BSO And Gewandhaus Orchestra Celebrate 'Leipzig Week In Boston'

Felix Mendelssohn is one of many composers whose works the Boston Symphony Orchestra will perform this week. And the Boston musicians will be joined by some peers from the Gewandhaus Orchestra of Leipzig, Germany. Mendelssohn was that orchestra's director for 12 years.

The two orchestras have launched a five-year special partnership under music director Andris Nelsons. Nelsons assumes the director role in Leipzig this month, as he continues that role in Boston.

This week is the first "Leipzig Week in Boston" as part of the collaboration. Nelsons says he's excited to bring the partnership to the public.

"Music has no borders. It goes beyond language, beyond oceans and two continents," Nelsons says.

This is the first time two orchestras on two continents have joined in such a musical and cultural alliance.

WBUR's Jack Lepiarz spoke with Nelsons and the two other people most instrumental to making the collaboration happen — BSO Managing Director Mark Volpe and Andreas Shulz, general director of the Gewandhaus Orchestra.