#Gewandhaus Orchestra

[wolfie-wolfgang]

An Easter Meeting in Leipzig with JS Bach - 300 years on.

Even people who don’t think they like classical music know and even like at least some of the music of Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 – 1750). Those who love classical music are mostly in consensus that he was probably the greatest of all the classical composers. I certainly feel that he stands tall not just in the world of music, but in the world of human creativity too. I believe that we are all a…

[thatswhywelovegermany]

October 9, 1989: The day the dictatorial GDR regime broke

Throughout the 1980s, discontent among the population of the GDR about the economical and political situation kept growing. Nonetheless, the ruling party SED (Socialist Union Party of Germany) upheld its role as the only governing part of the state, continuing the process of the "socialist revolution" in the state. People started protesting against oppression of dissidents.

The situation became explosive after the rigged local elections on May 7, 1989. People didn't have the choice between multiple options. Instead, there was only one list of the "National Front", which was automatically counted as "yes" as soon as the ballot was dropped into the urn. The only way to vote "no" was to strike all entries in the list through with a straight line. Although this was a tedious proces that could easily be traced by the Stasi officers in the polling stations, many people made use of this way of voting "no". For the first time, citizens gathered in the polling stations to observe the process of counting. Althouth this was explicitly allowed by law (§ 37 of the voting act), access was denied in almost all cases. Nonetheless, members of the church documented electoral fraud and made it public. This led to the first protests, which the Stasi and regular police forced tried to quench. Around the same time, a mass exodus through neighboring countries to West Germany started.

These protests attracted more and more people. In many cases, the demonstrations started after peace prayers in the protestant churches throughout the country. But still, the oppressive system of the state held the upper hand. On October 7, 1989, the police forces, workers' militia, and Stasi arrested thousands of protesters in Leipzig and arrested them in horse stables on the grounds of the agricultural fair.

This led pastor Christoph Wonneberger to publish a plea for non-violence, which was agreed to by some SED secretaries read out loud over the city's public announcement system (by Leipzig's Gewandhaus Orchestra's conductor Kurt Masur) and during the peace prayers. On October 9, 1989, the situation was tense as approx. 130,000 people took to the streets, marching past the Stasi central. A massive presence of state forces was also present, and people feared a "Chinese solution", referring to the violent Tiananmen Square massacre earlier that year. However, the plea for non-violence by the power of its wording kept both protesters and state forces from violent actions and the protests ended peacefully and without any arrests.

This was the first time the GDR authorities gave in to the masses of protesters. The word spread, and protests sprang up in more and more cities throughout the country, leading to state leader Erich Honecker's demise on October 18 and culminated in the fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989, which ultimately led to the German reunification.

[mrdirtybear]

A real photo postcard featuring a 1912 photograph of Arthur Nikisch. Arthur Nikisch was born in Hungary on 12th Oct 1855 and died in Leipzig on 23rd Jan 1922. He held numerous important positions during his career including - conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, director of the Budapest Royal Opera, director of the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, principal conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic with whom he made one of the earliest recordings of a complete symphony, Beethoven's 5th, with the Berlin Philharmonic.

[maxigoethling]

My new years resolution is to start watching classical concerts. I don't live that far from Leipzig and the famous Gewandhaus is right near the train station there.

Since I'm not classically trained in anything I get all my orchestration knowledge and practice from trial & error, listening to recordings and YouTube. My hope is that actually hearing and seeing an orchestra play will give me more insights in how to become a better composer.

I snatched some cheap tickets (16€!) for the gallery of the Gewandhaus Leipzig so I can have a direct overview over the players.

I WILL LEARN YOUR HIDDEN SECRETS MRS ORCHESTRA!!

They play Beethoven, Dvořák, and Bruckners complete 7th Symphony. Not a fan of either of them, but I picked the concert at random sorted by cheapest first.

(Yellow circle = seating I booked)

[bookshelfdreams]

was anyone gonna tell me that lord of the lost did an acoustic show at the gewandhaus with a full symphonic orchestra and then put the entire thing on youtube???

