SIGHTGEIST THE SAXONY MAGAZINE
LEIPZIG’S LIONESSES LEAVING NOTHING TO CHANCE THE AGE OF THE AUTOMOBILE
NEWS
EVENTS
STORIES
No. 11
Moving Traditions
Visit Dresden www.dresden.de/events www.dresden-elbland.de
Green Vault, Blue Wonder bridge, Goldener Reiter statue – Dresden is a riot of colour. LackStreicheKleber – Urban Art Festival Dresden 1st – 11th AUG 2018 CANALETTO – The 20th Dresdner Stadtfest Dresden city centre 17th – 19th AUG 2018 Fast Forward – The European Theatre Festival for Young Directors 13th – 18th NOV 2018
AltstAdt
NeustAdt 1
So many stories! Here’s a story you might not have heard before: When the brilliant engineer August Horch, who had recently been fired from his own car-making company for his bad business sense, wanted to establish a new business in 1909, he ran into more trouble. He wanted to make cars again that bore his well-respected name, but was told in no uncertain terms by the lawyers of his old company that he had to choose a different brand. So he simply translated his surname into Latin, and “Audi” was born. The original Audi factory in Zwickau is now a museum showcasing more than 100 years of car manufacturing in Saxony. It has recently doubled its space and offers fresh insights into the glorious racing history of the Auto Union, a company that Audi later became part of, and its post-war history, when the factory made the small, plastic-bodied Trabant as well as many modern constructions that never went into production. Read all about it in this edition of SIGHTGEIST along with a wide range of other stories from Saxony. From modest beginnings in a small village on the outskirts of Saxony’s capital city, Jazztage Dresden has grown into a major festival that attracts all the big names in jazz. The Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra has delighted music lovers for much longer – 275 years to be exact. Considered one of the best orchestras in the world, it now has a new musical director and conductor, Andris Nelsons, himself an icon in the world of classical music. Saxony’s largest city is also famous for its contemporary art scene. While male artists like Neo Rauch are much talked about, SIGHTGEIST puts the spotlight on female artists who are also very much part of the movement known as the “New Leipzig School”. Leipzig also has a long tradition of printing and publishing, which has earned it the name of the “City of Books”. It seems that business investments are always focused on large cities and their surrounding areas. Not so in Saxony, where businesses have always been spread throughout the region. Meet the highly successful company GK Software from Schöneck, whose founder and CEO even considers it an advantage to be located in a small town. This has never stopped the famous watchmakers of Glashütte from conquering the global market, either. Saxony is home to many inventions. We could claim that gin is one of them, but this would not be true. However, you might want to sip a glass of Juniper Jack as you read this edition of SIGHTGEIST. The gin has already made a name for itself among gin lovers, despite its young age. Enjoy and enjoy the read!
Hans-Jürgen Goller Editorial Director SIGHTGEIST 3
14
24 34
Up-to-date tradition
Contents 03
Editorial
06
Kaleidoscope News and events
14
Music as Alive Today as Ever The Gewandhaus Orchestra celebrates 275 years
24
The Age of the Automobile Technology meets emotion
34
Leipzig’s Lionesses Female painters on the prowl
46
Freiberg – Silver Rush City 850th anniversary of mining in the Ore Mountains
54
A Must for Jazz Enthusiasts Dresden’s blue note extravaganza
Audi’s birthplace
64
Leaving Nothing to Chance The power of independent spirit
Pleasure and paint
74
Leipzig – City of Books History of printing and publishing
86
The Finest Leather Gloves Handcrafted masterpieces made in Saxony
96
Giving a Helping Hand Start-up network in Leipzig
100
Timeless Watches The myth of Glashütte
108
“Where we are is the Cutting Edge” Culture of digitalisation at GK Software
114
Cultural Highlights & Events Calendar 2018/19
122
Imprint
46
Mind the miners
74 54
Readers’ choice
96
Access to success
Jazz and the city
“So many stories”
100 64
A clear proposition
86
Hands not off!
108
Masters of time
Global player
Photo: www.istockphoto.com, malerapaso · Design: www.sandstein.de
Just add yours.
Your ‘golden egg’ is systems technology, automation, automotive engineering or any other pioneering technology of the future? And you aim to see it thrive? Then take the image literal and have it hatch in Saxony. Right there where the heart of Europe’s microelectronics beats. The place where Industry 4.0 is already at work. Where the automobility of the future is well under way. Saxony makes you become part of a worldwide unique business and research network. To lay another ‘golden egg’. Interested?
WWW.BUSINESS-SAXONY.COM Saxony Economic Development Corporation
Bertolt-Brecht-Allee 22, 01309 Dresden, Germany info@wfs.saxony.de
KALEIDOSCOPE
“The most beautiful pastel ever seen” The Old Masters’ Gallery in Dresden is for the first time dedicating an exhibition to one of its most famous paintings, from 28 September 2018 to 6 January 2019. “The Chocolate Girl” by Swiss artist Jean-Étienne Liotard was added to the collection in 1746. The exhibition presents the success story of probably the most beautiful pastel in the world. Pastel as a medium suited the Rococo style and allowed Liotard to create flawless, porcelain-smooth surfaces. Another reason for the popularity of this picture is that it depicts a simple housemaid, a rare motif in that era. In addition, chocolate was a new, exotic and above all expensive luxury in the 18th century, much like tea, coffee and tobacco. The exhibition is at the Zwinger in Dresden, one of Germany’s best-known landmarks, and presents some 80 outstanding works, half of them on loan from major, international collections like the Louvre or the British Museum. https://gemaeldegalerie.skd.museum
The allure of art in Saxony The history of art in Saxony is extraordinarily diverse, from the Gothic period to the Reformation, Romanticism, Baroque, Classicism, Impressionism, Expressionism, East German art and the New Leipzig School. Famous names include artists of European rank, such as the anonymous masters of the Gothic period and the Cranach family of painters, as well as Canaletto, Caspar David Friedrich, Ludwig Richter, Max Klinger, the artists of the “Bridge” group, Otto Dix, Oskar Kokoschka, A.R. Penck, Georg Baselitz and Gerhard Richter. A glossy brochure “The Allure of Art – History, Museums, Workplaces” now provides the most important facts. It gives a brief summary of 800 years of Saxon art history, followed by an overview of the most significant museums of fine art and the places where great artists worked. It also offers
900 YEARS OF ZWICKAU It may be widely known that Robert Schumann and Max Pechstein were born in Zwickau, that the town bears the title of the “European City of the Reformation”,
readers an insight into the development of a society that culti-
that “black gold” clings to it from its coal mining past
vates close ties between politics, economics and art in a way that
and that it is the cradle of Saxon car-making. But who
is symptomatic of culture in Saxony. This brochure is unique in
knows that the oldest preserved ensemble of residential
Germany and ideal for culture enthusiasts in Saxony.
