Gedenkstein Arthur Nikisch

Gedenkstein Arthur Nikisch stands in Leipzig before apartment building number 32, marking the site of Arthur Nikisch’s former home. The original Märchenhaus, completed in 1907, was destroyed during the Second World War. A square granite column rises 1.42 metres above the pavement, with bronze plaques fixed to its front and back. The front plaque honours Nikisch, while the reverse carries a toast by Franz Liszt from 1885.

The former apartment belonged to Nikisch during the final fourteen years of his life in Leipzig. His Leipzig career included serving as Gewandhauskapellmeister, the chief conductor of the Gewandhaus Orchestra. The square took his name in 1922, reinforcing the connection between the conductor and the city’s musical life. The replacement building made a traditional house plaque unsuitable, so the city placed this freestanding memorial outside instead. Harald Alff designed the column, and the Noack foundry cast its bronze elements. One enduring detail is the Liszt toast, which links Nikisch’s Leipzig memory with another major figure in music history.