The world-famous Gewandhausorchester is the oldest civic symphony orchestra in Germany. The orchestra's origins can be traced to 1743, when a society called the Grosses Concert began performing in private homes. The orchestra is named after the concert hall in which it was based, the Gewandhaus (Cloth Hall or Textile Hall).
The Gewandhausorchester has performed with some of the greatest musicians of any era, including Mozart, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Chopin and Wagner.
Its distinguished reputation and excellent sound have made the Orchestra one of the finest on the planet.
In September 2015, the orchestra announced the appointment of Andris Nelsons as its next Gewandhauskapellmeister (conductor). In parallel, the orchestra announced a new artistic collaboration with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, of which Nelsons is the current music director.