buildings in Central Germany can be found in Zwickau? That paperbacks were invented here and front-wheel
www.visitsaxony.com
drive introduced in mass-produced vehicles? There is still so much to discover in Zwickau, Saxony’s fourthlargest city with 91,000 inhabitants, which celebrates its 900th anniversary this year. The programme lasts until the distinctive music of the impressive miners’ parade has faded away in December. www.900jahre-zwickau.de (in German only)
SIGHTGEIST 7
KALEIDOSCOPE
PAULINUM IN LEIPZIG – A LANDMARK REBUILT Leipzig University has regained its chapel: The Paulinum has been re-opened after more than twelve years of construction. The assembly hall and university church of St. Paul have now been restored and once again form the intellectual and spiritual centre of the University of Leipzig. Architecturally reminiscent of the university chapel that was demolished in 1968, it is home to countless art treasures that were saved from destruction. The Paulinum was built between 2007 and 2017 based on plans by Dutch architect Erick van Egeraat on the site where the old church was demolished on 30 May 1968. Intended as a venue for academic events, university church services and concerts by the university orchestra, the Paulinum is a vibrant meeting place for students and employees of the university, the people of Leipzig and guests from all over the world. www.campus-augustusplatz.de (in German only)
Party at the foot of Cosel Tower Saxon Switzerland National Park is always worth a visit, and this year there is one reason more to go there: The fortress town of Stolpen, east of Dresden, which played a part in history during the reign of Augustus the Strong, turns 800 this year. The town, where the Saxon elector held his once beloved Countess Cosel captive, is celebrating its anniversary in style. Highlights include a historic festival procession through the narrow cobblestone streets leading up to the castle on 10 June, and a special exhibition “Stolpen – The Beginning” from 3 June to 12 August inside the thick walls of this fortress with its famous Cosel Tower, where the beautiful countess was banished until her death. www.stolpen800.de (in German only)
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KALEIDOSCOPE
Leipzig Zoo gets a 360-degree underwater tunnel When it opened in 1878, Leipzig Zoo attracted 4,500 visitors, who came to marvel at the kangaroos, parrots, antelopes, Royal Bengal tigers and a pair of lions. Now, 140 years later, more than 1.7 million visitors come here every year to discover exotic worlds. To celebrate the zoo’s 140th anniversary, a new continent has now been added to its various theme worlds: South America. Visitors can travel from humid Pantanal to Patagonia, populated by rheas and guanacos, and as far as Tierra del Fuego. They get to see not only Humboldt penguins and various sea birds, but also seals swimming in the wild ocean surf. Visitors then have the unique opportunity of watching the animals in a walk-through, 360-degree underwater tunnel. Situated in a 27-hectare park, Leipzig Zoo is one of Europe’s zoological gardens with the largest variety of species. www.zoo-leipzig.de
ONE FOR ALL. g, exciting, Leipziger Messe – surprisin ily. inspiring. Fun for all the fam siness. For leisure, hobbies and bu Discover our diversity!
EN JOY. DI SC OV ER . M ARVE L.
The future is who we are: www.leipziger-messe.com
Anz_OneForAll_180x128_Sightgeist.indd 1
15.03.18 11:02
SIGHTGEIST 9
KALEIDOSCOPE
Down-under goes Germany Adina Apartment Hotels has opened a new establishment in Leipzig combining large, individually designed studio apartments and full 4-star hotel service in the premium segment with an Australian flair. Located in the heart of the city, just five minutes on foot from the main railway station, the hotel’s 166 spacious suites and apartments have an individual style, ranging from two-storey suites to large corner rooms and apartments with high-quality furnishings for long-term stays and business trips. All include a fully equipped kitchen with washing machine and clothes drier. Subtle colours and warm red hues combined with stylish furniture define the setting. The hotel also has a restaurant, bar, pool, sauna and fitness room, as well as meeting and conference rooms with an attached roof terrace that can be used as a lounge or chill-out area. Guest will never want to leave! www.adinahotels.com
Over the rooftops of Leipzig Which hotel boasts Leipzig’s biggest event location with a roof terrace? Innside by Meliá Hotel Leipzig is a strong contender with a 900m2 venue spread over two floors. With fantastic views of St. Thomas Church and the rooftops of Leipzig, the 5th floor can be flexibly combined to create spaces of different sizes for events – meetings, corporate events, weddings, receptions or gala dinners – with up to 300 people. To top it off, the hotel also has a spacious rooftop terrace on the 6th floor, the largest in town, with bars that are also open to the public. In the summer months, the lounge furniture and tropical cabanas can be arranged around three separate bars to suit different occasions. The design and lifestyle hotel, with its 177 rooms and prime downtown location, is a homogenous ensemble comprising two historic palaces with a modern glass-roofed extension. The Spanish hotel group Meliá Hotels International, which has more than 370 establishments worldwide, opened the Innside by Meliá Hotel in Leipzig in 2017. www.innside.com
10 SIGHTGEIST
KALEIDOSCOPE
Chemnitz celebrates its 875th anniversary
It was first mentioned in a document in 1143, was a major economic hub during the industrial era in the 20th century, and its modern appearance astounds locals and international visitors today: Chemnitz, the City of Modernity, celebrates 875 years of exciting and eventful history. The celebrations, set to last the whole year, will be unlike anything else: Throughout the entire city, 130 events with a focus on five topics – Love, Challenge, Form, Top Performance and Progress – will tell stories and inspire visitors to see the city’s history from a different perspective. Chemnitz Industrial Museum presents an exhibition from 1 June to 4 November entitled “The Heart of Chemnitz. 875 Years of Chemnitz – 220 Years of Industrial Culture”. After all, it was the workers, engineers, technicians and entrepreneurs who once brought the city to life with their ideas and their faith in progress. www.chemnitz-tourismus.de
New scheduled flights between Leipzig/Halle and Moscow The Russian airline Pobeda set up a service from Leipzig/ Halle to Moscow in April. Three times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, a Boeing 737-800 takes passengers between Leipzig-Halle and Moscow’s Vnukovo International Airport. Around 30 kilometres southwest of Moscow city centre, Vnukovo International Airport has a rail connection and offers numerous connecting flights to national and international destinations. The Aeroexpress train takes passengers to Kiyevskaya railway station and Kiyevski metro station in just 35 minutes. A bus connection runs between the airport and the Yugo-Zapadnaya metro station. Pobeda is the budget travel member of the Aeroflot Group. Flights can be booked online at pobeda.aero, via online flight and travel portals and in travel agencies. www.pobeda.aero
SIGHTGEIST 11
KALEIDOSCOPE
OTTO DIX IN GUNZENHAUSER MUSEUM Four storeys, one museum, 350 works of art: From 29 April to 2 September, Museum Gunzenhauser at Chemnitz Art Collections presents an extensive exhibition with works by the artist Otto Dix (1891–1969), who was a key protagonist of the New Objectivity art movement. Paintings, watercolours, pastels, drawings and prints from all of his creative phases offer a representative cross-section of his artistic development: from his first self-portrait in oil (1912) to important works from the 1920s and the great symbolic landscapes from his time of inner emigration. Gunzenhauser Museum boasts one of the largest collections of work by Otto Dix. www.kunstsammlungen-chemnitz.de
(in German only)
Görliwood® is European Film Location of the Decade The Saxon town of Görlitz has been chosen by movie fans from all over Europe and the Filming Europe – European Film Commission Network (EuFCN) as the “Best European Film Location of the Decade”. The commission was won over by the locations used in the Oscar®-winning US comedy “Grand Budapest Hotel”. Görliwood® was the only German candidate among eleven nominations in total, including locations in Croatia, Spain, Austria, Poland, Greece, Norway and Italy. Görlitz survived the Second World War almost unscathed and today serves as the backdrop for numerous historic films. Almost 100 cinema and television films have been shot in Görlitz since the 1950s, including “Around the World in 80 Days” with Jackie Chan, “The Reader” with Kate Winslet and “Inglorious Basterds” with Brad Pitt. The film locations can be visited on a guided tour. Alternatively, you can explore them by yourself with the “Welcome to Görliwood®” movie map, which takes you to 40 settings, mainly in Görlitz’s historic old town and city centre. www.visit-goerlitz.com
12 SIGHTGEIST
HOUSE OF MEISSEN
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TRADITION & INNOVATION
SHOPPING
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CULINARY DELIGHTS
MUSIC AS ALIVE The Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra
TODAY AS EVER represents 275 Years of European Music Tradition
New Year’s Eve concert in 2016 with Latvian conductor Andris Nelsons and the Gewandhaus Orchestra in Leipzig’s Gewandhaus.
Andris Nelsons is the 21st Gewandhauskapellmeister in a long series of famous music directors.
