In the years to come, Leipzig is getting prepared for the upcoming anniversaries.
Adding to Leipzig’s impressive profusion of music festivals, the unique International Mahler Festival 2011 will be commemorating the 100th anniversary of the death of Gustav Mahler. From 17 to 29 May 2011, the Leipzig Gewandhaus is going to present all ten of his symphonies in an unparalleled concentration and interpretation.
The year 2012 will be entirely characterized by 800 years of THOMANA: St. Thomas Church and St. Thomas Boys Choir as well as St. Thomas School all date back to the year 1212. Highlights of the anniversary year will be the major festival week in March, several world premieres, the International Boys Choir Meeting and the Bach Festival.
In 2013, Leipzig pays tribute to the great composer Richard Wagner, who was born in Leipzig on May 22, 1813. Wagner went to school at St. Nicholas School and it was in Leipzig that he decided to become a musician. Committed to maintaining the Wagner legacy, numerous concerts and events, a Leipzig Wagner Festival and exhibition as well as the International Richard Wagner Congress will be held on the occasion of his 200th anniversary.
Also in 2013, the city will commemorate the double anniversary 200 Years battle of the nations and 100 years Monument to the Battle of the Nations. Therefore the historic 1813 battle of the allied troops of Austria, Prussia, the Russian empire and Sweden against Napoléon I will be reenacted. Beside a special exhibition at Leipzig’s landmark and Germany’s highest monument, the “Völkerschlachtdenkmal”, artist Yadegar Asisi is going to visualize the famous battle in a unique 360° panorama in an old gasometer, the Panometer Leipzig.
For the 25th anniversary of the Peaceful Revolution in 2014, the traditional Festival of Lights will be continued. The artist and citizen project in a European context with a selection of both local and European artists creates the framework for active participation of all citizens to commemorate the historic events of 1989. And, speaking of history, in 2015, Leipzig will be celebrating the 1,000 years’ of its first mentioning and the 850th anniversary of its endowment with both city and market privilege by the margrave Otto von Meißen.
