Essen Light Festival combines laser art and organ music in Essen Cathedral

Light artist Manfred “Ollie” Olma is using lasers to project colors and shapes onto the columns and walls of Essen Cathedral as part of the Lumen Cantus installation for the 2026 Essen Light Festival. The performances take place every evening at 19 Uhr through Sunday, October 11.

The light displays accompany live music played on the cathedral's Rieger organ. Four organists perform works from five centuries, from the 16th century to the present, alongside live improvisations. The musicians include Essen Cathedral organist Sebastian Küchler-Blessing, Kreuzeskirche cantor Andy von Oppenkowski, organist Dominik Gerhard, and Solingen church musician Wolfgang Kläsener.

Olma describes the laser as a tool that sketches over the walls like a pen. The installation does not use any built structures or modifications to the cathedral space. The program changes each of the ten evenings.