It was a sight to behold, even for a city like New York: Musicians
ally, the ensemble not only performs at the Gewandhaus, but is
from Leipzig’s Gewandhaus Orchestra performed in front of the
also the concert orchestra for the Leipzig Opera and, together
Flatiron building, evoking 75 years of living music history from
with St Thomas Boys Choir, gives weekly performances of Bach’s
Saxony right at the heart of the American metropolis. Amidst
cantatas at St. Thomas’s Church. Thanks to these three different
the skyscrapers and surrounded by rushing traffic, they caused a
genres – concert music, musical theatre and church music – the
sensation: People stopped to listen and ask where the musicians
orchestra has acquired an artistic horizon that is unique in the
were from. Many New Yorkers had already heard of the orchestra
world. Moreover, no other leading symphonic orchestra performs
from Leipzig. Thanks to performances such as this one in 2014 to
as many works by Johann Sebastian Bach as regularly as the Leip-
commemorate the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall,
zig Gewandhaus Orchestra.
the Saxon orchestra is one of the best and most widely-known
In addition to the 200 concerts it plays in Leipzig every year, the
ensembles in the world.
orchestra’s annual tours have long included highly acclaimed
Classical music followers relish its earthy, dark sound and the mu-
guest performances in cities like London, Paris, Lucerne, Mi-
sicians’ delight in playing. It is said that a concert by the Leipzig
lan and Budapest. Another regular destination for the Leipzig
Gewandhaus Orchestra is never mediocre, but always features a
Gewandhaus Orchestra is Japan. In Tokyo, it surprised passers-
certain boldness that immediately sparks the interest of the audi-
by at a shopping centre, much like it did in New York in 2014.
ence. In its home town of Leipzig, the orchestra has some 12,500
The musicians also take a piece of European music history with
subscribers. The 70 major concerts it stages throughout the year
them whenever they tour the world, with a repertoire that is
alone are virtually all sold out. Yet the Gewandhaus itself is just
still dominated by composers like Bach, Beethoven, Bruckner,
one of three venues used by the orchestra in Leipzig. Tradition-
Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Schubert and Brahms. Famous music
18 SIGHTGEIST
directors, or Gewandhauskapellmeister, of the Gewandhaus Orchestra, such as Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Ferdinand Hiller, Wilhelm Furtwängler and Franz Konwitschny, set the tone early on in the orchestra’s history and still influence its repertoire today. Even 200 years after the orchestra’s establishment, the list of significant music directors is unending: Since 1970, this post has been held by Kurt Masur, Herbert Blomstedt and Riccardo Chailly. Starting in 2018, Latvian conductor Andris Nelsons will guide the traditional orchestra into the future as its 21st Gewandhauskapellmeister. The Gewandhaus Orchestra owes its excellent reputation not only to these world-famous figures, but also to its unique origins. In the 18th century, Leipzig was already a major Saxon city together with the royal seat of Dresden. Cultural life in Leipzig was largely influenced by Stadtpfeifer or “town pipers” – musicians employed by the city council, who performed at public events – and church music, until a group of 16 citizens and noblemen, including traders, patricians and merchants as well as some Stadtpfeifer, founded an independent ensemble. They gave private concerts, arranged musical evenings in private homes and soon established a society they called the “Grosses Concert” (Grand Concert). The group had struck a chord, and people lined up to hear them.
Swedish conductor Herbert Blomstedt, Gewandhauskapellmeister from 1998 to 2005
The number of musicians grew steadily. In 1743, the orchestra
and composers were expected to constantly produce new com-
moved its performances from private homes to the Three Swans
positions. It was not until 100 years later that Felix Mendelssohn-
inn, which could seat a larger audience. This was the year the
Bartholdy, during his time as Gewandhauskapellmeister, intro-
orchestra was born. Even Johann Wolfgang von Goethe is said
duced a more homogeneous canon of works to the orchestra. To
to have lauded the outstanding quality of the music. Leipzig’s
this end, he returned to the orchestra’s origins, rediscovering
Lord Mayor offered to provide a venue where the orchestra could
long-forgotten works by Johann Sebastian Bach and performing
rehearse and hold concerts in the former garment hall, or Ge-
them in Leipzig. It must be kept in mind that in these early days
wandhaus, which had been used by textile merchants. This first,
of the orchestra, some of its musicians had still known Bach
permanent concert hall gave the ensemble its name, by which
personally.
it is now known the world over: The Leipzig Gewandhaus Or-
The second major focus of the orchestra’s repertoire today is
chestra. An orchestra founded by the bourgeoisie and institu-
on the Viennese Classics and the Romantics. In the early
tionalised as a concert association with regular performances was
19th century, Leipzig was known for its loyal patronage of
something completely new in Saxony at the time, if not in the
Beethoven’s music, in which it was surpassed only by Vienna.
whole of Europe!
Many works by Ludwig van Beethoven that premiered in Vi-
In the 18th century, the orchestra’s repertoire included above all
enna were performed for the second time in Leipzig. This was
contemporary music. In those days, premieres were regular oc-
also due in part to Leipzig’s tradition as a centre of publishing:
currences. Musical pieces were commonly performed only once,
Beethoven’s works were printed by Breitkopf & Härtel, a music
The ensemble of the Gewandhaus Orchestra in 1893
The New Gewandhaus was the orchestra’s home from 1884 to 1944
Kurt Masur was the 18th Gewandhauskapellmeister from 1970 to 1996
publishing company in Leipzig. Friedrich Rochlitz, co-editor of the newspaper Allgemeine Musikalische Zeitung published by that company, was also a member of the Gewandhaus Board of Directors, and encouraged the orchestra to perform Beethoven’s works. Subsequently, Beethoven’s nine symphonies celebrated their worldwide debut as a cycle in Leipzig in the 1825/26 winter season, i.e. during the composer’s lifetime. The Gewandhaus Orchestra gave two additional high-calibre premieres of Beethoven’s music: his Triple Concerto, Op. 56 (1808) and Piano Concerto No. 5 in Eb major, Op. 73 (1811). This means that the orchestra can boast the additional claim of being the only symphony orchestra still in existence to have performed Beethoven’s music for the first time. This tradition of cultivating Beethoven’s music has been upheld in Leipzig for 200 years, and still defines the orchestra’s repertoire today. What is more, after Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy became Gewandhauskapellmeister in 1835, the orchestra premiered his “Scottish” symphony and Violin Concerto in E minor. Under Mendelssohn’s aegis, Robert Schumann’s symphonies and Franz Schubert’s Symphony in C major were also performed for the first time in Leipzig. Conducted by the composers themselves, Richard Wagner’s Meistersinger prelude and Johannes Brahms’s Violin Concerto had their world premieres in Leipzig in 1862 and 1879, respectively. Another important composer in the orchestra’s canon is Anton Bruckner. He first appeared in the orchestra’s history as an organist in 1884, and his Symphony No. 7 was later premiered by the Gewandhaus Orchestra under
SIGHTGEIST 21
the direction of Arthur Nikisch. It became the composer’s first
cians is reflected in the orchestra’s concert programme to this
major success. Nikisch was a great admirer of Bruckner’s music
day: Its core repertoire includes works by Mozart, Beethoven,
and conducted the world’s first Bruckner cycle in 1919/20 with
Schumann and Brahms, as well as various compositions from
the Gewandhaus Orchestra. It can be said without exaggeration
1850 to the 1920s. Andris Nelsons intends to continue the or-
that Bruckner owed both his recognition as a composer and his
chestra’s tradition of holding premieres in the years to come. In
international fame to Leipzig.
addition, the orchestra will have a composer-in-residence for
Kurt Masur in particular cultivated Bruckner’s music in Leipzig
the first time in the 2017/18 season with Jörg Widmann. This
later on with a very special gesture. To commemorate the com-
title will be awarded every two years.
poser’s 150th birthday, he arranged a cycle of all his sympho-
Kurt Masur not only contributed to upholding the Bruckner tra-
nies and his Te Deum in ten evening performances in 1974/75.
dition in Leipzig; he also managed to build a modern concert hall
Seven concerts were conducted by Masur himself and three by
with excellent acoustics for the Gewandhaus Orchestra during
guest conductors, including Herbert Blomstedt. The latter’s
the time of the East German regime. The New Gewandhaus in
Bruckner concerts, which he conducted during and after his
the centre of Leipzig opened its doors in 1981. It was the first and
time as Gewandhauskapellmeister, are now known internation-
only concert hall to be built during that period. Together with the
ally as reference interpretations and were recorded for release
opera house and St. Thomas’s Church, it is the orchestra’s “home”
on CD from 2005 to 2011.
in Leipzig. As a municipal institution, the Gewandhaus Orches-
The list of great composers and conductors linked to the Ge-
tra still embraces its civic origins, even though its members have
wandhaus Orchestra – in some cases very closely – could go
long been international: The 185 musicians have an average
on forever. For example, Peter Tchaikovsky, Edvard Grieg and
age of 45 and come from 25 different countries. This also makes
Richard Strauss all conducted their own works in Leipzig. The
Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra the world’s largest professional
orchestra also premiered compositions by Schnittke, Henze and
orchestra. And size matters for an orchestra that has to perform
Rihm. It was with these great names that the Gewandhaus Or-
in three venues at once. The orchestra has been supported for
chestra gained prominence as a “premiere orchestra”, a reputa-
more than 25 years by the Society of Friends of the Gewandhaus
tion that precedes it wherever it goes. Composers have always
in Leipzig. This association, with roughly 750 members, is com-
flocked to Leipzig, because the orchestra enjoyed an excellent
mitted to funding high-quality musical instruments and promotes
reputation throughout Europe from the very beginning. Not
the Gewandhaus children’s choir, its youth programmes and con-
very many large, high-quality orchestras existed then in Ger-
cert tours. In doing so, it helps to strengthen the orchestra’s long
many. The fact that Leipzig was an attractive place for musi-
tradition by giving it new impetus and preserving it for the future.
