Gewandhausorchester Leipzig / Andris Nelsons

When the legendary Gewandhausorchester Leipzig and its new principal conductor Andris Nelsons team up with sensitive French star pianist Hélène Grimaud, there are sure to be plenty of Schumann lovers in the audience: the great Romantic composer’s works belong to Mme. Grimaud’s favourite repertoire. Moreover, scarcely any other body of musicians knows its way around Schumann as well as the Leipzig orchestra does. After all, Schumann spent the decisive years of his life in Leipzig, composing his First Symphony and most of his songs here. At the Elbphilharmonie, Nelsons and his Gewandhaus Orchestra perform Schumann’s benchmark Piano Concerto, his sole essay in the genre, and his cheerful »Rhenish« Symphony. The Piano Concerto was originally given its first performance by the composer’s wife Clara Schumann.