[johnjpuccio]

Review of Schubert: Symphonies Nos. 8 "Unfinished" and 9 "The Great," with Jordi Savall and Le Concert des Nations

The year 2022 must have been the year of Schubert, with at least three major sets of the composer’s Symphonies Nos. 8 and 9 appearing, one from Herbert Blomstedt and the Gewandhaus Orchestra (DG), another from Rene Jacobs and the B’Rock Orchestra (Pentatone), and this newest and best one of all from Jordi Savall and Le Concert des Nations (AliaVox). Such extraordinary attention couldn’t happen to a nicer composer.

To read the full review, click here:

John J. Puccio, Classical Candor

[flammentanz]

Like every year since 1945 the Symphony No. 9 by Ludwig van Beethoven is performed by the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra to celebrate the new year with Friedrich Schiller’s “Ode to Joy”: “Alle Menschen werden Brüder” (”All people become brothers”)

The idea to this concerts came from Arthur Nikisch, then conductor of the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, after the terror of the First World War. The first concert took place on New Year’s Eve in 1918. Later the concerts took place at irregular intervals. After the Second World War the tradition  was revived.

The concert is broadcast by television since 1978. Since 1981 the concert takes place at the Gewandhaus concert hall in Leipzig. It is broadcast every year and to watch it has become a New Year’s Eve tradition in Saxony.

The performance in the video took place in 1995. Gewandhaus Kapellmeister Professor Kurt Masur (1927 - 2015), who campaigned so courageously in 1989 for the peaceful course of the demonstrations in Leipzig against the tyranny of the GDR, conducted the Gewandhaus Orchestra.

[opera-ghosts]

OTD in Music History: Composer, conductor, and violinist Niels Gade (1817 – 1890) dies in Copenhagen. Although largely (and unjustly) forgotten today, Gade was an important musical figure in his day, and is generally considered to be the greatest Danish composer before Carl Nielsen (1865 – 1931). Gade began his illustrious career as a violinist with the Royal Danish Orchestra – but when the first performance of his first symphony faced delays in Copenhagen, he opted to send the score off to Felix Mendelssohn (1809 – 1847), instead. Mendelssohn premiered it in Leipzig to an enthusiastic public response, and, in the wake of that success, Gade quickly relocated to Leipzig where he taught at the Conservatory, served as an assistant conductor of the Gewandhaus Orchestra, and befriended both Mendelssohn and Robert Schumann (1810 – 1856). A highly accomplished conductor, Gade had the honor of holding the baton at the world premieres of Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto (1844) and Schumann’s Piano Concerto (1845) -- with Clara Schumann (1819 - 1896) appearing as the soloist in the latter. Counted among Gade's own original works are eight symphonies, a violin concerto, and a wide array of attractive chamber music, as well as many pieces for solo piano and solo organ. PICTURED: A cabinet photograph showing the elderly Gade, which he signed and inscribed to an old friend in September 1886. In addition to writing out his name in the traditional manner alongside a warm message of friendship, Gade has also penned a clever “musical signature” (the notes G-A-D-E spelled out on the treble clef) and included a reference to their “mutual friend” “Mendelssohn” (who had already been dead for nearly 40 years at that point!) and “the many good times shared in Leipzig."

[eukariote]

Tagged by @loonful to put my library on shuffle and post the first ten songs that come on!

Polka Française, Op. 95: Diana by Matthias Georg Kendlinger

Transformation by The Cinematic Orchestra

Goldberg Variations, BMV 988 (arr. for percussion ensemble): Variatio 29. a 1 o vero 2 Clav. by Bach

Suite in D Minor: 1. Prélude by Gaultier

Under Pressure by Queen & David Bowie

Sonata in A Minor, Op. 2, No. 2, IV. Rondo Grazioso by Beethoven (pf. Paul Lewis)

Symphony No. 7 in A, Op. 92: 2. Allegretto by Beethoven (pf. Berliner Philharmoniker & Herbert von Karajan)

Vespers No. 5, Op. 37 by Rachmaninoff (from the Anna Karenina (1997) soundtrack)

String Quartet No. 3 in D Major, Op. 18: III. Allegro by Beethoven (pf. Gewandhaus Quartet)

I Miss You by Adele

That took a turn at the end?? Anyways. Tagging @nizynskis @addamii and @boudicca <3

[sasan-00]