HOW TO GET THERE By air: Leipzig-Halle Airport Daily nonstop flights from Istanbul and Vienna, several nonstop flights per week from London, Moscow and Zurich, as well as a wide choice of international connections via Frankfurt, Cologne, Dusseldorf and Munich. By rail: direct ICE connections from almost all German cities By car and coach: via motorways A9, A14
Hotel Fürstenhof Leipzig Set at the heart of this fascinating city of art and culture, the 5-star superior Hotel Fürstenhof Leipzig welcomes guests in a historic 18th-century building. The hotel is situated in the city centre, just five minutes’ walk from the central station, and offers the highest standards in terms of comfort. www.hotelfuerstenhofleipzig.com
WHERE TO STAY Radisson Blu Hotel This hotel situated directly opposite the famous Gewandhaus concert hall and the opera House boasts some of the most modern and elegant rooms and suites in Leipzig, all furnished using exquisite materials, such as Macassa ebony, glass and leather. www.radisson-leipzig.com
WHERE TO EAT Stadtpfeiffer Restaurant This gourmet restaurant is situated on the ground floor of the Gewandhaus. The food is based on classical French cuisine combined with modern elements and with a focus on seasonal produce. www.stadtpfeiffer.de (in German only)
22 SIGHTGEIST
Restaurant in Panorama Tower Situated right next to the Gewandhaus, the highest restaurant in the region boasts breath-taking views. Serving fresh, seasonal cuisine, it is an experience to remember. www.panorama-leipzig.de (in German only) Spagos Restaurant & Lounge Restaurant Spagos in Radisson Blu Hotel offers guests 100% fresh, honest cuisine and excellent wine from the best vineyards. Spagos Lounge with an elegant, relaxing design is an ideal place to relax. www.radisson-leipzig.com
Musicians from Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra perform on the square in front of the Flatiron building in New York in 2014.
The Age of the Technology meets emotion
Automobile
The 160 large and many small automotive exhibits in the museum are a treat for any automobile and technology enthusiast. The exhibition features a combination of exhibits and installations, as well as multimedia stations and historic documents.
The new wing of the August Horch Museum in Zwickau
HISTORY IN SITU
opened in autumn 2017, following several years of construction. As a result, the exhibition space has more than doubled
The museum is located on Audistrasse, close to the original
in size. Where the museum previously ended, visitors now find
site where automotive pioneer August Horch began making
themselves in a new restaurant called “August Horch”. It serves
his luxury cars in 1904. The exhibition now impressively cov-
as an architectural transition from the old exhibition area,
ers the entire history of car-making in Zwickau over more than
starting with the company’s origins and leading up to the Sec-
110 years. The August Horch Museum is the ultimate tourist
ond World War (1904 – 1945), and the new extension, with
attraction in Saxony for car fans from all over the world. They
70 major exhibits covering the pre-war era to the present day
can learn all there is to know about the pioneering spirit and
(1927 – 2017).
brilliant inventions of Saxon car-makers. Half-way through
The new part of the museum presents technology and ve-
the tour of the museum, before they enter the fascinating new
hicles in everyday scenarios, provides information and stirs
section of the exhibition, visitors can take a break in the new
emotions. The concept blends in-depth facts with entertain-
restaurant. Once refreshed, they continue the tour in the for-
ment. Visitors can marvel at unique cars, study multimedia
mer production building of the Horch factory, which has been
displays and information panels, watch short films and mul-
restored true to the principle of historic preservation. This is
timedia shows, explore hands-on displays, and even try out a
where the Trabant, probably the most famous car of the East
driving simulator.
German regime, was built after 1957. The August Horch Museum is one of just two automobile museums in Germany built
28 SIGHTGEIST
on the site of a former car factory – a surprising fact in the “land
by Bernd Rosemeyer and Hans Stuck against Mercedes Benz ve-
of cars”. The historic buildings have been incorporated into the
hicles are legendary. Auto Union Grand Prix racing cars were
exhibition, creating a unique and authentic atmosphere.
ahead of their time in technical terms. The Auto Union Type A racing car with a 16-cylinder engine was the first mid-engine sports car. The engine was positioned behind the driver, a techni-
THE SILVER ARROW SENSATION
cal strategy still used in high-end motor racing today. The highlight at this point of the tour – and for many of their en-
The new section of the museum begins with a foray into the
tire visit – is the fantastic, 15-minute multimedia show. Visitors
history of Auto Union racing cars. It is a proud tribute to the
take a seat on the stands with baited breath. The lights go out,
legendary Silver Arrows built at the Horch plant in Zwickau
and events that took place in the pit lane at the start of a Grand
from 1934 to 1939. Head of development in the Auto Union
Prix race back in the 1930s are recreated in sound and image. Two
racing division at Horch in Zwickau until 1937 was none other
original Auto Union Silver Arrows are on the starting line. An
than Ferdinand Porsche.
unbelievably thrilling spectacle!
The sweeping success of the Silver Arrows began with daredevil,
In its day, Auto Union was the second-largest car producer in Ger-
amateur racing drivers, and became increasingly professional,
many after Opel. The group, founded in 1931/32, encompassed the
with manufacturers forming their own racing teams. The exhibi-
sports and luxury car brands Audi and Horch from Zwickau, the
tion tells impressive stories of engines, chassis and aerodynamics,
Wanderer factory in Chemnitz that built medium-sized cars, and the
of new speed records and intrepid long-distance races. The races
DKW plant in Zschopau, which made motorcycles and small cars.
SIGHTGEIST 29
Beautifully presented vintage cars: A Horch 12/28 PS from 1911 – a car with a midrange engine displacement and a modern engine; an Audi 225 sedan from 1935 – an upper midrange car with front drive; and a Horch 350 Pullman saloon from 1929 – an upper-range car with an eight-cylinder in-line engine.
A RIFT AND A NEW BEGINNING The tour of the museum resumes through a tunnel that takes visitors back in time: It is
1945. The Second World War is over, Germany and Europe lie in ruins, suffering and destruction are ubiquitous. The year also marked a rift in the history of car-making. Germany was occupied by the Allied Forces, and Saxony was part of the Soviet occupation zone. Factories were dismantled to pay for war reparations and production came to a standstill. Post-war production in the 1940/50s is documented in rare films shown in a 180° cinema. As the tour proceeds, the birth of the Trabant and its various models is presented in street scenes. Unique exhibits have been faithfully reconstructed with loving attention to detail, such as a beautifully restored Sachsenring P240 station wagon, one of only six built for Deutsche Fernsehfunk, the former German broadcasting corporation. It is presented as a commentator’s car at the “Race for Peace”, a famous bicycle race. With a film camera sticking through its open roof, it cruises ahead of a throng of original Diamant racing bikes.
TECHNICAL AND PRODUCTION HISTORY Automotive history has always been synonymous with the history of technology and
production. The next part of the exhibition is dedicated to a very special topic: Duroplast car body construction. In response to the scarcity of metal as a raw material in the 1950s, Duroplast, a fibre-reinforced plastic, was invented and used to make Trabant cars. Layers of non-woven fibre were joined by phenolic resin and compressed under heat to create an extremely lightweight material for car bodies. The original production line presented in the museum survived the downfall of the East German regime thanks to employees at the factory. It is the only preserved production facility of its kind in the world. The plant has been faithfully reconstructed as a complete production line with the original workflow, and at the original production site. The first prototype produced on this line is also on display: A still-unpainted Trabant P 50, built for a trade fair in 1955.
