Andris Nelsons lands top job at Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra

9 September 2015, 17:26 | Updated: 22 September 2015, 21:15

Dynamic young conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra named next music director of renowned orchestra.

36-year old Nelsons has signed a five-year contract at the legendary Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, to begin with the autumn season in 2017. He's taking over from Riccardo Chailly and follows in the footsteps of a line of great conductors including Felix Mendelssohn, leading an ensemble which has in the past premiered works by the likes of Schubert, Wagner and Brahms.

Nelsons will continue to be music director of the Boston Symphony which recently extended his contract through at least 2022. 

He has described the appointment as "an extraordinary responsibility, an extraordinary joy and a great honour."

The two orchestras are already planning to take advantage of their involvement with the conductor. The Boston Symphony will hold a Leipzig Week in Boston and the Gewandhaus a Boston Week in Leipzig, with each of them playing repertoire the other is known for.

Mr. Nelsons told the New York Times that he was immensely gratified to be leading two such distinguished orchestras and that in both posts he would try to fulfill what he sees as the expanding role of the conductor, "of keeping up musical quality, nurturing new works, broadening audiences and cultivating the next generation of listeners."