Riccardo Chailly has extended his contract as chief conductor of the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig for a further five years until 2020. Since taking on the role in 2005, Chailly has led the orchestra on an increased number of worldwide tours and has established long-term residencies in the Musikverein in Vienna, the Salle Pleyel in Paris and the Barbican Centre in London. The partnership has also produced recordings of works by Mendelssohn, Schumann, Bach and a Beethoven cycle on Decca Classics, and the beginning of a Mahler DVD cycle on Accentus.

‘I am delighted and proud that we will continue our collaboration,’ said Chailly. ‘My artistic bond with the Gewandhausorchester is at the core of this extension. Powered by the virtuosity, enthusiasm and commitment of these musicians we have, together, been able to achieve the realisation of our artistic ideals. The general director, his team, the orchestra and I have a great deal planned for the coming years. Our artistic focus in the immediate future will be on the symphonic oeuvres of, amongst others, Strauss, Mahler and Rachmaninov, as well as, it goes without saying, continued, intensive commitment to the contemporary repertoire.’

The Gewandhausorchester will release the symphonies of Brahms on Decca Classics in September. This will be followed in 2015 by the release of the complete symphonies of Rachmaninov.

Chailly’s long and distinguished career has included principal conductor roles with the Berlin Radio Symphony, London Philharmonic and Royal Concertgebouw orchestras.