SIGHTGEIST 31
THE TRABANT: A CHILD OF ITS TIME The Trabant is also shown in historic comparison with other Eu-
ropean car models of the same era. When production started in 1957, the Trabant was not so different from other small cars in Western Europe in terms of its design and technology. But the restrictions of the planned economy and the lack of raw materials under the socialist regime in the 1970s and 1980s caused vehicle production to fall behind international standards. Even though interesting prototypes were developed in Zwickau, they never went into production for lack of funding. The new exhibition recognizes the creativity, inventive spirit, imagination and innovative force of the former East German people. Despite the scarcity of resources in the industry, they put a tremendous effort into constantly improving the cars and production against all odds. Once visitors have learned all about the Trabant, they can test-drive one, at least in the multimedia simulator. But be warned: Anyone who drives too fast will be stopped by the police! A great idea from the creators of the exhibition.
THE FALL OF THE WALL: DAWN OF A NEW ERA Several years before the Wall came down in 1989, Volkswa-
gen in Wolfsburg, West Germany, began to cooperate with the Sachsenring plant in Zwickau in the east. The Trabant, which had previously been fitted out with a 26 hp two-cylinder, twostroke engine, was equipped with a stronger, state-of-the-art, fourcylinder, four-stroke engine made by Volkswagen. From today’s perspective, this already signalled a turning point, but one most people were as yet unaware of, or at most dreamed of. The history of the Trabant ended with German reunification in 1990/91. East Germans now wanted to finally drive West German cars: Volkswagen and Audi were the most sought-after brands. The last Trabant to be produced in Zwickau is naturally also on display at the end of the historic section of the exhibition. Fortunately, it did not herald the end of car-making in Saxony, but rather the beginning of a new era. After German reunification, Volkswagen built a new factory near Zwickau for its VW Polo, followed by the Golf and later the Passat. Today, more than 7,000 employees work at Volkswagen Saxony at three locations in Zwickau/Mosel, Chemnitz and Dresden. Visitors to the museum now leave the historic section of the exhibition again through a time tunnel. The last room in the exhibition is dedicated to modern cars and technological developments by Volkswagen Saxony and its suppliers. In November 2017, the Volkswagen Group announced it would be establishing a competence centre for electromobility at the Zwickau site, opening yet another chapter in the history book of car-making in Zwickau.
32 SIGHTGEIST
Motorsports in the late 1920s and 1930s: In the background a video installation on the history of the Silver Arrows.
TRAVELINFO HOW TO GET THERE By air: via Dresden and Leipzig-Halle Airports By rail: regional trains from Dresden, Leipzig and Nuremberg (Bavaria) By car and coach: via motorways A4 and A72 WHERE TO STAY Hotel First Inn Zwickau Set at the heart of the old town on Kornmarkt square, the First Inn hotel is within walking distance of historic sites like St. Marien Cathedral, the birthplace of Robert Schumann and the Priests´ Houses, making it the ideal place to stay for culture vultures. www.hotel-firstinn-zwickau.de
WHERE TO EAT Restaurant August Horch The new restaurant in August Horch Museum that opened at the end of 2017 is perfect for a quick snack during a tour of the museum or a proper meal at the end. It serves seasonal and regional specialities. www.horch-museum.de Gasthaus 1470 This is the narrowest restaurant in Zwickau. The bar on the ground floor is famous for having 60 different kinds of gin interpreted in numerous different ways, as well as its own beer, an unfiltered light cellar beer with a fine hint of malt. The restaurant spread over three floors serves traditional and Mediterranean dishes. www.gasthaus1470.de (in German only)
Restaurant Egghead Egghead is fun. You can watch the chef at work in its open kitchen. The small menu with an excellent choice of dishes including plenty of fresh and regional produce is not just pleasing to the palate, but also a feast for the eyes. The crepes and pancakes that give Egghead its name are worth coming back for. www.egghead-restaurant.de (in German only)
SIGHTGEIST 33
LEAVING NOTHING TO CHANCE THE POWER OF INDEPENDENT SPIRIT
Jรถrg Fiedler is passionate about wine and spirits. He set up his own company in 2013 to fully devote himself to liquid juniper.
It takes a lot of experience, hard work and infinite patience to successfully turn juniper into gin.
Little juniper is an enigma: He is 281 years old, but still in top
condition. And he has at least two fathers. It is hard to say exactly how many admirers he has, but he has 1,263 confirmed friends. In fact, this figure is probably much higher, since not everyone who enjoys a good gin is on Facebook. Of course Juniper is not a person at all, although he definitely has a personality. Juniper is a kind of test tube baby, as it were, created by Jörg Fiedler and Siegbert Hennig. It took them several attempts, it’s true, but nowhere near 281 years. And yet the year 1736 – the year of birth of Juniper Jack, his full name – is not entirely plucked out of thin air. This was the year King George II of Great Britain requested his subjects to kindly observe a law adopted the previous year: the 1735 Spirit Duties Act (commonly known as the Gin Act of 1736). His aim was to restrict excessive consumption of gin by levying a retail tax on the spirit and issuing annual licenses for sellers of gin. His initiative was considered by most to be a very odd sense of British humour and was on the whole ignored. However, its effect was felt by one citizen of the realm at least, who consequently quit his job as a gin distiller to become a writer. Taking the pseudonym Juniper Jack, he wrote a peevish drama, which the world would probably never have heard of (and justifiably so from a literary perspective), if it were not for Jörg Fiedler from Dresden. Fiedler is a marketing man through and through. In 2013 he decided to give up his respectable position after five years as Head of Sales at Proschwitz Castle to set up his own business. He wanted to create something of his own. He wanted to make gin – not just any gin, but an outstanding one. To do so, he needed two things: an excellent product and exceptional marketing to let the world know about it. And when it comes to marketing, Fiedler leaves nothing to chance. After hearing about the gin farce, he knew he had found the perfect name: Juniper Jack. He talks enthusiastically about the drama:
SIGHTGEIST 69
“Juniper Jack, a distiller’s apprentice, takes on none other than
Jörg Fiedler’s goal was to make not just an ordinary gin, but a Lon-
King George II himself, and in his play “The Death of Queen
don Dry Gin. This title does not mean the gin has to be made in
Gin” shows the king exactly what he thinks of the Gin Act
London (unlike, say, Edinburgh, Helsinki, Vienna or Osnabrück
– nothing!” A yearning for freedom, independence and a self-
gin), but is an indication of its quality: London Dry is a gin cat-
determined life – all these are qualities that appeal to Jörg
egory subject to strict legal regulations that prohibit more than
Fiedler. It was exactly what he wanted for his gin: the power
they allow or require. For Jörg Fiedler that was not a problem or
of independent spirit!
even really a challenge, because it was exactly what he wanted: pure taste, above all of juniper.
Wanting something is one thing, doing it is another. And having an idea, however clear, of what a unique gin should be, is
“We get our juniper berries from Croatia, where Duka and Mira
not the same as putting it in the bottle. Fortunately, Fiedler
select and pick small juniper cones on the fringes of the Plitvice
still knew people in the business from his work at Proschwitz
Lakes National Park exclusively for Juniper Jack!” Fiedler tells
Castle. He found a kindred spirit in Siegbert Hennig from
us. He attaches great importance to this personal, trusting rela-
Meissener Spezialitätenbrennerei, a distillery in Reichenbach
tionship with his pickers, because it ensures a consistent flavour
near Meissen. Hennig is a fastidious craftsman, who pursues
profile and has an influence on the quality and size of the juniper
his goals with insight, expertise and generally with patience.
berries, the degree of drying, the time of harvest and the sugar
These two men, who prize flavour and quality above all else,
content. What’s more, Fiedler and his pickers have developed “a
were made for each other.
warm-hearted friendship that we cherish.”
70 SIGHTGEIST
The makers of Juniper Jack: Master distiller Siegbert Hennig (right); Duka and Mira collect juniper berries for Juniper Jack (below left and centre) with founder Jรถrg Fiedler (below right).
