An Interview with Prof. Andreas Schulz, Director of the Leipzig Gewandhaus

Though not from the pult, Professor Andreas Schulz, Director of the LeipzigGewandhaus, wields many batons. He is responsible for the orchestra’s artistic management, tour planning, marketing activities and sponsoring departments. In this exclusive interview, he reveals what it takes to keep the world-famous orchestra at the top of its game, whether at home in Leipzig or out on tour.

What makes the Gewandhausorchester so uniquely popular both at home and abroad?

As the oldest civic orchestra in the world, it was founded not by a king, but by the inhabitants of Leipzig. From its birth in 1743 right up until today, the orchestra has had a special place in the heart of the city’s people. In Leipzig the orchestra plays around 70 concerts, 150 opera performances and weekly performances with the St. Thomas Boys Choir. Some 13,000 subscribers attend the Thursday and Friday concerts. Our open-air concerts draw 10,000-15,000 to the main market square. The orchestra is very close to the public. And as the musical ambassador of Leipzig, it’s very important for the orchestra to travel, to perform its diverse repertoire and demonstrate its special sound identity to audiences around the world. We do 25-30 concerts on tour each year.

What challenges does the orchestra encounter when touring the globe?

Every tour is a huge challenge for every member of the orchestra. Not only do you have to prepare and pack, but you also have to cope with jetlag and time zone differences. We have to schedule rehearsals accordingly and plan in the time for practicing because some of the musicians like to practice three to six hours each day in addition to the evening performances. To be successful on tour you always have to give 150 percent. The musicians on stage always put their best into their music.

Planning tours presumably requires a good dose of logistics savvy from you as the orchestra’s director …

We begin the strategic planning four to six years in advance. About four years ahead of a tour we begin talking to the local presenters about the timing and itinerary. Then we start discussing the repertoire, financial aspects and locating sponsors. After that, the orchestra manager begins hammering out the details about hotels, travel days, instruments, the transport of the instruments and all the logistics questions. It’s an unbelievable thing to do and to organize.

What would you say are DHL’s distinguishing characteristics as the official logistics partner to the Gewandhausorchester on tour?

High professionalism and passion are the most important attributes. In DHL we have found the right partner. They always bring the instruments on time. They take care of all the extras we’d like to have. They never say ‘no’, but instead they first say ‘we will check that’. Then they come back with just the right solution. It’s a fantastic partnership. They know exactly what we want and can provide all the support we need for a tour.