A total of 16 professional music critics from all over the world ranked the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra No. 4 among the best orchestras in the world. The orchestra has gained an international reputation over the 272 years of its existence. In additional the famous Leipzig concert hall can also be delighted with another award: Riccardo Chailly tops the polls as the World's Best Conductor. Chief Conductor of the Leipzig Gewandhaus since 2005, Chailly is also the Principal Conductor at La Scala, Milan, until he takes up the post of Music Director there in 2017.
Andris Nelsons named new conductor at Gewandhaus in 2017
At No. 4 among the World's Best Conductors is Andris Nelsons. He was presented as the 21st Gewandhauskapellmeister of the City of Leipzig at the beginning of September and he is due to start his period of office at the beginning of the 2017/2018 concert season. In securing Nelsons, not only does the Gewandhaus Orchestra appoint the youngest music director of the past 150 years but also one of the most famous and innovative conductors in the world. "By appointing Andris Nelsons, we again emphasise that the future has tradition at the Gewandhaus Orchestra," according to the orchestra's general director, Professor Andreas Schulz.
Andris Nelsons, who has held the post of Music Director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra since 2014, has already celebrated several successful concerts with the Gewandhausorchestra since 2011.
Sustainable cultural partnership
Porsche has been the main sponsor of the Gewandhaus Orchestra since 2011. As part of the cultural partnership the sports car manufacturer provides support for the orchestra's international tours and concerts. "The high-class musicians deliver the seal of quality 'Made in Leipzig' all over the world – similar to what our sports cars do," said Matthias Müller, Chairman of the Executive Board of Porsche AG. The Leipzig region also profits from the partnership. Since 2013, Porsche and the Gewandhaus have revived the popular series of summer concerts "Klassik airleben" in the Leipzig Rosental after a break of several years. For the first time, all visitors are provided with free admission to the entire concert field. "This is a very special gesture to the citizens of the city," said Leipzig's Lord Mayor Burkhard Jung, in his summing up at the open-air concert in July 2015.
