Gedenkstein Arthur Nikisch Stele

Did Arthur Nikisch ever imagine a granite and bronze monument would mark the spot where he once lived? Here at the Gedenkstein Arthur Nikisch Stele, we unravel a tale of music, memory, and resilience. The Gedenkstein Arthur Nikisch Stele isn’t just a stone; it’s a whisper of the past. It stands before the site of Nikisch’s beloved home, a building known as the “Märchenhaus,” or “Fairytale House.” This magnificent residence, at what was then Thomasiusstraße 28, became Nikisch’s haven in 1907. He, the renowned Gewandhauskapellmeister, filled its over 300 square meters with life and music. The Gedenkstein Arthur Nikisch Stele remembers his fourteen years there, the final chapter of his illustrious life. Sadly, World War II erased the Märchenhaus, replacing it with a modern structure. The address changed too, becoming Thomasiusstraße 32. Yet, the city refused to let Nikisch’s legacy fade. In 1993, Leipzig’s city council decided to commemorate important figures with plaques. A plaque on the new building wouldn’t do justice to Nikisch. Instead, they chose a stele, a more fitting tribute. The Gedenkstein Arthur Nikisch Stele was unveiled on January 23, 1997, marking the 75th anniversary of Nikisch’s death. This 1.42-meter granite pillar bears two bronze plaques. The front plaque tells the story of the lost Märchenhaus, Nikisch’s residence, and his roles as conductor at the Leipzig Stadttheater and Gewandhauskapellmeister. It records his birth on October 12, 1855, and his death on January 23, 1922. The back plaque holds a precious gem: a toast by Franz Liszt himself. Dated 1885, it proclaims, “To the well-being of the chosen one among the chosen ones! Franz Liszt to Arthur Nikisch 1885.” This stele, designed by Leipzig graphic artist Harald Alff and cast by the Noack bronze foundry, stands as a tribute. The Gedenkstein Arthur Nikisch Stele reminds us that even though buildings may crumble, the echoes of music and memory can endure.