Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra

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The Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra is a German orchestra based in Leipzig, Germany. It is named after the concert hall in which it is based, the Gewandhaus ("Cloth Hall").

Concerts in Leipzig date back to the early 18th century. They were first held in a private dwelling, and then an inn, before the orchestra moved to the Gewandhaus in 1781. The orchestra has a good claim to being the oldest continuing musical performing organization in Europe. In the early 19th century, Felix Mendelssohn was the kapellmeister. In 1885, the orchestra moved into a new hall, which was destroyed in 1944. The present Gewandhaus is the third building with the name. It was opened in 1981. There is a large organ in the hall, which bears the orchestra's long standing motto "res severa verum gaudium" ("a serious concern is true pleasure"). This has been the motto of the orchestra since it moved into its first concert hall in 1781.

Later principal conductors included Arthur Nikisch, Wilhelm Furtwängler, Bruno Walter, Vaclav Neumann, and from 1970 to 1996 Kurt Masur. In 1998, Herbert Blomstedt took over the post until 2005 and will be succeeded by Riccardo Chailly.