Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra Tickets

Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra
Leipzigs reputation as the city of music can be largely attributed to the varied activities of the GewandhausOrchestra. A famous German orchestra based in Leipzig, Germany, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig stands out distinct with one of the most impressive traditions.

As early as 1743 Leipzig merchants founded a great concert society. No one could have predicted the success story of the Gewandhaus which, over the period of time, developed into what we know today as Gewandhausorchester Leipzig. Its standing as the worlds oldest civic concert orchestra, the Orchestra is named after the concert hall in which it is based, the Gewandhaus.

Together with the Choir of St Thomas Church, the Gewandhausorchestra Leipzig is one of the cornerstones of the Bach tradition still alive in Leipzig. Annually, over 600events are held at the Gewandhaus.

Among the most distinguished Gewandhaus Music Directors were Felix Mendelssohn, Arthur Nikisch, Wilhelm Furtw?ngler, Franz Konwitschny and Kurt Masur.

They have left their imprint on this unique musical tradition, which Herbert Blomstedt carried forward into the new millennium. Herbert Blomstedt held the same position from 1998 to 2005. During that period, the ensemble in turn made several recordings for the Decca label. Gewandhaus Kapellmeister Riccardo Chailly was Blomstedts successor.

The Gewandhausorchester Leipzig 19th music director, Riccardo Chailly, is noted mainly for embodying tradition and change simultaneously.To attract visitors, the Orchestra performs the Grand Concerts, numerous chamber music ensembles, the Gewandhaus Quartet, Gewandhaus Wind Quintet, the organ concerts and popular Saturday afternoon organ recitals.

The Orchestras predecessors reach back to 1743 when a society called the Grosses Concert began performing in private homes. The following year their concerts moved to the Three Swans Tavern where they performed for 36 years, until 1781. After three decades in the Three Swans Inn, increasing audience interest made it necessary to find a new home.

In 1781, the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig moved into a 500-seat hall with superb acoustics in the assembly hall of the cloth traders, the Gewandhaus (Garment House). Owing to the Venues name, the ensemble earned its present name. The orchestra gave its first concert in the Gewandhaus the same year.

When this concert hall was no longer able to accommodate the large numbers of people, a second classically-styled Gewandhaus was dedicated in 1884. In keeping with their quality and international standing, a large hall with 500 seats offered the musicians a home. Today the house can accommodate audience of 1,900, while the light-flooded Gewandhaus foyer forms a unique architectural ensemble.

Today, in addition to performing the Symphony concerts and the orchestras activities with the Leipzig Opera, the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig is also responsible for performing church music at St Tomass. The ensemble has a good claim to being the oldest continuing orchestra in Germany.

Aside from its duties as a concert orchestra, they also perform frequently as the official opera orchestra of the Leipzig opera in the Thomaskirche. The great composer Felix Mendelssohn became the orchestras music director in 1837. Felix held this position until his death in 1847. Later principal conductors were Arthur Nikisch, Wilhelm Furtw?ngler, Bruno Walter, and V?clav Neumann.

Kurt Masur became the Gewandhausorchestra Leipzigs next music director, traditionally called Gewandhauskapellmeister. From 1970 to 1996, Masur and the orchestra made a number of recordings for the Philips label. In 2005, Riccardo Chailly was hired as both Gewandhauskapellmeister and music director of the Leipzig Opera and became the first individual to have both positions concurrently in over 35 years.

Under the leadership of Chailly, the ensemble has released recordings on the Decca label of Felix Mendelssohn, Johannes Brahms, and the Robert Schumann symphonies in the re-orchestrations by Gustav Mahler.

For over 2 centuries, the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig has served as the house orchestra of the Leipzig Opera, in addition to its weekly performances of cantatas by Johann Sebastian Bach at St. Thomass Church. Each season, the ensemble makes 35 guest appearances throughout the world as well as numerous recordings and also includes 70 Grand Concerts in Leipzig.

The Gewandhaus plays host to more than 600 events every year. Some of these include the Grand Concerts by the Gewandhausorchestra form the focal point, along with concerts by the Gewandhaus Chorus and Childrens Choir.

Also are there numerous chamber music ensembles, the Gewandhaus Quartet, Gewandhaus Wind Quintet, the organ concerts and popular Saturday afternoon organ recitals.