ILYO is going to Gewandhaus Leipzig

The present building of the Gewandhaus Leipzig is of course not the one which hosted such conductors as Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, Arthur Nikisch and Wilhelm Furtwängler. The city of Leipzig also doesn’t look like the old Leipzig of Johann Sebastian Bach, Richard Wagner, Gustav Mahler, Robert Schumann and Clara Schumann. The city suffered severe bombings during WW2 and the old building of the Gewandhaus was destroyed beyond reconstruction. Over thirty years passed until the city could reopen a new concert hall which was ment to continue the great musical tradition of the city – the New Gewandhaus was built on the south side of Karl-Marx-Platz, the present-day Augustusplatz. The New Gewandhaus continue the amazing tradition of the past regularly hosting world's greatest musicians and conductors as well as being home of one of Europe's best orchestras.

Its Great Hall (Grosser Saal) accommodates an audience of over 1,900, the Mendelssohn Hall – chamber music hall – approximately 500. The Great Hall is crowned by its imposing organ, built by Schuke of Potsdam, with its four manuals, 92 stops and 6638 pipes.

Did you know? In its impressive and long history, the Gewandhaus hosted such composers as Mozart, Carl Maria von Weber and Franz Liszt. Berlioz, Brahms and Wagner conducted the Gewandhausorchester and the Leipzig music lovers could experience the world premieres of a set of masterpieces which have since established themselves amongst the most beloved in all music, among them Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5 "Emperor", Schubert's Symphony in C-Major "The Great", Mendelssohn's cherished Violin Concerto and Schumann's Symphony No. 1 "Spring".

For more information about the Gewandhaus amazing legacy visit: gewandhausorchester.de/en/gewandhaus/history/

And don’t miss the chance to perform with us on this unique stage – join the International Lutosławski Youth Orchestra this year. We are waiting for your application until May 15, 2025.