Bad Schandau Organ and Music Summer: 20 Years of Harts un Neschome—An Anniversary Concert with Heart and Soul
“A violin found a melody,” they say when talking about the origins of klezmer. In the case of the Freiberg band “Harts un Neschome,” however, it was clarinetist Anja Bachmann who found her klezmer sound through the passionate and intense clarinet solos she performed in the musical “Anatevka” at the Mittelsächsisches Theater. And it was precisely there, during a premiere celebration, that she made her first appearance alongside spontaneously recruited, enthusiastic orchestra colleagues.
What no one could have guessed at the time was that, at that very moment, together with violinist Kerstin Guzy, accordion-playing double bassist Matthias Würthner—whose position was taken over by Hans-Richard Ludewig at the end of 2014— and drummer Michael Winkler—the klezmer band “Harts un Neschome” was founded, which double bassist Tino Scholz joined a little later to complete the lineup.
Once they had arranged and developed an extensive repertoire, they gave their first concert, “From Yiddish…to Klezmer,” in Freiberg, which was a huge success. Ever since, the musicians themselves have been repeatedly overwhelmed by the impact of this melancholic yet joyful music, which instantly resonates with the audience.
Through their engagement with Jewish culture and its instrumental music—which is largely bound by customs and traditions—they see themselves as increasingly involved in the revival of this culture in Saxony, where nearly 15,000 Jews still lived a hundred years ago. This is evidenced not least by their acclaimed performances at Jewish holidays and festivals in Chemnitz, Leipzig, Dresden, and Bremen, the production of their first CD (2009) “Von Jiddisch … bis Klezmer,” their second CD (2016) “Di Musik klingt asoj schejn – Klezmer di tswaijte,” and numerous concerts throughout Germany. In 2026, the band celebrated its 20th anniversary with a large, highly acclaimed anniversary concert in Freiberg and invited Karsten Troyke as a guest performer for the concert.
What no one could have guessed at the time was that, at that very moment, together with violinist Kerstin Guzy, accordion-playing double bassist Matthias Würthner—whose position was taken over by Hans-Richard Ludewig at the end of 2014— and drummer Michael Winkler—the klezmer band “Harts un Neschome” was founded, which double bassist Tino Scholz joined a little later to complete the lineup.
Once they had arranged and developed an extensive repertoire, they gave their first concert, “From Yiddish…to Klezmer,” in Freiberg, which was a huge success. Ever since, the musicians themselves have been repeatedly overwhelmed by the impact of this melancholic yet joyful music, which instantly resonates with the audience.
Through their engagement with Jewish culture and its instrumental music—which is largely bound by customs and traditions—they see themselves as increasingly involved in the revival of this culture in Saxony, where nearly 15,000 Jews still lived a hundred years ago. This is evidenced not least by their acclaimed performances at Jewish holidays and festivals in Chemnitz, Leipzig, Dresden, and Bremen, the production of their first CD (2009) “Von Jiddisch … bis Klezmer,” their second CD (2016) “Di Musik klingt asoj schejn – Klezmer di tswaijte,” and numerous concerts throughout Germany. In 2026, the band celebrated its 20th anniversary with a large, highly acclaimed anniversary concert in Freiberg and invited Karsten Troyke as a guest performer for the concert.
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Tickets: 10 euros
Available starting June 8, 2026, at the Evangelical Lutheran Parish Office in Bad Schandau or at the Bad Schandau Tourist Information Office
Box office opens 30 minutes before the concert begins at St. John’s Church in Bad Schandau
Dates
Good to know
Payment methods
Ticket pre-sale, Tickets at the door
Directions & Parking facilities
St. John’s Church is located in the center of Bad Schandau, right on the market square. It is easily accessible from the Bad Schandau National Park train station by taking the ferry across the Elbe River, followed by a short walk.
For those arriving by car, public parking is available throughout the city. From the Elbe quay and the central parking areas, visitors can reach the church on foot in just a short time.
You can reach Bad Schandau by public transportation via the S1 S-Bahn line and numerous regional bus routes. From the National Park Station, the ferry service takes you to the city center. From there, it’s just a few minutes’ walk to St. John’s Church.
For those arriving by car, public parking is available throughout the city. From the Elbe quay and the central parking areas, visitors can reach the church on foot in just a short time.
You can reach Bad Schandau by public transportation via the S1 S-Bahn line and numerous regional bus routes. From the National Park Station, the ferry service takes you to the city center. From there, it’s just a few minutes’ walk to St. John’s Church.
Price info
Price adult: €10.00
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