Leipzig Highlights 2010
Leipzig entices with great music, art and cars

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2009 has been packed with important highlights, e.g. the 20 anniversary of the Peaceful Revolution with the Festival of Lights on October 9, the 200 birthday of Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy or the various exhibitions and concerts on the occasion of the 600 anniversary of Leipzig University. In 2010, Leipzig again awaits visitors with numerous events.

A true City of Music and former residence of Johann Sebastian Bach, Leipzig celebrates the 325 birthday of its most important son extensively. In an intriguing Bach night on March 20, fans of classical music can enjoy several choirs, motets and cantatas from Schütz, Schelle and Bach. March 20 also sees the grand opening of the new Bach Museum. In the newly designed museum with its numerous multimedia and interactive elements the life and work of the great composer come alive.

In addition to these highlights, the annual Bach Festival will take place in June (June 11-20, 2010). Several ten thousand visitors are expected to attend the about 100 events. Influenced by the 200 anniversary of Robert Schumann, the Bach Festival 2010 has been put under the motto “Bach, Schumann and Brahms”. It values among other things the unique rendering of Bach by Robert Schumann in the 19 century. Of course, Leipzig also dedicates a festival of its own to Schumann: From September 9-19, 2010, fans and music lovers can enjoy famous works of Clara and Robert Schumann as well as composers who were friends with the artist couple. On September 12, their wedding day, a concert will be arranged in the Gedächtniskirche
Leipzig/Schönefeld, the church where they got married. Another central venue is the Schumann House where Schumann composed the world famous “Spring Symphony”. Today the rooms of their first flat are used as a museum and concert venue. In addition

to the annual Schumann Festival two more concert series are organized. The act of composing is on focus in the series “Schumann’s Spring”, which enables the audience to listen to rarely performed works. Leipzig’s opera tradition dates back to 1693 and is linked to the life and work of famous
composers including Leipzig-born Richard Wagner, Geog Philipp Telemann, Albert Lortzing and Gustav Mahler. After the destruction of the former building in World War II today’s Opera House was built in the same place as the old one - on Augustusplatz - between 1956 and 1960, reflecting the Late Classical architecture of the previous building.

The 50 anniversary of Leipzig Opera House is going to be celebrated in October 2010 with a gala and the premiere of Wagner’s “The Mastersingers of
Nuremberg” – the first opera that premiered in Leipzig’s new Opera House in 1960. Leipzig is famous as a City of Art throughout the world. In 2010, Leipzig’s most famous contemporary artist – Neo Rauch – celebrates his 50 birthday. A special exhibition will display paintings from his creative period 2007 – 2010 as well as early works from private art collections, which have not been on public display so far. The extensive “ Werksschau” collection with more than 120 works will be displayed in a concerted action simultaneously at the Museum of Fine Arts in Leipzig and the “Pinakothek der
Moderne” (picture gallery of modern age) in Munich (April 18 – August 15).

Looking back on a great history of trade, Leipzig is an attractive location for industry and commerce. Investors like Porsche, BMW and DHL all settled in Leipzig in the past few years. Porsche Cayenne has been produced in Leipzig for several years now. The new Porsche model Panamera was first presented to the world public at the 13 Auto Shanghai in April 2009. It is produced in Leipzig and entered the German market in September 2009. Porsche Leipzig can be experienced individually or as a group and is included in various packages. According to your needs you can either enjoy an
excellent meal (brunch, lunch or dinner) in the Customer Center restaurant, a guided tour of the factory along the production line of the Panamera and Cayenne or a spectacular driving event out on the track (as pilot or co-pilot).

Whether you love music, art or cars or simply want to enjoy a great city trip - the choice is up to you. Leipzig is looking forward to your visit.

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2010 Events

Name of Event	Date	Brief Description
Amazonia – Yadegar Asisi’s magical picture of nature Click here	28 Mar 09 - 31 Dec 10	High grown old trees, hanging roots, green half-light and an animal voice concert. Experience the fascinating world of the rain forest.
325th birthday of Bach - Bach night at Leipzig Gewandhaus Click here	20 March	The city’s most important son, Johann Sebastian Bach, has his 325 birthday. In an intriguing Bach night, festive music with several choirs, motets and cantatas from Schütz, Schelle and Bach can be heard.
Reopening of the Bach Museum Click here	20 - 21 March	After about two years of construction, the Bach Museum at Leipzig Thomaskirchhof is reopened. In the newly designed museum with numerous multimedia and interactive elements the life and work of the composer come alive.
Neo Rauch Exhibition “Begleiter” Click here	18 April - 15 August	On the occasion of the 50th birthday of Leipzig’s most famous contemporary artist, Neo Rauch, the exhibition gives an overview of the paintings from his creative period 2007 – 2010 for the first time. In addition, it shows early works from private art collections, which have not been on public display so far. The extensive “Werksschau” collection with more than 120 works is displayed as a concerted action simultaneously at the Leipzig Museum of Fine Arts and the “Pinakothek der Moderne” (picture gallery of the modern age) in Munich.
a cappella - 11th Festival of Vocal Music Click here	15 - 22 May	Stars and newcomers perform concerts in different venues throughout the city. Top-class vocal performances and exciting highlights can be experienced during one whole week in May.
5th Leipzig Wagner Festival Click here	16 - 23 May	Wagner's music is performed - in both its original orchestral arrangement and jazz adaptations - in unusual venues such as a factory building or a department store. In addition, other facets of Wagner’s will be performed, texts recited and scenes acted out. The aim is to increase the number of events staged every year until the 8th Leipzig Wagner Festival in 2013 when Leipzig - the composer's birthplace - invites Wagner enthusiasts from all over the world to celebrate the bicentennial of his birth.
Leipzig Bach Festival Click here	11 - 20 June	Johann Sebastian Bach spent nearly 27 years in Leipzig - from 1723 until he died. Here he wrote his best and most famous works. Every year the "Leipzig Bach Festival" is the highlight of his appreciation. Renowned artists from all over the world can be experienced at authentic sites in and around Leipzig. Visitors become witness of this episode of cultural history. The 2010 theme "Bach, Schumann and Brahms" values among others the 200th birthday of Robert Schumann and his unique rendering of Bach in the 19th birthday of century.
Classik airleben im Rosental Click here Click here	25 - 26 June	The Gewandhaus Orchestra ends the season with an impressive open-air concert. The choir of the Leipzig Opera accompanies the Gewandhaus Orchestra.
Mendelssohn Festival Click here Click here	20 August - 10 September	Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (1809-1847) is one of the most famous musicians to have lived and worked in Leipzig. The Mendelssohn Festival has been staged in his honour annually by the Leipzig Gewandhaus, the Mendelssohn House, the Schumann House, the Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy University of Music and Theatre, the Bach Archive, the Museum of Musical Instruments and St Thomas's Church since 1997.