Imagine sixteen Leipzig merchants in 1743. They gathered to found a concert society. Little did they know they were starting something extraordinary. This is the story of the Gewandhaus.
The Gewandhaus Orchestra is one of the world’s most renowned orchestras. It began with those merchants. They created a society of only sixteen musicians. They called it the “Grand Concert”.
For three decades, they played at the “Three Swans Inn”. But the audience grew. A new home was needed. In 1781, the orchestra moved into the Gewandhaus. This building was the assembly hall of cloth traders. “Gewandhaus” means “Garment House”. The orchestra got its name from this building.
The Gewandhaus became Leipzig’s musical center. Mozart even gave a concert here in 1789. The Gewandhaus Orchestra had found its home.
Felix Mendelssohn was the director of the Gewandhaus from 1835 to 1847. He wrote his Violin Concerto for his concertmaster Ferdinand David. Mendelssohn left a lasting impression on the orchestra.
The first Gewandhaus concert hall was built in 1781. Johann Carl Friedrich Dauthe was the architect. Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No 5 premiered here in 1811.
Many famous works premiered at the Altes Gewandhaus. These include Schubert’s Great Symphony and Schumann’s Spring Symphony. Also Mendelssohn’s Scottish Symphony and Violin Concerto debuted here. Wagner’s overture to The Mastersingers of Nuremberg was also first performed here. Brahms’ A German Requiem also premiered here.
By 1884, the Altes Gewandhaus was too small. A second Gewandhaus opened. Martin Gropius designed it. This Gewandhaus had a main concert hall and a chamber music hall. Arthur Nikisch and Wilhelm Furtwängler directed here.
During World War II, the second Gewandhaus was badly damaged. It was bombed in 1943 and 1944. The East German government demolished the ruins in 1968.
For three decades, concerts were held in a temporary hall. Kurt Masur worked to get a new Gewandhaus. The third and current Gewandhaus opened in 1981. It is on Augustusplatz. Rudolf Skoda was the architect.
The design considered the hall’s reputation for acoustics. During construction, soldiers tested the sound quality. They filled the hall to capacity.
In 1989, the Gewandhaus was a platform for political discussion. Kurt Masur opened the hall for public debate. This was during the Autumn of Nations.
Today’s Gewandhaus seats 1900 people. It has a Schuke concert organ with 6845 pipes. The motto “Res severa verum gaudium” is inscribed on the organ. It means “True pleasure is a serious business.”
The Gewandhaus hosts over 600 events each year. The Gewandhaus Orchestra’s “Grand Concerts” are central. The Gewandhaus Chorus and Children’s Chorus also perform. Chamber music ensembles and organ concerts are also featured.
The Gewandhaus stands as a testament to Leipzig’s musical heritage. From its humble beginnings to its modern grandeur, it remains a place where true pleasure is found in serious music.