The Leipzig Gewandhausorchester has announced plans to extend Andris Nelsons’ tenure as Gewandhauskapellmeister until July 2032, continuing a collaboration that began in 2017.
The Leipzig Gewandhausorchester has announced its intention to extend Andris Nelsons’ tenure as Gewandhauskapellmeister until July 2032. The proposal, subject to approval by the Leipzig City Council, would add five years to his current contract, which was due to expire in 2027.
Nelsons (Riga, 1978) has led the orchestra since 2017. If confirmed, the renewal would bring his tenure to fifteen years, placing him among the longest-serving Kapellmeisters in the ensemble’s modern history.
Transatlantic alliance
A central focus of Nelsons’ third term will be the continuation of the unique collaboration between the Gewandhausorchester and the Boston Symphony Orchestra, where he has also served as Music Director since 2014. This partnership has included joint residencies, recordings, and most recently the Shostakovich Festival 2025 in Leipzig, marking the 50th anniversary of the composer’s death. Future collaborations are expected to extend to projects in both cities and to educational initiatives linking the Mendelssohn Orchesterakademie and Tanglewood Music Center.
Recording projects and festivals
Nelsons will also continue his close relationship with Deutsche Grammophon, following the release of the complete cycle of Bruckner symphonies. Upcoming projects include completing a Mendelssohn symphony cycle as well as recordings of works by Sibelius and Dvořák.
Festival programming will remain a priority, with plans for new Leipzig events dedicated to Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Wagner, and Mahler, building on the success of the Mahler and Shostakovich festivals in 2023 and 2025.
Operatic collaborations
Another emphasis of the next period will be strengthening ties with the Leipzig Opera. Nelsons recently conducted Shostakovich’s Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk as part of the Shostakovich Festival, and he has expressed enthusiasm for working with the company’s new General Music Director, Ivan Repušić.
Institutional perspectives
Leipzig’s mayor for culture, Skadi Jennicke, welcomed the renewal, describing Nelsons’ long-term commitment as “rare in the international context” and highlighting its importance in strengthening both the orchestra and the city’s cultural profile. Gewandhaus director Andreas Schulz underlined the significance of continuity, especially amid financial challenges, while pointing to Nelsons’ international stature as “a remarkable statement for the orchestra and the city.”
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