
Address:
- Szenthåromsåg tér 2., Bp 1014 district I., Buda Castle (See on Map)
The historic Matthias church in the heart of Buda Castle hosts wonderful free organ concerts on Sundays starting at 19.30.
Tickets: Free (30-minute performances on Sundays at 19.30)
The Duna String Orchestra also performs regularly in the church, usually on Mondays and Fridays every month.
You can enjoy pieces by Schubert, Bach, and Handel.
Tickets to the Duna String Orchestra performances:
- Category B Ticket: 46 EUR
- Category A Ticket: 54 EUR
- Category VIP Ticket: 59 EUR
The Organ of the Matthias Church
The acoustic of the temple is very good and the historic atmosphere makes it an excellent venue for church concerts.
It has a Rieger Kloss organ that was built in 1909 from a donation by Franz Joseph emperor.
The five-manual, 85-register organ with 8-line (Setzer) combination and electro-pneumatic action (Op. 3540) was consecrated in January 1984.
There is also a 2-manual 18-register remote addition in the BĂ©la chapel that can be played individually or controlled from the large organ. The beautiful organ cabinet is the work of Frigyes Schulek architect (he designed Fishermen’s Bastion).
The instrument, along with the other parts of the church, was completely refurbished in 2013.
TIP: see also dates of music events on the church’s website
Concerts in the Inner City Parish Church
Address:
- Mårcius 15. tér 2., Bp 1056 district V., tram 2 (See on Map)
đ International Organ Concert Series, May 05 – June 30, 2024
The Inner City Parish Church gives home to the performances of the International Organ Music Festival, between May 05 – June 30, 2024.
The concerts are free to attend
This year’s festival marks a special occasion, as Hungary commemorates two significant anniversaries with Poland:
This year’s festival marks a special occasion, as Hungary commemorates two significant anniversaries with Poland:
- The 800th birthday of Saint Kinga of the ĂrpĂĄd dynasty, patron saint of Poland and Lithuania, and the
- 650th birthday of Saint Hedwig, daughter of King Louis I of Hungary and later Queen of Poland.
In honor of these momentous anniversaries, the festival will feature performances by two renowned Polish artists, PaweĆ WrĂłbel and Roman Perucki, alongside two distinguished Hungarian organists, JĂĄnos PĂĄlĂșr and the festival’s founding artistic director, Zsolt MĂĄtĂ© MĂ©szĂĄros.
Additionally, Silvio Celeghin from Italy will grace the festival as a special guest.
“Festival-goers can expect exceptional programs this year,” shares MĂ©szĂĄros, the festival’s artistic director. “This year’s program will be extraordinarily diverse, featuring many unique performances that the audience will experience for the first time.”
Highlights:
- The Budapest International Organ Festival celebrates its 2024 edition with a focus on shared heritage and artistic excellence.
- The festival marks the 800th birthday of Saint Kinga and the 650th birthday of Saint Hedwig, strengthening ties between Hungary and Poland.
- Renowned organists from Poland and Hungary, alongside a special guest from Italy, will grace the festival with their performances.
The Budapest International Organ Festival promises to be an enriching and inspiring event, showcasing the beauty and diversity of organ music while fostering cultural understanding and appreciation.
Concert Schedule:
- Sunday, May 05, 19:30: PaweĆ WrĂłbel (Poland)
- Wednesday, May 08, 19:30: JĂĄnos PĂĄlĂșr (Hungary)
- Sunday, May 12, 19:30: Silvio Celeghin (Italy)
- Sunday, June 23, 19.30:
Concert dates in 2024: Not available yet.
Tickets: full price: 14 EUR/3 500 HUF, student, senior: 12 EUR/3 000 HUF
The two-towered church standing on the Pest riverbank near ErzsĂ©bet Bridge used to have organ concerts on Wednesday afternoons. This year’s concert dates have not been announced yet.
The church is one of the oldest in Budapest originating in the 11. century.
Bishop GellĂ©rt’s – killed by rebel pagans after the death of King St. Stephen – remains are said to be buried here.
Not much survived the centuries from the original Roman style basilica.
It reached its current size in the 14 -15 centuries under the rule of King Sigismund of Luxembourg then King Matthias.
The Turks converted the temple into a mosque.
You can visit the church and its museum every day
- between 09.00 – 16.30 on weekdays and
- 09.00 – 22.00 on Sundays.
The church has mass with organ music on weekdays at 17.00.
Organ Concerts in St. Anne Church
Address:
- Batthyåny tér 7., district I., M2 metro station (See on Map)
About St. Anne Church
The original medieval church was destroyed during the Turkish rule in the 16th century.
The parish was restituted to the Jesuits in 1687 by by archbishop György Széchenyi who managed it until 1773 when their order was broken up.
The church in its current form was constructed in 1762, according to design of PĂ©ter Hamon.
The original organ of this beautiful Baroque church in north Buda, also known as Water Town, came from the Carmelite church.
An electric organ was built in by the Angster company in 1926.
It was destroyed during the siege of Budapest in 1945.
A new three manual, 37-register instrument was made in Dresden in 1985.
You can enjoy 1-hour concerts performed by talented Hungarian organ artists in the church on Friday evenings.
TIP: The church is in the Buda side from where you can admire the stunning view of the Parliament building across the River Danube. There is also a food market on BatthyĂĄny Square if you wish to shop for local goods.
Organ Series in the DeĂĄk Square Lutheran Church – FREE
Address: Deåk tér 4., district V., downtown, M1, M2, M3 metro lines
Date & Time: on the last Sunday each month at 18.00 – 19.30
Tickets: Free
The Lutheran Church on DeĂĄk Ferenc Square gives home to a series of concerts titled “OrgonazenĂ©s ĂhĂtatok/Organ Music with Devotion” with various outstanding artists performing at each occasion including young talents.
You can also join a short devotion between the music pieces.
The current organ – a mechanical, 3-manual, 44-register neo-Baroque instrument – is the third in the history of the church.
Church of St. Michael, VĂĄci Str., Organ & Choir Concerts
Address:
- VĂĄci utca 47/b, district V.
Getting there:
- M3 Ferenciek tere, or Kålvin tér station, M1, M2, M3 metro Vörösmarty tér station or tram 2 Mårcius 15. tér stop
Duration: 70 minutes
Tickets: from 39 EUR
This lovely baroque temple in busy VĂĄci Street is a venue for organ and choir concerts on Wednesday and Saturday evenings from May till end of December.
On Wednesdays vocal and instrumental soloists complement the organ recital. On Saturday the performance of various choirs contribute to the musical program.
Program (might vary slightly from concert to concert):
Related:
Top Concert Halls/Classical Concert Tips – Concerts in Danube Palace/VigadĂł – Hungarian Folk Dance Show – History of Budapest – Cultural Hot Spots in Budapest – Christmas & New Year’s Concerts