Vatican City, Apr 20, 2012 / 11:57 am
The managing director of the world famous Gewandhaus Orchestra of Leipzig said playing for Pope Benedict XVI April 20 is the pinnacle of the orchestra’s long and illustrious history.
“This concert,” said Andreas Schulz, “is the most important event in the history of the Gewandhaus Orchestra.”
“It is an unbelievable invitation. I remember when I got the invitation in October 2010 I was so surprised, so deeply honored, I can’t believe it when I saw the fax with the invitation,” he told Vatican Radio.
The concert was held in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall to mark the Pope’s 85th birthday earlier this week. Under the baton of Italian conductor Riccardo Chailly, the Gewandhaus Orchestra performed Felix Mendelssohn’s 2nd Symphony, the “Lobgesang” or “Hymn of Praise.”