On Tuesday our friend Wolfgang again gave us a comprehensive tour of his city. We started at the University, where the new Gewandhaus and Opera are located. There is also a modern university church which replaced a Gothic church, (St. Paul's,) which was, sadly, blown up during the Communist regime. At the top of a tall modern skyscraper we enjoyed an excellent panoramic view of the city and environs. Then we visited the Nikolai Church, where J.S. Bach played the organ. Its Gothic interior was changed into the neo-classical style, with pink and pale green trim, with the capitals of columns ending in palms. After seeing various architecturally significant buildings we had lunch at the historic Auerbach Cellar, where Goethe wrote much of "Faust," and where Offenbach wrote the prologue of his opera "Tales Of Hoffman." After lunch we walked to the St. Thomas Church, full of historical mementos. This refined Gothic church was where Martin Luther preached and where Bach led the (now) 800 years old boys choir. The great J. S. Bach's grave is located before the main altar, covered with fresh flowers. Across the street we visited the Bach Museum and Dan even played the first prelude on a soft-voiced clavichord, Bach's keyboard of choice for teaching. Finally, we visited the art museum, which has fine works by Max Klinger and Beckman. We returned to the old market for our last dinner in Leipzig at a lovely French restaurant, "La Provence." - Dan
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