Saxony – a pearl of ’s musical landscape When music lovers in talk about the region’s musical infrastructure, they proudly speak about the densest theatre and orchestra structure in Germany. When music aficionados from all over the world rave about performances at Semper , Opera, Chemnitz Opera or the concerts of ’s “Kreuzchor“ choir, St Thomas’s Boys Choir or Leipzig’s Gewandhaus Orchestra, they have been following the traces of composers such as Richard Wagner, Robert Schumann, and Johann Sebastian Bach.

Impressive music Saxony’s musical landscape is unparalleled in Germany. No other federal state has so many concert halls, stages and museums, is so full of outstanding architecture and sophisticated arts and culture events. Internationally respected theatre and music productions, topnotch festivals and historical and contemporary exhibitions characterise Saxony’s cultural landscape. They take place in opera houses, palaces, castles, parks and historical structures, in quarries, churches and on squares. Each year, there are over 40 nationally and internationally renowned music festivals featuring world-famous artists, such as Dresden Music Festival, Bach Festival Leipzig, Moritzburg Festival, “Sandstein & Musik“ Festival or Görlitz Jazz Days.

Impressive scenery Saxony’s scenery, too, can be experienced in a musical way: Famous composers were inspired by the monumental rocks of Saxon Switzerland, for example, or the enchanting river landscape along the and left works of art that are based on how they experienced Saxony’s unique natural beauty. Carl-Maria von Weber and Richard Wagner composed famous in Saxony such as “Der Freischütz“, “Tannhäuser“ and “Lohengrin“.

Impressive sounds The sound of Saxony has been exported to the world: For more than 300 years, musical instruments of all kind have been produced in the Saxon region and over 100 instrument manufacturers are based here. Visitors can take a look behind the scenes in their small and large workshops to see how violins, guitars, wind instruments, accordions or mouth organs are made. The masters at work here are happy to share their craft and proudly continue what their ancestors started over 300 years ago. The long history of making musical instrument started in 1677 in the so-called “music corner“ between the towns of Markneukirchen, and Schöneck, and the Museum of Musical Instruments in Markneukirchen is the best place to learn more and also see a unique collection of interesting and quirky objects from around the world.

Musical experiences Traces of the region‘s musical history can be found everywhere in Saxony. The Leipzig Music Trail, for example, brings 800 years of musical history to life and shows that the city features an unparalleled density of places where famous composers lived and worked. The five km trail connects 23 of the most significant authentic sites in the city centre, marked by curved stainless steel elements embedded in the ground.

Contact: Tourismus Marketing Gesellschaft Sachsen, Bautzner Str. 45-47, 01099 Dresden, phone +49 (0)351-4917023, fax: +49 (0)351-4969306, [email protected] or www.visitsaxony.com