Magical sounds at Augustusplatz: Gewandhaus Orchestra enchants Leipzig!

Magical sounds at Augustusplatz: Gewandhaus Orchestra enchants Leipzig!

Leipzig is a true center for music lovers, and at the vibrant Augustusplatz you can discover the many facets of this fascinating city. One of the highlights is the Gewandhaus, which was inaugurated in 1981, 200 years after the first Gewandhaus, where Beethoven's “Ninth” was performed. This is where the world-renowned one resides Gewandhaus Orchestra, whose more than 180 musicians perform major works from the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries under the direction of Gewandhaus bandmaster Andris Nelson.

Directly opposite the Gewandhaus is the New Theater, which has been a strong cultural anchor in Leipzig since 1960. Not only are classics from Richard Wagner to Puccini performed here, but it is also the home of the Leipzig Ballet, which impresses with its neoclassical dance to newly composed music and classical music. However, there is a tragic story associated with the square: in 1943 the old theater was destroyed in an air raid. Reconstruction had to wait until 1954.

A musical highlight

Anyone who is out and about in Leipzig this evening should not miss the concert with the Gewandhausorchester under the direction of pianist Kirill Gerstein. A performance of Maurice Ravel's “Piano Concerto for the Left Hand” is planned, written for a war-disabled musician. Stravinsky's “Concerto for Piano and Wind Instruments” is also on the program. After the break, Arvo Pärt's “Nekrolog” will be heard, a haunting work that is considered an indictment of violent political ideologies and uses twelve-tone technique.

The concert is rounded off with Leonard Bernstein's “Symphonic Dances”, which address the social tensions in the USA in the 1960s. The event not only offers musical delights, but also the opportunity to meet the musicians in the foyer and end the evening with a glass from the bar. Talents under 30 can also look forward to discounts with the KlassikMatch Card.

Cultural heritage at Augustusplatz

Augustusplatz is not only a venue for musical events, but also houses the Paulinum of the University of Leipzig. On the spot where the Pauline Church was blown up in 1968, there is now a modern building that is used as a church room and is regularly open for concerts. The loss of the church sparked protests at the time and underlines the eventful history of this place.

Augustusplatz is certainly a place where history and present meet. Whether at a concert in the Gewandhaus or a visit to the Paulinum - there is something for every music lover here. Leipzig therefore remains a cultural hotspot that is well worth a visit when it comes to music history.