Felix Mendelssohn: The Early Romantic Virtuoso and His Timeless Masterpieces

Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (3 February 1809 – 4 November 1847), known simply as Felix Mendelssohn, was a prodigious German composer, pianist, organist, and conductor whose early Romantic compositions continue to captivate audiences today. His extensive oeuvre includes memorable symphonies, concertos, chamber music, and piano works. Among his most celebrated compositions are the overture and incidental music for A Midsummer Night's Dream—featuring the iconic "Wedding March"—the Italian Symphony, the Scottish Symphony, the oratorios St. Paul and Elijah, the overture The Hebrides, and his exquisite Violin Concerto. Mendelssohn’s Songs Without Words remain some of his most beloved solo piano pieces.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Born in Hamburg on 3 February 1809, Felix Mendelssohn was the grandson of the renowned Jewish philosopher Moses Mendelssohn. His upbringing was initially secular until he was baptized into the Reformed Christian church at age seven. Raised in a rich intellectual environment, Mendelssohn’s musical talents were evident early on. His parents, Abraham and Lea Mendelssohn, moved the family to Berlin in 1811, seeking better educational opportunities for their children. Despite Abraham’s initial reservations about a musical career for Felix, the young prodigy’s exceptional talent soon became undeniable.

Mendelssohn began his musical education with piano lessons from his mother and continued with prominent teachers such as Marie Bigot and Ludwig Berger. At age 12, he studied counterpoint and composition with Carl Friedrich Zelter, whose influence was pivotal in shaping Mendelssohn’s musical style. His early compositions, including 13 string symphonies and a piano quartet published when he was just 13, showcased his burgeoning talent.

Career Highlights and Achievements

Felix Mendelssohn’s career was marked by significant achievements and contributions to music. His first public performance as a nine-year-old, his early string symphonies, and his String Octet in E-flat major, composed at age 16, are milestones that highlight his rapid rise in the music world. His Overture to A Midsummer Night's Dream, written at 17, and later incidental music for the same play, including the famous "Wedding March," are among his most enduring works.

In 1829, Mendelssohn’s performance of Bach’s St Matthew Passion in Berlin played a crucial role in reviving interest in Bach’s music across Europe. This performance, facilitated by Mendelssohn’s grandmother’s manuscript, was a landmark event that brought Bach’s work back into the spotlight.

Later Years and Legacy

Mendelssohn’s career continued to flourish as he traveled extensively throughout Europe. His visits to Britain were particularly significant, leading to the premiere of many of his major works. Despite facing some professional setbacks, such as his failure to secure a position at the Berlin Singakademie and frustrations during his tenure in Düsseldorf, Mendelssohn made notable contributions, including his role in the Handel revival.

By 1835, Mendelssohn accepted the position of conductor at the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, where he further cemented his reputation as a leading figure in the music world. His conservatism in musical taste set him apart from more avant-garde contemporaries, but his creative originality has been re-evaluated in modern times, securing his place as one of the most beloved composers of the Romantic era.

Enduring Influence

Felix Mendelssohn’s music, characterized by its clarity, elegance, and emotional depth, continues to be celebrated and performed worldwide. His early works, contributions to reviving Baroque music, and significant influence on Romantic music ensure his lasting legacy. Mendelssohn’s compositions remain a testament to his prodigious talent and enduring impact on classical music.

[dollsdeger]

orchestra

Orchestra (English: Orchestra) is the largest and most complex orchestra type, possessing extremely powerful and extensive musical expression. Orchestras generally perform classical music or accompany operas, and sometimes accompanies popular music. Many modern orchestras also often accompany movies and produce movie soundtracks.Liebespuppen

When an orchestra performs, not all members must participate in the performance process; generally, the number of performers participating in the performance is also different depending on the needs of the performance. Most orchestras do not yet have players on all instruments. For example, many orchestras do not have a regular staff of harpists, saxophone players, pianists, jazz drummers, etc. Therefore, if the work to be performed includes instruments that they do not own, they usually collaborate with independent musicians, so the number of orchestra members is quite flexible.Love Dolls

