2016 marks the 100th anniversary of the death of Max Reger. Paul Hindemith once said about the composer: “Max Reger was the last giant in music.” The City of Leipzig is dedicating an anniversary year to the great master. A special website for the Reger anniversary, www.reger-in-leipzig.de provides information on Reger’s life and work, his influence on Leipzig, an events calendar, a survey of venues and artists as well as travel offers for Leipzig.

Under the patronage of Herbert Blomstedt, a Max Reger Festivalis going to be held from 8-20 May 2016. The festival offers a long “Reger Organ Night” in Leipzig’s churches, festive concerts with the Gewandhausorchester and St. Thomas Boys Choir, a musicological conference and many more events. On 11 May 2016, a Reger memorial plaque will be unveiled. A concert series called “Do you know Reger?” at the Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy University of Music and Theatre and special events like the (Night)Walk performance “Sein letzter Tag” by dance artist Heike Hennig trigger interest in Reger’s oeuvre and instigate a dialogue. Blomstedt, former Gewandhauskapellmeister, will officially close the festival by conducting two Gewandhaus concerts on 19 and 20 May.

Leipzig’s biggest classical music festival, Bachfest Leipzig (10-19 June 2016) will commemorate the composer, too, by exploring the harmonious connection between Max Reger and Bach under the banner “Secrets of Harmony”.

As a special highlight, the revolutionary organist Cameron Carpenter will perform on Leipzig market square during the open-air “Bachmosphere” event on 12 June. According to the New York Times, Carpenter meshes virtuosity with musical intelligence on his preferred instrument, the electric organ.

Max Reger was famous for his organ compositions; he also composed chamber music and worked as a conductor and pianist. He spent several years in Leipzig, amongst others as university music director, and died here on 11 May 1916.

Information on the Max Reger Anniversary 2016: www.reger-in-leipzig.de

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