Székesfehérvár’s Harmonia Albensis 2026 transforms the city’s most iconic churches into resonant stages from July 9 to July 30, inviting audiences to four evenings (3+1) where music, history, and spirituality meet. There’s nothing quite like summer nights when centuries-old melodies rise into vaulted ceilings—this year’s series leans into that glow with English Baroque gems, high-voltage brass, Schubert on a cathedral scale, and a contemporary Hungarian showcase with a world premiere.
Four nights, four musical worlds
This edition traces a wide arc across sacred and concert music: from Purcell’s English Baroque masterworks to the kinetic elegance of brass chamber playing, from Schubert’s youthful brilliance to today’s most compelling Hungarian sacred voices. Each concert unfolds in a landmark church, amplifying the interplay of space, sound, and silence.
Opening night: Purcell in the city center
The series launches with a rare treat: the Ars Oratoria Chamber Choir (Ars Oratoria Kamarakórus), led by Liszt Prize-winning conductor Zoltán Pad, brings the Purcell program that drew raves at Müpa Budapest’s recent English Marathon. Expect music that is elevated, intimate, and disarmingly beautiful—an ideal overture for summer listening beneath stone and stained glass.
Brass takes the spotlight
Next up, the internationally acclaimed In Medias Brass Quintet turns the Cistercian Church into a bright, resonant chamber for virtuoso playing. The program shows just how much energy, humor, and refinement brass chamber music can deliver when five players breathe as one.
Schubert near the infinite
One of the series’ high points lands in St. Stephen’s Cathedral (Szent István-székesegyház), where three exceptional works by a young Franz Schubert will be performed, including the rarely heard Magnificat. The large-scale concert features renowned soloists, singers from the city’s choirs, and the Alba Regia Symphony Orchestra (Alba Regia Szimfonikus Zenekar) under the baton of Péter Dobszay—Schubert’s Symphony No. 3 in D major, D 200; Mass in G major, D 167; and Magnificat in C major, D 486, unfurling in luminous space.
New voices, new premiere
The finale looks squarely to the present and future. A vibrant survey of contemporary Hungarian sacred music includes works by Gyula Fekete, Levente Gyöngyösi, György Selmeczi, and András Gábor Virágh, plus a world premiere: a new piece by Olivér Koudela. Guests include the Opus Vocal Ensemble (Opus Énekegyüttes), Júlia Fujita, and László Kéringer, with Gergely Dubóczky conducting.
Dates, venues, and tickets
– Thursday, July 9 – St. Emeric Church (Szent Imre-templom): Glory in the Highest! Purcell Anthems. Ars Oratoria Chamber Choir; conductor Zoltán Pad.
– Thursday, July 16 – Cistercian Church: In Medias Brass. In Medias Brass Quintet.
– Thursday, July 23 – St. Stephen’s Cathedral (Szent István-székesegyház): Closer to the Infinite. Schubert: Symphony No. 3 in D major, D 200; Mass in G major, D 167; Magnificat in C major, D 486. With Ars Musica Choir (Ars Musica Kórus), Alba Regia Mixed Choir (Alba Regia Vegyes Kar), Comenius Chamber Choir (Comenius Kamarakórus), Primavera Choir (Primavera Kórus), Alba Regia Symphony Orchestra (Alba Regia Szimfonikus Zenekar); conductor Péter Dobszay.
– Thursday, July 30 – St. Emeric Church (Szent Imre-templom): Ask the Composer! Retuned Spaces. Fekete: Serenata a due voci; Gyöngyösi: In the beginning was the Word; Koudela: new work (world premiere); Selmeczi: Five Latin Hymns; Virágh: Genesis. With Júlia Fujita, László Kéringer, Opus Vocal Ensemble (Opus Énekegyüttes), Alba Regia Symphony Orchestra (Alba Regia Szimfonikus Zenekar); conductor Gergely Dubóczky.
All concerts can be attended individually. A pass for 3+1 concerts is 7,900 HUF, single tickets are 3,200 HUF, with a 25% discount for students and seniors. Passes are available in person only at the ARSO ticket office (Székesfehérvár, Fő Street [Fő utca] 8). See you at Harmonia Albensis 2026 in Székesfehérvár’s churches.
