Leipzig News– first-class culture and sport
It is no secret that Leipzig’s culture is first class. Lately, though, when beating the drum for Leipzig abroad our team have often been asked about an entirely different first-class phenomenon: RB Leipzig’s rapid ascent in their first Bundesliga season to achieve second place behind Bayern Munich, crowned by the team’s sporting qualification for the Champions League, the top tier of European football. But no matter whether it’s Bach or football, art or the Reformation, opera or the Festival of Lights – we just love all the events which see the people of Leipzig and guests come together peacefully to celebrate their own personal heroes.
And on that note: It’s time to kick off as we raise the curtain on this summer in Leipzig! The LEIPZIG REGION sales team
Bachfest fever in LeipzigBachfest fever in Leipzig
New mobile app and launch of pre-sales for 2018
Bachfest fever has returned to Leipzig for another year: In just a few days, the city’s largest classical music festival will be getting under way, and in the Reformation year 2017 it is dedicated to Luther’s influence on Bach and church music. The new “Bachfest Leipzig” mobile app is a testament to the serious changes the world has seen since Luther posted his 95 Theses some 500 years ago: For the first time, the app lets visitors use their smartphone or tablet to create their own personalised festival calendar and also purchase tickets. The best part? It provides concert updates, information about last-minute tickets and other specifics in real time. This makes the app the perfect companion for friends of the Bachfest both before and during the festival.
Meanwhile, the travel industry is already looking forward to the Bachfest 2018 from 8 until 17 June: Experience Bach’s works performed in cycles. The compilation promises ‘divine’ experiences: It will begin with the monumental “Cantata Ring”, presented by the Bach experts J. E. Gardiner, T. Koopman, M. Suzuki, St. Thomas Boys’ Choir and Gaechinger Cantorey.
It will be possible to purchase the complete package for the “Cantata Ring” from 9 June 2017. The Bachfest book will be published in November, and tickets for all concerts will go on sale on 20 November.
Exquisite opera! Exquisite opera! Leipzig Opera’s 2017/18 season 
Highlights from Leipzig Opera’s 2017/18 season
The upcoming season at Leipzig Opera will focus on Leipzig’s very own Richard Wagner. The highlight will be cyclical performances of the Ring des Nibelungen under the musical direction of General Musical Director and General Director Ulf Schirmer, whose conducting skills are in demand worldwide.
There’s another special treat in store for the travel industry: Themed weekends dedicated to Strauss, Puccini and Verdi – three great composers each with his own weekend. Your customers can come to the musical city of Leipzig and enjoy uninterrupted masterpieces by Richard Strauss, Giacomo Puccini and Giuseppe Verdi. Viva la musica
Send your senses spinningSend your senses spinning: Spinnerei Gallery Tour
Leipzig invites visitors to the Spinnerei gallery tour
On 16 and 17 September, the international art scene will get together once again in Leipzig for the Spinnerei’s now popular autumn gallery. It’s time to head over to trendy western Leipzig – the Spinnerei is something you simply need to have seen. The site of what was once the largest cotton mill in continental Europe is now home to more than 100 artists’ studios, 11 galleries, numerous exhibition spaces and design workshops. The painter Neo Rauch, the shooting star of the “New Leipzig School”, was one of the pioneers of this cultural revival. All the galleries will open new exhibitions for the Spinnerei gallery tour.
During the Spinnerei’s opening hours, it is possible to visit the site individually and free of charge throughout the year. The Spinnerei also offers guided tours for groups and individuals.
Festival of Lights 2017Festival of Lights 2017: Art and candles to 
remember the autumn of ‘89
Art and candles to remember the autumn of ‘89
In turbulent times such as these, the European culture of commemoration has an important role to play. For the people of Leipzig, it’s an integral part of their understanding of democracy: Every year on 9 October, citizens and guests of the city come together to the original sites to commemorate the historic Monday demonstrations held in the autumn of 1989, which were to go down in history as the Peaceful Revolution. In recent years, the event has already focused on aspects pertaining to civil society. And in 2017, after the Prayer for Peace and the Speech on Democracy at St. Nicholas Church, the Festival of Lights will once again offer an exciting spectacle of music, video and performance inspired by the motto “Transformation – Responsibility – Openness”.
A cherished tradition: All evening, visitors form a shining ‘89’ out of thousands of candles.
