Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gewandhaus Orchestra |
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Official logo of the orchestra
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| Native name | Gewandhausorchester |
| Founded | 1781 |
| Location | Leipzig, Germany |
| Concert hall | Gewandhaus |
| Music director | Andris Nelsons |
The Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra is a famous German symphony orchestra. It is based in Leipzig, Germany. The orchestra gets its name from its main concert hall, the Gewandhaus. This name means "Garment House" because the building used to be a place where textile merchants worked. Besides playing concerts, the orchestra also performs often at the Thomaskirche. They are also the official orchestra for the Leipzig Opera.
Contents
The Orchestra's Beginning
The Gewandhaus Orchestra has a long history. It started in 1743 as a group called the Grosses Concert. They first played music in people's homes. In 1744, they moved their concerts to a place called the "Three Swans" Tavern. They performed there for 36 years.
A New Home for Music
By 1780, people were complaining about the tavern's concert conditions. So, the mayor and city council of Leipzig offered to fix up a floor of the Gewandhaus building for the orchestra. This building was used by cloth merchants. A special saying was painted in the new hall: Res severa est verum gaudium. This means "only a serious thing is a true joy" or "true joy is a serious thing." It came from the Roman writer Seneca.
The orchestra played its first concert in the Gewandhaus in 1781. This makes it one of the oldest orchestras in Germany. It was started by regular citizens, not by kings or queens.
Famous Conductors and New Halls
In 1835, the famous composer Felix Mendelssohn became the orchestra's music director. His title was Gewandhauskapellmeister. He led the orchestra until he passed away in 1847. Other musicians like Ferdinand David and Niels Gade also helped lead the orchestra during this time.
In 1885, the orchestra moved into a new concert hall. Sadly, this hall was destroyed during a bombing in 1944. The current Gewandhaus building is the third one with that name. It opened in 1981. The large organ inside the hall still has the old motto: "Res severa verum gaudium".
Leading the Orchestra: Gewandhauskapellmeister
Many great conductors have led the Gewandhaus Orchestra. A conductor is like the leader of the orchestra. They guide the musicians to play together.
Notable Conductors Through the Years
Some famous conductors who led the orchestra include Arthur Nikisch, Wilhelm Furtwängler, and Bruno Walter. From 1970 to 1996, Kurt Masur was the Gewandhauskapellmeister. He and the orchestra made many recordings.
After Masur, Herbert Blomstedt took over from 1998 to 2005. He also made several recordings with the orchestra. Both Masur and Blomstedt were later given the special title of "conductor laureate." This means they are honored leaders of the orchestra.
Recent Leaders
In 2005, Riccardo Chailly became the Gewandhauskapellmeister. He also became the music director of the Leipzig Opera. He led the orchestra until June 2016.
The current Gewandhauskapellmeister is Andris Nelsons. He first conducted the orchestra as a guest in 2011. He became the official leader for the 2017–2018 season. His contract was extended in October 2020 and now goes through July 2027. The orchestra also works closely with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, which Nelsons also leads.
Past Music Directors
Here is a list of the people who have been the main music directors, or Gewandhauskapellmeister, of the Gewandhaus Orchestra:
- Johann Adam Hiller (1781–1785)
- Johann Gottfried Schicht (1785–1810)
- Johann Philipp Christian Schulz (1810–1827)
- Christian August Pohlenz (1827–1835)
- Felix Mendelssohn (1835–1847)
- Ferdinand David (1841–1842, 1852–1854)
- Ferdinand Hiller (1843–1844)
- Niels Gade (1844–1848)
- Julius Rietz (1848–1860)
- Carl Reinecke (1860–1895)
- Arthur Nikisch (1895–1922)
- Wilhelm Furtwängler (1922–1928)
- Bruno Walter (1929–1933)
- Hermann Abendroth (1934–1945)
- Herbert Albert (1946–1948)
- Franz Konwitschny (1949–1962)
- Václav Neumann (1964–1968)
- Kurt Masur (1970–1996)
- Herbert Blomstedt (1998–2005)
- Riccardo Chailly (2005–2016)
- Andris Nelsons (2018–present)
Honored Conductors
These conductors have been given the special title of "conductor laureate" for their important work with the orchestra:
- Kurt Masur (1996–2015)
- Herbert Blomstedt (2005–present)
Concertmasters
The concertmaster is the lead violinist in an orchestra. They often help the conductor and lead the string section.
- 1797–1818: Bartolomeo Campagnoli
- 1818–1835: Heinrich August Matthäi
- 1835–1873: Ferdinand David
- 1873–1897: Engelbert Röntgen
- ...
- 1987–present: Frank-Michael Erben
Composers for the Gewandhaus
The orchestra also works with special "Gewandhaus Composers." These are composers who write new music for the orchestra.
- Jörg Widmann (2017–2018)
- Heinz Karl Gruber (2019–2020)
- Sofia Gubaidulina (2020–2022)
- Thomas Adès (2023–2025)
- Arvo Pärt (2025–2027)
See also
In Spanish: Orquesta de la Gewandhaus de Leipzig para niños
- Category:Music commissioned by the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra (0)
