International Haendel Festival, Halle
Framing the musical program and academic conference are two works on the theme of the Resurrection, with "La Resurrezione," Haendel's early Italian oratorio from 1708 and one of his later creations, "The Messiah" which he wrote and composed in 1741, from his English oratorio period.
Jun 6 - Jun 8
Luther's Wedding, Wittenberg
This annual June event is one of Germany's most delightful festivals attracting 100,000 visitors and celebrates the marriage of Martin Luther to Katharina von Bora in 1525. The highlight of this three day event is a large parade through the streets of Wittenberg where around 1,000 participants dress in historical costumes.
http://www.wittenberg.de/
Jun 6 - Jun 8
Rock am Ring, Nuerburg
Rock im Park and Rock am Ring are the two largest open-air events in Europe. More than 150.000 people are expected to visit these highlights of the European Open-Air season. Approximately 70 bands will play on the festivals three stages.
> http://www.rockamring.de/, http://www.rockimpark.de/
Jun 6 - Aug 3
Munich's 850th Anniversary
In 2008, in celebration of the Bavarian capital turning 850, Munich will be hosting a great summer of festivals. For a European city, 850 years is not really very old. What is astonishing, however, is that the town was able to evolve from a monastery to an attractive hub of culture and high-tech of European proportions. The motto of the birthday is "building bridges" and it aims to connect the founding of the city with today's lively, colorful and yet tradition-oriented urban culture.
The celebrations consist of three major events: the City Foundation Festival, June 14-15; the Old Town Ring Road Festival, July 19-20; and the Isar Bridge Festival, August 1-3. Furthermore, throughout the summer, especially on weekends, visitors can enjoy theater, cabaret, concerts, exhibitions, lectures, tours, information markets and lots more in the city's various districts.
> http://www.muenchen850.de/
June 7 - June 10
Museum Mile Festival, Bonn
Over four days, the Deutsche Museum Bonn, the Kunst- and Ausstellungshalle, the Art Museum, the House of History and the Museum Alexander Koenig will celebrate the 13th anniversary of the Museum Mile Festival with a varied program including music, art, culture and special tours through the exhibitions and the technique. Different programs for children are also available. One of the highlights is the huge benefit-party on the Museums square.
>www.bonn-region.de
June 13 - Jun 22
Bach Festival, Leipzig
Today, the name of Bach is associated first and foremost with Johann Sebastian, but in the late 18th century, it usually referred to his son, Carl Philipp Emanuel. The Bach family of musicians was of major importance at that time and had a crucial impact on the period of transition from Baroque to Classicism. The Bach Festival 2008 will be retracing this impact. However, Bach's impact on later generations was not limited to his sons and his influence will be traced through performances of Beethoven, Schubert and Mendelssohn and Mozart and even the contemporary Friedrich Goldmann.
> http://www.bach-leipzig.dejun/
21 - Jun 29
Kiel Week Sailing Regatta, Kiel
Top class sailors from around 50 countries will participate in exciting competitions on Kiel Fjord. Open-air concerts at the city hall square offer classical and popular music as well as international folklore groups and ballet, while the city's art galleries offer a number of temporary exhibitions.
> http://www.kieler-woche.de/
June 21
Fete de la Musique, Berlin
With more than 60 stages and 100,000 visitors in recent years, Berlin's Fête de la Musique celebrates the beginning of summer with an amazing variety of live concerts.
The whole city takes part in a colorful welcome to the summer - together with towns in over 100 other countries, where the fête takes place on the same day. The one-day festival is a multicultural get-together with an amazing line-up of national and international artists and musicians. Various events take place on stages throughout the city - including such unconventional venues as churches, boats, railway stations and swimming pools.
> http://www.berlin-gastgeber.com/ (German only)
Jun 28 - Jul 31
Opera Festival, Munich
Opera friends from around the world have been coming to Munich since 1875 to enjoy the rich palette of opera repertoire staged each year during the Festival.
Some of the highlights in 2008 are the two Festival premieres: the premiere of "Doktor Faust" by Ferrucio Busoni, on 28th June and the premiere of "Ariadne on Naxos" by Richard Strauss on 24th July. On July 12th, the Festival Concert "Opera for All" will take place on the Marstallplatz.
> http://www.muenchen.de/
Jun 28
Christopher Street Day in Berlin
Christopher Street Day (CSD) is a day of celebration for the gay community around the world. It remembers the day in 1969 when gays and lesbians took to the streets of New York to demonstrate against discrimination. This year's CSD in Berlin will be its 30th anniversary.
> http://www.csd-berlin.de/
Jun 28 - Aug 31
Rheingau Music Festival, Rheingau
The Rheingau Music Festival is one of Europe's leading music festivals. In its 20th season it turns the whole region between Frankfurt, Wiesbaden and Lorch into a giant concert stage of international reputation for the performance of more than 140 concerts. Audiences are invited to a mix of classical music, jazz, cabaret as well as musical and culinary wine tastings.
> http://www.rheingau-musik-festival.de/ (German only)
