(Credit: Marco Borggreve)

The Gewandhausorchester Leipzig has announced that it has extended the contract with its Gewandhauskapellmeister Andris Nelsons. The new contract also includes the musical direction of one production each season at the Oper Leipzig.

Andris Nelsons simultaneously extended his contract as the Music Director with the Boston Symphony Orchestra until 2025. The Gewandhausorchester Leipzig and the Boston Symphony Orchestra have thus struck a formal alliance, which will include a continuing exchange program for the orchestras’ musicians and joint composition commissions, among others. The alliance will also facilitate intensive cooperation between the Mendelssohn Orchestra Academy and the Tanglewood Music Center.

“During his tenure thus far, Andris Nelsons has delivered on his commitment both to lead the Gewandhausorchester in new directions of the utmost integrity in its core repertoire and also to enrich its programs with an unparalleled wealth of contemporary music with distinction. Highly successful concerts around the globe, the first installments of the recordings of the complete cycle of Bruckner symphonies for Deutsche Grammophon, a wealth of stimulating new commissions, the creation of the position of Gewandhaus Composer, the flourishing collaboration with the Boston Symphony Orchestra – all of this is testament to the unmistakable musical identity of our 21st Gewandhauskapellmeister,” said Andreas Schulz, the General Director of the Gewandhaus, in an official statement.

Gewandhauskapellmeister Andris Nelsons expressed his satisfaction over the extension of the contract. “The past two-and-a-half years with the Gewandhausorchester have been sensational. The inspiration and dedication of each and every one of these quite exceptional musicians and the unique sound world within which they create their music as an ensemble has made our work together an experience of tremendous intensity for me. I am thrilled that during this second phase of my tenure the musicians of the Gewandhausorchester and I will be able to continue to explore our artistic ideas, and also tread entirely new paths,” added Nelsons.

The new contract will run until July 31, 2027.