An orchestra mostly consists of more than 70 performers, and some even have hundreds of performers. A smaller orchestra is also called a "Chamber Orchestra" (English: Chamber Orchestra). Chamber orchestras generally have less than 30 members. In between, there is the so-called "Sinfonietta Orchestra" (English: Sinfonietta Orchestra). , mainly performs works that are larger than real chamber music and smaller than "typical" modern large-scale orchestral works, such as symphonies or concertos of the Baroque or classical music schools in history, and their preparations are performed by medium-sized orchestras of 30 to 50 people.Lebensechte Sexpuppen

Some large orchestras are also called "symphony orchestra" (English: Symphony Orchestra) or "English: Philharmonic Orchestra" (English: Philharmonic Orchestra), and there is no substantial difference between the two titles. Sometimes when there are two orchestras in a city, they can be distinguished from each other, such as the London Symphony Orchestra and the London Philharmonic Orchestra in London, the Vienna Symphony Orchestra and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in Vienna, etc.Sexpuppen mit großem Po

In 1781, the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra was founded. It was an orchestra funded by local businessmen and was the beginning of a citizen orchestra. This kind of orchestra, which belonged to the middle-class citizens and was no longer affiliated with the nobility or the church, developed rapidly with the rise of the middle class in the 19th century. In 1842, the famous New York Philharmonic Orchestra and Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra were established one after another; members of these orchestras could cooperate for a long time and continuously improve their performances. For a long time, the orchestra played mainly for the opera house rather than giving concerts of its own. In the early 19th century, with the emergence of symphony and other musical forms, this situation gradually changed. At this time, some outstanding touring performers such as Paganini wrote concertos specifically to highlight their skills, and held concerts and collaborative performances with the local orchestra, which also indirectly enhanced the independent status of the orchestra. . With the formation of professional orchestras, musical instruments are constantly being improved and standardized.große brüste sexpuppen Woodwind and brass instruments are evolving day by day, and are constantly improving in the direction of being suitable for large-scale ensembles. In the mid-19th century, the French composer Berlioz made great contributions to the advancement of orchestral music. He conducted in-depth research and wrote the first monograph that systematically analyzed orchestral orchestration. At the end of the 19th century, during the late Romantic period, Wagner in Germany, Mahler in Austria, and Rimsky-Korsakov in Russia brought another improvement and evolution to orchestral techniques. Their musicals and symphonies , orchestral works, each created many advanced orchestral orchestration techniques, allowing the orchestra to express majestic momentum and rich and gorgeous colors. At this point, it has the basic prototype of future film scores.

[sonyclasica]

JAN VOGLER

LALO & CASALS: CELLO CONCERTOS

La obra maestra de Édouard Lalo (1823 - 1892), el Concierto para violonchelo y orquesta en re menor, combina influencias del folclore español con su estilo característico, que recuerda a los compositores alemanes. En 2023 cumple 200 años. Disponible el 3 de marzo.

Consíguelo AQUÍ

Aunque era francés, tenía ascendencia española y su famosa obra fue interpretada con frecuencia por el célebre violonchelista Pablo Casals, a quien está dedicado este álbum. Su hermano Enrique Casals (1892-1986) fue un destacado violinista, director de orquesta y compositor por derecho propio. Compuso el Concierto para violonchelo en fa mayor en 1946 bajo la fuerte influencia del mar y la naturaleza de Cataluña. El último movimiento es una sardana, una danza folclórica catalana cuya forma también utilizó Pablo Casals en muchas de sus obras, muy claramente inspirado en el Romanticismo tardío alemán.

Jan Vogler

El violonchelista Jan Vogler vive en Nueva York y Dresde. Actúa con orquestas de renombre internacional de todo el mundo, como la Filarmónica de Nueva York, la Orquesta de la Gewandhaus de Leipzig, la Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester de Berlín o la Orquesta Filarmónica de Londres. Su sólida base artística le ha permitido explorar los límites de su sonido, creando un diálogo continuo también con compositores e intérpretes contemporáneos. El New York Times elogia su "interpretación conmovedora y rica en matices" y el Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung le concede la capacidad de "hacer cantar a su violonchelo". Por su elogiada grabación de las suites para violonchelo de Bach recibió un Opus Klassik. Jan Vogler es director del renombrado Festival de Música de Dresde desde octubre de 2008, así como director artístico del Festival de Moritzburg desde 2001.

