Silbermann Organ Festival of Saint-Quirin
Baroque music festival centered around the Silbermann organ in Saint-Quirin
About Silbermann Festival
An exceptional Silbermann organ
The Silbermann Organ Festival of Saint-Quirin is inseparable from the instrument at its heart: the Jean-André Silbermann organ, built in 1746 and classified as a historic monument. This organ, one of the most remarkable by the Silbermann family, genius organ builders from Alsace in the 18th century, is installed in the priory church of Saint-Quirin, a religious building that overlooks this village listed among the Most Beautiful Villages of France. The exceptional sound of this baroque instrument attracts organists and music lovers from all over the world each year.
A five-Sunday festival
The festival unfolds over five consecutive Sundays in June, with each concert taking place from 5 PM to 7 PM in the priory church. This extended format allows music lovers to return each week to discover a different program and performer, creating an anticipated Sunday musical event for local residents and passing tourists.
Internationally renowned organists
Each year, the festival invites leading organists from France and abroad. Among the performers who have played the Silbermann organ are professors from prestigious music academies, titular organists of renowned churches, and specialists in baroque music. In 2025, the festival will notably feature Helmut Deutsch, organ professor at the Musikhochschule in Stuttgart, who will perform works by Couperin, Böhm, Mozart, and Bach.
A repertoire focused on baroque
The festival's programming naturally emphasizes the baroque repertoire, which suits the sounds and capabilities of the Silbermann organ. Works by Bach, Couperin, Buxtehude, Böhm, and other composers from the 17th and 18th centuries form the core of the programs. Explorations into the classical (Mozart, Haydn) and romantic repertoire complement this exploration of organ literature.
A charming village in Southern Moselle
Saint-Quirin, located in the heart of the Pays de Sarrebourg in Southern Moselle, is one of the Most Beautiful Villages of France. This picturesque village, nestled in the Moselle Vosges, offers an enchanting setting for the festival. The priory church, with its two towers dominating the hilly landscape, provides a remarkable architectural setting for the organ concerts. Visitors can extend their visit by discovering the heritage of Saint-Quirin and its wooded surroundings.
Free admission and accessibility
The Silbermann Festival is free, with a collection plate at the end of each concert. This choice by the Association des Amis de l'Orgue Silbermann (Friends of the Silbermann Organ Association), which has organized the festival for many years, makes organ music accessible to the widest possible audience and introduces this magnificent instrument to people who might not otherwise have entered a classical concert hall.
Silbermann Festival — edition 2026
2026 edition of the Silbermann Organ Festival of Saint-Quirin: five concerts from June 7 to 28, 2026 around the 1746 Jean-André Silbermann organ, in the priory church of Saint-Quirin (Moselle) and at the Saint-Marien church of Vic-sur-Seille. Baroque program with the Ensemble Ad libitum, the Bach Collegium Sarrebruck, organist Helmut Deutsch and the participants of the international masterclass. Concerts with free admission (hat collection).
A 47th musical season in the heart of the Moselle summer
The Association des Amis de l'Orgue Silbermann renews its annual event in June 2026 around the 1746 Jean-André Silbermann organ, an instrument classified as a historical monument and the only authentic surviving example of the Alsatian builder's production. Five concerts are spread over five consecutive weekends between June 7 and 28, four of which are in the priory church of Saint-Quirin and one in the Saint-Marien church of Vic-sur-Seille.
A baroque and classical program
The 2026 edition combines ensemble concerts, organ recitals, heritage conferences, and the presentation of an international masterclass. The works cover the European baroque repertoire — Bach, Handel, Buxtehude, Vivaldi, Torelli, Mozart — interpreted by leading ensembles and soloists from France, Luxembourg, and Germany.
A unique heritage setting
The priory church of Saint-Quirin, with its two characteristic baroque towers, offers exceptional acoustics that enhance the Silbermann organ. The village, classified among the Plus Beaux Villages de France and nestled in the Moselle Vosges, complements the musical experience with a remarkable natural and heritage environment. Visitors can extend their visit with the prelude hikes organized by the Club Vosgien (departure at 2 PM on concert days, approximately 6 km, free) which allow them to discover the forest, Gallo-Roman heritage, and the former Benedictine priory before the 5 PM concert.
Free admission
All concerts have free admission, with a hat collection at the end of the concert, in accordance with the association's philosophy: to make organ music accessible to the widest possible audience.
Programme Silbermann Festival 2026
Sunday, June 7, 2026 — 5:00 PM
Saint-Marien Church, Vic-sur-Seille
- Ensemble Ad libitum (Luxembourg, conducted by Rosch Mirkes)
- Program: “Baroque Music Across Europe”
- Personnel: traverso, baroque violin, viola da gamba, harpsichord
Sunday, June 14, 2026 — 5:00 PM
Priory Church, Saint-Quirin
- Bach Collegium Sarrebruck, conducted by Reiner Oster
- Program: “From Bach to Mozart” — preludes and fugues, organ pieces, arias and church sonatas by Buxtehude, Handel, Bach, and Mozart
- Voices and instruments united at the Silbermann organ loft
Sunday, June 21, 2026
Priory Church, Saint-Quirin
- 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM: Lecture on ancient Vosges deities (Gallo-Roman archaeology of the Saint-Quirin site)
- 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Organ recital by Helmut Deutsch (organ professor at the Musikhochschule Stuttgart) — works by Couperin, Böhm, Mozart, and Bach
Friday, June 26, 2026 — 8:00 PM
Priory Church, Saint-Quirin
- Closing concert of the international organ masterclass
- Program: “From Chapel to Theatre” — Silbermann, between French and Germanic tradition
- Performers: masterclass participants
Sunday, June 28, 2026 — 5:00 PM
Priory Church, Saint-Quirin
- Closing concert: “Vivaldi, Handel, Torelli: A Journey to Italy”
- Concertos for organ and orchestra, sonatas da chiesa
Club Vosgien prelude hikes: departure at 2 PM in front of the church on concert days, approximately 6 km, through the forest and heritage of Saint-Quirin (walking shoes recommended, cancelled in case of bad weather).
Highlights Silbermann Festival 2026
- 1746 Jean-André Silbermann organ, classified as a historical monument — the only authentic surviving instrument by the Alsatian builder
- Five free concerts over five weekends in June
- Recital by Helmut Deutsch (Musikhochschule Stuttgart) on June 21
- Bach Collegium Sarrebruck in vocal and instrumental concert on June 14
- Opening concert at Saint-Marien Church in Vic-sur-Seille (Ensemble Ad libitum)
- International organ masterclass with a closing concert on June 26
- Free prelude hikes by the Club Vosgien before each concert
- Village of Saint-Quirin classified among the Plus Beaux Villages de France
Prices Silbermann Festival 2026
Practical information — Silbermann Festival
Access
Saint-Quirin is located in Southern Moselle, in the Pays de Sarrebourg.
- By car : From Sarrebourg, follow the D96 towards Saint-Quirin (approximately 20 minutes). From Metz, take the A4 towards Strasbourg, exit Sarrebourg, then D96 (approximately 1 hour 10 minutes).
- Parking : Free parking in the village.
Venue
Priory Church of Saint-Quirin, 57560 Saint-Quirin.
Schedule
Five Sundays in June, from 5 PM to 7 PM.
Prices
Free (collection plate).
Contact
Association des Amis de l'Orgue Silbermann de Saint-Quirin
Website: www.orgue-saint-quirin.fr
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Where does it take place — Silbermann Festival
Église prieurale de Saint-Quirin
125 c rue d'Alsace, 57560 Saint-Quirin