Apart from juniper, plenty more ingredients go into making a tasty gin that guarantees “fun in a glass”, as Siegbert Hennig puts it succinctly. True to Juniper Jack’s heroic tragicomedy, the main protagonists, besides Juniper of course, are Lord Blackberry, Madame Orange, Sir Coriander, Duke Vermouth, Earl Lemon, Lady Mint – the rest is a well-kept company secret. With patience, experience and gentle handling, master distiller Hennig has persuaded the botanicals to release their hidden secrets. Please don’t ask him how. The answer could be an eloquent shrug of the shoulders and an attempt to detract from the issue by saying “Wouldn’t you rather taste some?” A taste? Yes please! “The bouquet of this fine tipple shows that you do not need many botanicals to make a highly complex gin. Because let’s be honest: If someone claims they can
The Gin House in Dresden next door to the Frauenkirche serves pure gin and creative cocktails.
only create a sophisticated, complex gin by using lots of dif-
at the same time tenacious London Dry gin.” If it sounds like
ferent ingredients, then they have simply not understood
this is a gin you need to have in your drinks cabinet, you may
what the term “botanicals” means. Take Juniper Jack. It strips
be right. But that doesn’t mean it will be easy: In its first year,
the juniper cone down in such a way that I doubt whether
the company made just 1736 bottles (what a coincidence …),
you could make it more intensive. The tangy, resinous flavour
and has since increased the number to 3,500. It can be pur-
of the berries dominates the bouquet immensely,” according
chased only in select bars and liquor stores, while a large
to the online trade magazine Eye for Spirits, which awards
share is sold to direct customers. And “direct” is meant here
the gin 9 out of 10 points. And it is not alone in its acclaim:
in the literal sense, at least in and around Dresden, where
Sommeliers and bar managers are unanimous in their praise.
Jörg Fiedler often delivers the bottles in person. He wants
Markus Leike, bar manager at Gewandhaus Hotel in Dres-
to know who his customers are, and talk to them. But even
den, says, “It is straightforward, without frills, and yet it oozes
rarer than Juniper Jack is its strong little brother, Juniper Jack
complexity. Definitely a gin that is fun to drink!”, while An-
NAVY STRENGTH, a London Dry Gin with 57.2% alcohol
dré Pintz from Bar imperi in Leipzig enthuses, “A harmonious
by volume. Just 300 bottles were made in 2016, its first year
blend of classical freshness with a playful, fruity character. It
of production, followed by 800 the year after. The secret of
sticks in the mind and on the palate. Chapeau!”, and Rakh-
this gin is in its strength: Black gunpowder soaked in it still
shan Zhouleh from the Sommelier Union Deutschland finds,
goes off with a bang! But let’s face it, who would ever want to
“It wouldn’t win a beauty contest, but it’s a pithy, honest and
pulverise such a rare and tasty gin?
SIGHTGEIST 73
Cultural Highlights & Events 2018/19 Saxony is Germany’s no. 1 cultural destination. The margraves, dukes, electors and kings of the Wettin dynasty who ruled Saxony for 837 years promoted the arts and music, built impressive palaces and even complete cities, and inspired in their people the joie de vivre visitors can still witness today. Saxony’s capital, Dresden, has risen again in all its baroque splendour, its incredible art collections shining like the jewels in a crown. A journey through the musical history of Saxony is an encounter with great names and a rich musical legacy. It is possible to walk in the footsteps of famous musical instrument manufacturers, composers and musicians, not only in Leipzig, Saxony’s largest city, that has contributed to music history like no other place in Germany. Smaller romantic towns also impress with their historic architecture from Gothic to Art Nouveau, and with unexpected cultural highlights. By creating innovative art and music and presenting it in established or new locations, contemporary artists and musicians are busy building a tradition for the future.
SIGHTGEIST 115
still ongoing until 22 July | Leipzig Arno Rink – I Paint! Special exhibition in the Museum of Fine Arts www.mdbk.de until 31 July | Görlitz 175 Years of the Railway in Görlitz and Silesia Exhibition in the Silesian Museum www.schlesisches-museum.de until 16 September | Leipzig Patric Sandri. Gestures of Light & Wang Qingsong – The Great Wall? Two special exhibitions in the Museum of Fine Art www.mdbk.de until 3 October | Müglitz Valley Bomb-proof! A Hideaway for Art – Weesenstein 1945 Special exhibition at Weesenstein Castle Museum www.schloss-weesenstein.de until 7 October | Bad Elster Electoral Saxony Summer Featival Saxonian/Bohemian cultural festival with around 200 outstanding cultural events of various genres. www.chursaechsische.de until 14 October | Leipzig Blumen. Flowers. Fleurs Special exhibition in GRASSI Museum of Applied Arts www.grassimuseum.de until 31 December | Meissen False Fruits on Genuine Meissen Special exhibition on the history of the Onion Pattern in the House of Meissen www.meissen.com
May 2018 4 – 12 May | Leipzig A Capella Festival International festival of vocal music www.a-capella-festival.de 4 May – 6 January 2019 | Glashütte 140 years of Glashütte German Watchmaking School Special exhibition in the German Watch Museum www.uhrenmuseum-glashuette.com
5 May – 6 January 2019 | Dresden A Love-Need-Hate Relationship. The Germans and their Cars. Special exhibition in the Museum of Transport www.verkehrsmuseum-dresden.de 8 – 14 May | Leipzig Richard Wagner Festival Leipzig Opera honours the Leipzig-born composer with various performances. www.oper-leipzig.de 10 May – 10 June | Dresden Dresden Music Festival This year’s motto “MIRRORS” explores the influence of music on our individual existence and society. www.musikfestspiele.com
1 – 10 June | Stolpen 800th Anniversary of the Town of Stolpen Anniversary celebrations for locals and guests www.stolpen.de 2 and 3 June | Königstein The Swedes Conquer Königstein Fortress Reenactment with historic uniforms set during the Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648) www.festung-koenigstein.de 2 and 3 June | Ore Mountains Experience Mining Culture in the Ore Mountains A wide range of events in mines, mining museums and mining landscapes. www.erzgebirge-tourismus.de
12 May – 2 September | Rathen Felsenbühne Rathen Seasonal concerts, musicals and theatre performances on this open-air stage set among rocks in Saxon Switzerland national park. www.felsenbuehne-rathen.de
2 June – 30 September | Leipzig Carolein Smit – L´amour fou Special exhibition in GRASSI Museum of Applied Arts www.grassimuseum.de
18 – 21 May | Leipzig Wave Gothic Festival This festival in Leipzig is one of the biggest events in the neo-romantic black metal scene. www.wave-gotik-treffen.de
2 June – 7 October | Leipzig Made in Denmark – Design since 1900 Special exhibition in GRASSI Museum of Applied Arts www.grassimuseum.de
18 May – 7 January 2019 | Dresden RACISM. The Invention of Human Races Special exhibition in the German Hygiene Museum www.dhmd.de
8 – 17 June | Leipzig Bach Festival Leipzig The 2018 Bach Festival is dedicated to “Cycles” with various performances. www.bachfestleipzig.de (in German only)
19 – 21 May | Müglitz Valley 27th Medieval Festival at Weesenstein Castle Weesenstein Castle near Dresden celebrates its 700th anniversary www.schloss-weesenstein.de
11 – 20 June | Freiberg Silver Days in Freiberg Festival week to celebrate the 850th anniversary of the silver rush www.freiberg-service.de
31 May – 10 June | Zwickau International Robert Schumann Festival Singers and pianists perform in Zwickau. www.schumannzwickau.de
15 – 17 June | Leipzig Festival Weekend on the 325th Anniversary of Leipzig Opera Premieres and guided tours www.oper-leipzig.de
June 2018
16 – 18 June | Plauen Plauen Lace Festival The Town of Plauen in the heart of the Vogtland region is famous for its lace – delicate embroidery that attests to outstanding craftsmanship. www.plauen.de
1 – 3 June | Leipzig Leipzig City Festival Musical and culinary highlights attract more than 250,000 visitors every year. www.leipzig.travel
SIGHTGEIST 117
21 – 24 June | Freiberg Freiberg Town Festival Central Saxony’s largest public festival with a traditional miners’ parade. www.freiberg-service.de
July 2018
8th August Horch Klassik 5 – 15 July | Torgau 6th International Saxon Singers Academy
23 June – 7 October | Dresden Michelangelo – Giambologna and the Medici Chapel Special exhibition in the Old Masters’ Gallery www.skd.museum 28 – 30 June | Görlitz International Street Theatre Festival ViaThea This festival transforms the European town of Görlitz/Zgorzelec into a city of art. www.viathea.de 29 and 30 June | Leipzig “Klassik airleben” Open-air performances of classical music by the Gewandhaus Orchestra www.gewandhausorchester.de
118 SIGHTGEIST
22 July | Zwickau Car rally with more than 140 vintage cars in Zwickau, the city of cars www.horch-museum.de
Daily concerts by young singers at Hartenfels Castle in Torgau www.saengerakademie-schlosshartenfels.de
August 2018 3 – 5 August | Zittau Mountains Nature Preserve
13 – 15 July | Hohenstein-Ernstthal
Festival Historik Mobil
21st Motorcycle Grand Prix
Historic vehicles from bygone days
on the Sachsenring circuit
www.steam-route-saxony.com
www.srm-sachsenring.de
11 – 26 August | Moritzburg 14 and 15 July | Freital
Moritzburg Festival
Narrow-Gauge Railway Festival
Every year, around 25 renowned soloists
with the Weisseritz Valley Railway
and talented young musicians meet in
The festival takes place along the narrow-
Moritzburg and Proschwitz to work together
gauge railway between Freital-Hainsberg
on new interpretations of chamber music
and Dippoldiswalde near Dresden.