Josep Caballé Domenech

El director de orquesta de origen catalán Josep Caballé Domenech, director titular de la Orquesta del Festival de Moritzburg y de la Filarmónica de Colorado Springs y ex GMD de la Staatskapelle Halle, ha disfrutado de una exitosa carrera con un amplio repertorio de conciertos y ópera. Recibió el Premio Aspen de la Academia Americana de Dirección de Orquesta y fue incluido como "Protégé" en el ciclo inaugural de la Iniciativa Artística Rolex Mentor y Protégé 2002-03 de Sir Colin Davis.

Orquesta del Festival de Moritzburg

La fundación de la Academia del Festival de Moritzburg bajo la dirección de Mira Wang en 2006 siguió la visión de fomentar el talento de los jóvenes mediante el intercambio intercultural e intergeneracional y facilitar su entrada en la práctica concertística. Mediante un procedimiento anunciado a nivel internacional, cada año se seleccionan aproximadamente 45 músicos para participar. Juntos forman la Orquesta del Festival de Moritzburg, a las órdenes del director titular Josep Caballé Domenech. Gracias a una beca completa, trabajan en obras de música orquestal y de cámara que luego presentan en concierto. Con ocasión del 30º Festival de Moritzburg, en verano de 2022, el conjunto volvió a reunirse en otoño para grabar este álbum.

TRACKLIST

Édouard Lalo (1823 – 1892)

Concerto for Cello and Orchestra in D minor

1. Prélude. Lento – Allegro maestoso

2. Intermezzo. Andantino con moto – Allegro presto

3. Introduction. Andante – Rondo. Allegro vivace

 Enrique Casals (1892 – 1986) 

Concerto for Cello and Orchestra in F major in romantic serious style

4. Allegro moderato

5. Adagio doloroso

6. Finale. Tempo di sardana

World premiere recording

[polinalyapustina]

Today I first time in my professional life registered on site as a press. Nothing special, but that was exiting anyway. So now I have an access to all the press releases, video and hi-res photos of Gewandhaus orchestra and Andris Nelsons. 

Just cool!

[dweemeister]

Romance for Violin and Orchestra No. 2 in F Major, Op. 50 -- composed by Ludwig van Beethoven; solo violin by Renaud Capuçon; performed by the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra under the direction of Kurt Masur

This performance of Beethoven’s Romance no. 2 was part of a Leipzig concert commemorating to 20th anniversary of the Berlin Wall’s fall, the nonviolent revolution that occurred that day in 1989.

Written in 1798 but not released until 1805, the compositional history of this piece was concurrent with Beethoven coming to terms with his own deafness. If there was any disillusionment or anger coursing through his head while writing this, it cannot be perceived.

[johnjpuccio]

Review of "Schubert: Symphonies Nos. 8 and 9." Herbert Blomstedt, Gewandhausorchester. DG 486 3045

It seems appropriate that one of the oldest ensembles in the world, the Gewandhaus Orchestra (its pedigree can be traced to 1743), should be directed in these performances by one of the world’s oldest currently performing conductors, Herbert Blomstedt (b. 1927). It is also appropriate that we hear Franz Schubert’s Ninth Symphony with the Gewandhaus Orchestra, who under its Music Director at the time, Felix Mendelssohn, premiered the complete work in 1839 (over a decade after the composer’s death). And Deutsche Grammophon is among the oldest and most-respected record labels in the world, so there’s that.

To read the full review, click here:

John J. Puccio and Karl W. Nehring, Classical Candor

[cactustaffy]

Mendelssohn Trivia

Time for some sweet, sweet Mendelssohn trivias. Mendelssohn was very good at charades, and he played it often. According to Moscheles' diary, one evening the given word was Gewandhaus. Joachim played 'G' (Ge in German) on the violin, the company played the scene from "a midsummer night's dream" where the lovers whispered loving words through walls (=wand). And Mrs Moscheles explained the word haus (house) by mimicking knitting. The whole word was explained by Joachim leading the orchestra-composed of the Mendelssohn kids and more. This was how Mendelssohn's last birthday was spent.