Gewandhausorchester offers memorable performances in DC, Boston and Newark

On the initial eastern leg of their 2014 tour of the U.S., the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig treated enthusiastic audiences to their joy-inducing, inimitable sound, with spectacular concerts featuring music by Mendelssohn, Beethoven and Bruckner. 

The memorable U.S. performances were an experience of “majestic, magnificent Mendelssohn from the source,” as one reviewer writes. Indeed, the orchestra premiered several of the great composer’s works in its centuries-old history. And in its rich timeline of standout music directors, the legendary Felix Mendelssohn served as its pioneering Kapellmeister (Chief Conductor and Music Director) for 12 years beginning in 1835. To this day, the Gewandhausorchester remains closely connected to its eminent heritage and is widely regarded as “Mendelssohn’s orchestra.”

Beyond the Mendelssohn connection so vividly brought to life in Washington DC and Newark, the tour program included works by Beethoven and Bruckner, with whom the Leipzig musicians under Maestro Riccardo Chailly also cultivate their special ties of tradition. The Leipzig orchestra performed a complete cycle of Beethoven's nine symphonies during the composer's lifetime in 1825/26, and in 1884, Anton Bruckner gave a recital on the new organ at the newly inaugurated Gewandhaus in Leipzig. On the following day, he was present as the Gewandhausorchester gave the world premiere of his Symphony No. 7 in E major under the baton of Arthur Nikisch. 

Lauded as “a brilliant account,” the program in Washington DC included Bruckner’s 7th Symphony. In a review, the Baltimore Sun noted that, ”The sense of attachment to the music was palpable – given the ensemble's history, what it really sounded like was ownership.”

In Boston, the Gewandhausorchester celebrated a tradition-steeped homecoming, bringing “its special sound, style, and history back to Boston once again,” writes a Boston classical music blog. A highlight of this season’s Celebrity Series, the outstanding performance at Symphony Hall was made possible by the generous support of Eleanor and Frank Pao.

“Ever since Mendelssohn’s time the orchestra has been an ensemble of premieres and first performances,” says the orchestra’s General Manager, Andreas Schulz. “To encourage, bring forward and explore new music and new ways has always been important, so building new traditions at the same time as paying respect to the old one is a key mission of our institution.”

With direct ties to the composer’s they perform, the Gewandhausorchester continues to delight music-lovers across the Atlantic. As the ensemble’s Official Logistics Partner, DHL is proud to assist the venerable musicians as they carry out their mission of renewing the great classical tradition, making music come uniquely alive from one stunning stage to the next.