and musical rarities.
www.steam-route-saxony.com
www.moritzburgfestival.de
11 – 13 August | Bad Elster International Jazz Festival Jazzy feelings in the Vogtland region www.chursaechsische.de 25 and 26 August | Dresden Elbland Open House in Saxony’s Winegrowing Estates More than 40 wineries in and around Dresden open their doors to visitors. www.elbland.de 25 and 26 August | Rammenau International Linen Festival Rammenau Castle welcomes lovers of fine linen and traditional crafts. www.barockschloss-rammenau.com
2, 8 and 16 September | Moritzburg Stallion Parades in Moritzburg The most beautiful horses from Saxony’s state stud farm can be seen in Moritzburg. www.saechsische-gestuetsverwaltung.de 7 – 16 September | Ore Mountains Ore Mountains Music Festival International artists play baroque music www.musikfest-erzgebirge.de 8 – 16 September | Leipzig Schumann Festival Week Leipzig’s most significant chamber music festival presents the life and work of the artists Clara Wieck and Robert Schumann. www.schumann-verein.de
September 2018 1 September | Leipzig Gewandhaus Festival Ensembles from the Gewandhaus Orchestra perform at various locations www.gewandhausorchester.de
14 – 16 September | Bad Schlema European Brass Band Music Festival Orchestras from all over Germany and abroad perform the full repertoire of brass music from swing and folk to classical music. www.bergmannsblasorchester.de
15 and 16 September | Radebeul Narrow-Gauge Festival in Lössnitzgrund Through Saxony’s Elbland region in historic trains. www.steam-route-saxony.com 21 – 23 September | Chemnitz Industrial Culture Days This festival is dedicated to industrial development in Chemnitz and the surrounding region. www.chemnitz-tourismus.de 28 September – 6 January 2019 | Dresden The most beautiful pastel ever seen. The Chocolate Girl by Jean-Etienne Liotard Special exhibition in the Old Masters’ Gallery www.skd.museum
SIGHTGEIST 119
October 2018 5 – 14 October | Leipzig Heinrich Schütz Music Festival This annual concert is dedicated to the “Father of Modern Music”, as Heinrich Schütz was called even during his lifetime. www.schuetz-musikfest.de 9 October | Leipzig Festival of Lights Artistic light installations at historic venues in the town centre explore the topics of freedom, democracy and revolution. www.leipziger-freiheit.de 21 October | Ore Mountains Day of Traditional Handicrafts Artisans from all over the region open their workshops to the public on this day to present their work and handicrafts. www.erzgebirge-tourismus.de 26 – 28 October | Leipzig Designers’ Open This design festival at Leipzig’s Neue Messe is a marketplace for fresh ideas. www.designersopen.de 26 – 28 October | Leipzig Grassimesse International sales trade fair for applied art and design in GRASSI Museum of Applied Arts www.grassimuseum.de 26 October – 20 January 2019 | Dresden In the Realm of Possibilities – Italian Illustration from the 16th Century Special exhibition in the Gallery of Prints in the Residenzschloss www.skd.museum 29 October – 4 November | Leipzig DOK Leipzig International documentary and animated film festival www.dok-leipzig.de
November 2018 1 – 25 November | Dresden 18th Jazztage Dresden Jazz festival featuring national and international artists www.jazztage-dresden.de
120 SIGHTGEIST
3 November – March 2019 | Dresden Against Invisibility – Designers at the Deutsche Werkstätten Hellerau from 1898 to 1938 Special exhibition in the Museum for Crafts and Arts, Japanisches Palais www.skd.museum 6 – 11 November | Leipzig Euro-Scene Leipzig This festival of contemporary European theatre presents experimental theatre and innovative dance performances. www.euro-scene.de 17 November – 3 March 2019 | Moritzburg Three Wishes for Cinderella Winter exhibition based on the classic German-Czech film from 1973. www.schloss-moritzburg.de 27 November – 23 December | Leipzig Leipzig Christmas Market This traditional Christmas market dates back to 1458. www.leipzig.de 28 November – 24 December | Dresden 584th Striezelmarkt One of the oldest German Christmas markets as well as ten others throughout Dresden welcome guests. www.dresden.de/striezelmarkt 30 November – 23 December | Chemnitz Chemnitz Christmas Market This Christmas market has been ranked one of Saxony’s most beautiful by visitors for years. www.chemnitz.de 30 November – 28 February 2019 | Bad Elster 18th Electoral Winter Dreams The largest cultural festival in a region known for music and winter sports. www.chursaechsische.de
December 2018 Advent | Ore Mountains Christmas markets and more With some 500 Christmas events, the Ore Mountains are transformed into “Christmas country” in the Advent season. Centuriesold customs and mining traditions such as “Mettenschicht” (celebration after the last mining shift before Christmas), miners’ parades and trips to see the festive lights are deeply entrenched in the region. www.erzgebirge-tourismus.de
From December | Dresden The Medea Insurrection. Radical Artists Behind the Iron Curtain Special exhibition in the Kunsthalle im Lipsiusbau www.skd.museum 1 December – 30 March 2019 | Leipzig Megalopolis #1 – Voices from Kinshasa Special exhibition in Grassi Ethnological Museum www.skd.museum 1 December – 2 June 2019 | Radebeul 90 Years of Karl May Museum Special exhibition in Karl May Museum www.karl-may-museum.de
PREVIEW 2019 1 February | Dresden Semper Opera Ball & Semper Open-air Ball In the Semper Opera and on Theaterplatz Square www.semperopernball.de 9 February – 19 May | Dresden Kandinsky – Lissitzky – Mondrian: Dresden and the Abstract-constructive Avant-garde 1920-1933 Special exhibition in the Albertinum www.skd.museum 21 – 24 March | Leipzig Leipzig Book Fair Germany’s largest public book fair www.leipziger-buchmesse.de 26 April – 4 May | Leipzig A Capella Festival www.a-capella-festival.de 28 April – 5 May | Leipzig Richard Wagner Festival www.oper-leipzig.de 1 May | Dresden Fleet parade of the Saxon Steamship Company Traditional paddle steamer rally www.saechsische-dampfschiffahrt.de 16 May – 15 June | Dresden Dresden Music Festival High-quality programme with classical music www.musikfestspiele.com Subject to change.
WE HAVE BEEN CALLING THE TUNE FOR 275 YEARS.
The Gewandhaus Orchestra was established in 1743 in Leipzig. Legends such as Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, Wilhelm Furtwängler and Kurt Masur have all formed its unique, romantic sound. The famous Latvian conductor Andris Nelson took over as 21st Gewandhauskapellmeister in
2018. This ensures that you will continue to enjoy unmistakeable music tradition in future too. For more information visit www.visitsaxony.com and www.saxonytourism.com or contact Tourism Marketing Company of Saxony, Bautzner Str. 45 – 47, 01099 Dresden, Germany, phone +49 351 / 49 17 00.
