Originally built 1498 as municipal armory ("Zeughaus"). 1st floor used as exhibition house for cloth makers ("Gewandhaus"). 1780-1781 installation of a concert hall in the 2nd floor by Johann Carl Friedrich Dauthe. Ceiling painting by Adam Friedrich Oeser. Opened 25 Nov 1781 with a concert by the orchestra "Das Große Conzert", later known as "Gewandhaus-Orchester". 1823 renovations. 1831 interior rebuilding and extension. 1842 major extension. 1872 renovations. Since the opening of the new "Konzerthaus" (also known as "Gewandhaus") in 1884, also known as "Altes Gewandhaus". 1781-1884 home to the "Gewandhaus-Orchester", used for a subscription concert series and for guest concerts. 1884-1886 only occasionally used for concerts. Original capacity: ca. 500 persons, after 1842: ca. 1000 persons. 1893-1901 concert hall demolished while the building was included in the new "Städtisches Kaufhaus" exhibition house complex (1897 opening of a new concert hall wihtin the "Städtisches Kaufhaus" complex).

Notable world premieres:

• Ludwig van Beethoven: Triple Concerto op. 56 (May 1808)
• Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 "Emperor" (1811)
• Franz Schubert: Symphony No. 8 in C major "The Great" (21 Mar 1839)
• Robert Schumann: Symphony No. 1 "Frühlings-Symphonie" op. 38 (31 Mar 1841)
• Robert Schumann: Symphony No. 4 op. 120 (1st version, 1841)
• Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy: Symphony No. 3 "Scottish" (3 Mar 1842)
• Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy: Violin Concerto E minor op. 64 (13 Mar 1845)
• Robert Schumann: Symphony No. 2 op. 61 (5 Nov 1846)
• Richard Wagner: Vorspiel zu "Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg" (2 June 1862)
• Johannes Brahms: Violin Concerto (1879)

Link: Wikidata