Gewandhausorchester: 2014 Tour Review

As Official Logistics Partner to the Gewandhausorchester, DHL has delivered the orchestra's unique sounds to symphony halls the world over.

An eventful year, 2014 saw the players circumventing the globe.

Kicking off the year in travels was a ten-day stint in Asia, with a premiere in March in Shanghai with an audience numbering in the thousands and made even greater with a livestream broadcast to audiences the world over via DHL In Motion. From China, the orchestra went on to Japan for performances in Tokyo, Kawasaki, Kyoto and Osaka that included pieces from a repertoire that highlighted Mendelssohn and Mahler.

While the concert halls across Europe enjoy pauses during the high heat of the summer months, the players don't often get a break – July and August are a time of festivals and outdoor concerts. With a full touring schedule, however, this year, the orchestra stayed close to home, with performances in Berlin, London, Lucerne and Vienna.

In November, just as the reunification of East and West Germany was being celebrated back home in Leipzig, the Gewandausorchester flew to the US to perform at a commemoration event in Houston. It was a memorable visit especially for a group of middle school students who received an instructional visit from three of the musicians who brought Bach's sounds to their library. From there, the orchestra went on to Washington D.C., Boston, Newark and New York for a week of moving performances.

Though the players aren't on tour year-round, the partnership with DHL continues full steam ahead throughout the year. With over two years' planning required for each tour, plans for a memorable 2015 are already being laid. We're looking forward to all the moving moments to come.