IMPRINT SIGHTGEIST is a publication of Labhard Medien GmbH Max-Stromeyer-Straße 116 78467 Konstanz, Germany Thomas Willauer, Gabriele Schindler Managing Directors Phone +49 7531 90710 Fax +49 7531 907131 verlag@labhard.de www.labhard.de HRB 380898 Freiburg Copyright: Labhard Medien GmbH Labhard Medien GmbH Branch Office Saxony Saalhausener Straße 51 b 01159 Dresden, Germany Iris Kupferschmied Publishing Manager Saxony Phone +49 351 7958830 Fax +49 351 79588315 sachsen@labhard.de www.labhard.de
Kaleidoscope Author: Ines Nebelung Photos: © SKD/Estel,Klut (p. 7 top); TMGS/Schech (p. 7 bottom left), Zwickau/mattrose (p. 7 bottom right); Universität Leipzig/Randy Kühn (p. 8 top); Labhard Medien/Sylvio Dittrich (p.8 bottom); Zoo Leipzig (p. 9 top); Adina Aprtment Hotel Europe (p. 10 top); Melia Hotels International (p. 10 bottom); CWE (p. 11 top); Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz/Kristin Schmidt (p. 12 top); EGZ/Die Partner (p. 12 bottom left); Stadtverwaltung Görlitz (p. 12 bottom right) Music as Alive Today as Ever www.gewandhausorchester.de Author: Nicole Czerwinka, Dresden; Photos: © Gewandhaus/Jens Gerber (p. 14, 18, 19); Gewandhaus/Gert Mothes (p. 16, 21 top right); Gewandhausarchiv (p. 20, 21 top left); Gewandhaus/Dirk Steiner (p. 23)
In cooperation with Tourism Marketing Company of Saxony Bautzner Straße 45-47 01099 Dresden, Germany Phone +49 351 491700 Fax +49 351 4969306 info@sachsen-tour.de www.visitsaxony.com www.saxonytourism.com Editorial Director Hans-Jürgen Goller Editorial Team Thomas Willauer (responsible according to German press law), Wolfgang Gärtner Product Manager Iris Kupferschmied Translations Claire Gordon-Kühl Layout Z&Z Werbeagentur Dresden Printed by Druckerei Berger, Austria Authors and Photos Cover Picture © August Horch Museum Zwickau
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The Age of the Automobile www.horch-museum.de (in German only) Author: decorum Kommunikation/ Carsten Schulz-Nötzold; Photos: © Labhard Medien/dsl factory (p. 24, 28); August Horch Museum Zwickau (all others) Leipzig’s Lionesses This article is taken from the magazine art-das kunstmagazin, with the friendly support of Gruner+Jahr. www.art-magazin.de (in German only) Author: Susanne Altmann; Photos: © Charlotte Sattler (p. 35-38, 42); Andrea Gjestvang (p. 40, 41); Works of art: © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2018 - I. Dutoit, „Fünf Löwen“ (p. 34), „Im Bild (oben) II, 2004“ (p. 44 top left); C. Rößger, „Mutterliebe“, „Das verflixte 7. Jahr“, „Konsolidieren“ (from the left: p. 36, 37), „Monstera, 2016“ (p. 44 top right); V. Landau, „Königsnacht, 2017“ (p. 39), „Waiting for stars, 2006“ (p. 45 top right); K. Heichel, „BBIV“ (p. 43), „Die Drohung, 2015“ (p. 45 top left); Miriam Vlaming „Uncle Freak”, “Mama Blue”, “The Village (from the left, p. 40, 41), “My Lucky One” (p. 44 top middle); courtesy Galerie Leuenroth (p. 34, 44 top left), Hothoff-Mokross Galerie und Galerie Leuenroth (p. 36, 37, 44 top right),
courtey Josef Filipp Galerie (p. 38, 39, 45 top right), Christoph Sandig (p. 39), courtesy Miriam Vlaming und Galerie Dukan (p. 40, 41, 44 top middle), Uwe Walter (p. 42, 45 top left) Freiberg – Silver Rush City www.freiberg-service.de Author: decorum Kommunikation/ Carsten Schulz-Nötzold; Photos: © Silberstadt® Freiberg/ R. Menzel (p. 46, 48, 49, 50 bottom), TU Bergakademie Freiberg/Pressearchiv (p. 50 top, 51); terra mineralia/ Jan Rieger (p. 52), Tourist-Information Freiberg/Haertelpress (p. 53) A Must for Jazz Enthusiasts www.jazztage-dresden.de Author: Nicole Czerwinka, Dresden; Photos: © Hainer Michael (p. 54); © Shutterstock.com\Claire McAdams (p. 55); Mirko Jörg Kellner (p. 56); Agentur (p. 58 top); Hans-Joachim Maquet (p. 58 bottom, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63) Leaving Nothing to Chance www.juniper-jack.de (in German only) Author: Ulrich van Stipriaan, Dresden; Photos: © Juniper Jack/Robert Lohse (p. 64, 70); Juniper Jack/Daniel Bahrmann (p. 66), Juniper Jack/ Angela Liebich (p. 68, 69); Juniper Jack/Uwe Jacobshagen (p. 71 top); Gin House Dresden (p. 72, 73) Leipzig – City of Books www.leipzig.travel Author: Labhard Medien/ Claudia Weber; Photos: © Leipzig Book Fair/Tom Schulze (p. 74, 76, 78 bottom, 79 top middle); Leipzig Book Fair/JensUlrich Koch (p. 78 top); Leipzig Book Fair/Stefan Hoyer (p. 79 top right); Museum of the printing arts/Klaus-D. Sonntag (p. 80, 81 bottom right); LTM/Andreas Schmidt (p. 81 bottom left, 84, 85); Punctum/Alexander Schmidt (p. 82, 83) The Finest Leather Gloves www.lederhandschuh-manufaktur.de (in German only) This article is taken from the magazine Land & Berge, with the friendly support of Sammet Media. www.sammet-media.de (in German only); Author & Photos: Steffi Schweizer (p. 86-95)
Giving a Helping Hand www.spinlab.co Author: Labhard Medien; Photos: © SpinLab/Franziska und Tom Werner (p. 96); Leipziger Baumwollspinnerei/Thomas Riese (p. 98); SpinLab/Erik Kemnitz (p. 99) Timeless Watches www.uhrenmuseum-glashuette.com Author: decorum Kommunikation/ Carsten Schulz-Nötzold; Photos: © A.Lange & Söhne/Pressearchiv (p. 100, 106 top middle and right); Nomos Glashütte (p. 102 top left, 103 bottom, 107 top left); Stiftung Deutsches Uhrenmuseum Glashütte/Rene Gaens (p. 103 top, 104, 105); Glashütte Original (p. 106 top left); Moritz Grossmann Uhren (p. 107 top middle and right) “Where we are is the Cutting Edge” www.gk-software.com Author: decorum Kommunikation/ Carsten Schulz-Nötzold; Photos: © GK Software (p. 108111); DLT Schöneck/Thomas Lenk (p. 112), DLT Schöneck/Manuel Rohne (p.113), Cultural Highlights & Events Photos: © Jazztage Dresden/Mirko Jörg Kellner (p. 114); Oper Leipzig/ Tom Schulze (p. 116 top); Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz/Bertram Kober (p. 116 bottom); Gewandhaus Leipzig/Presse (p. 118), Schloß Wackerbarth/Heinz-Dieter Schulz (p. 119) Editorial Deadline: 29 March 2018 SIGHTGEIST No. 12 will be published in April 2019. For all information about travelling to and in Saxony, please contact Tourism Marketing Company of Saxony Bautzner Straße 45–47 01099 Dresden, Germany Phone +49 351 491700 Fax +49 351 4969306 info@sachsen-tour.de www.visitsaxony.com
Enjoy
German Wine
#EnjoyGermanFood
© DZT/Deutschland abgelichtet, Moritz Kertzscher
Find out more www.germany.travel/food-drink
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SPLENDOR. TEARS. DISASTERS. CLOSER THAN EVER. Descend and get quite close to 450 years of Dresdens history on a fascinating adventure trip. Staged affectionately and spectacular in the earliest bastioned fortification of a German town.
Dresden Fortress closed until reopening * For more information to the opening date please go to our website.
www.festung-dresden.de/en /Festung.Dresden /Schloesser land
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