Leipzig: a City of Music

Andris Nelsons, Foto: Gert Mothes — Photo: Gert Mothes

There are only few cities which have such a rich musical tradition as Leipzig. Johann Sebastian Bach was the choirmaster of St. Thomas Church from 1723 to 1750. The house where Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy died can be visited in Leipzig. The story of Robert and Clara Schumann is inseparably linked with Leipzig, and Richard Wagner was born in the city in 1813.

The Gewandhaus Concert Hall with its world-famous orchestra has been celebrating and nurturing the heritage of classical music for more than 275 years. The famous Latvian-born maestro Andris Nelsons is the Chief conductor of the Gewandhaus. Besides playing in its own building, the Gewandhaus Orchestra can be heard at the Opera, and when J. S. Bach's cantatas are performed at St. Thomas Church together with the St. Thomas Boys Choir.

St. Thomas Choir looks back on a history of more than 800 years. Its most famous choirmaster was J. S. Bach. Every Friday night and every Saturday in the afternoon, the choir can be heard performing cantatas at St. Thomas, the authentic place where Bach worked.

A great number of initiatives, projects and groups, active in both classical and modern music, completes the picture of Leipzig as a City of Music. This includes the International Festival of Vocal Music as much as the Leipzig Big Band which enthusiases audiences home and abroad.

Leipzig Opera which consists of the opera itself, the Ballet, and a Musical Theatre, is Europe's third oldest musical stage established by citizens.

These websites will familiarise you with Leipzig's great variety as a City of Music: