Supported by determined musicians of the Dresdner Staatskapelle and the inhabitants of the region, Tobias Niederschlag has developed a quirky idea for the worldwide unique meeting to celebrate the moving compositions of Dmitri Shostakovich at the apt location (8th string quartet). In 2019 Gohrisch is a festival of anniversaries. The Tenth Shostakovich Days will honor the centenaries of the births of Shostakovich's enigmatic and haunting student Galina Ustvolskaya and his close friend Mieczysław Weinberg, whose immense body of work had long remained underappreciated. The juxtaposition of the most important Russian contemporaries of the 20th century Shostakovich, Prokofiev and Stravinsky adds another exciting aspect to the festival. It has already become a trademark to bring absolutely new works to the podium. This time it is world premieres by Weinberg and Shostakovich. The list of artists of distinction is long and varied: Isang Enders, Lauma Skride, Borodin Quartet, Raschèr Saxophone Quartet, etc. In the final concert, Baby Sommer on drums and Johannes Enders on jazz sax will improvise on Shostakovich's sound worlds under the motto "Conference with Shostakovich". A festival highlight is the awarding of the "International Shostakovich Prize Gohrisch" to Gewandhauskapellmeister Andris Nelsons, who has planned plenty of Shostakovich as well as a showcase of Weinberg's works in his house for the coming season.

Chamber evening with works by Shostakovich, Prokofiev, Stravinsky, Weinberg - Quatuor Danel