Musical Excellence this Summer – Young Euro Classic 2016
Berlin, April 6, 2016 Musical Excellence this Summer – Young Euro Classic 2016.
August 17 to September 3, 2016 at Berlin’s Konzerthaus
Ticket Sales Begin on April 7, 2016
Once again, those who love wonderful music and an enthusiastic festival atmosphere have something to look forward to in Berlin’s summertime!
“Quality plus enthusiasm”: such is the spell young orchestra musicians from all over the world have put on audiences at Berlin’s Konzerthaus since the millennium year 2000. Young Euro Classic is the world’s most important platform for international young orchestra musicians, not only from the European classical music tradition. Once again, Young Euro Classic offers a fabulously varied and rich programme this summer.
The Three Grandees
Thus, for the first time the European Cultural Brand of 2015 presents the three best international youth orchestras within one season on stage at the Konzerthaus Berlin: On August 17, the European Union Youth Orchestra (EUYO), including musicians from all the 28 EU Member States, opens the festival, followed by the Schleswig-Holstein Festival Orchestra on August 21. Furthermore, the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra, originally founded by Claudio Abbado, returns to the Konzerthaus on August 28. All three orchestras are conducted by outstanding masters of the baton: Vasily Petrenko, Christoph Eschenbach and Philippe Jordan.
The Debutantes
Apart from the established orchestras, four debutantes from Eastern Europe join the diverse programme: the Youth Orchestra Rumania-Moldova, the Pioneer Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, which is the national youth orchestra of Bulgaria, the Symphony Orchestra of the Mussorgsky Conservatory Ural from Yekaterinburg in Russia, and the Symphony Orchestra of Kazakhstan’s National University of the Arts. After a lengthy hiatus, the outstanding music academy orchestras from Estonia and Latvia will perform again, giving the audience a glimpse of the special music tradition of the Baltic States. All the orchestras offer curious ears little-known compositions from their homelands – but also grand Slavic orchestral works by Mussorgsky, Tchaikovsky and Rimsky-Korsakov, to name a few.
The Soloists
The line-up of renowned soloists at Young Euro Classic 2016 proves how attractive working with youth orchestras has become for seasoned professionals. While the EUYO accompanies the brilliant piano siblings Katia and Marielle Labèque, the acclaimed baritone Christian Gerhaher performs a Bach cantata with the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra. Then there is a spectacular parade of world-class cellists: the Ungdomssymfonikerne from Norway bring their compatriot Truls Mørk, while the Orchestre Français des Jeunes has invited Gautier Capuçon. The National Youth Orchestra of Germany, long an audience favourite, presents the sought-after German cellist Johannes Moser. And the Youth Orchestra Rumania-Moldova features a wonderful soloist: 22-year-old Andrei Ionita, formally still a student at the University of the Arts in Berlin, but already a First Prize winner at the famous Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow.
The Arab Youth Philharmonic Orchestra
The performance of the Arab Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, long in planning, is a highlight and a challenge. Founded in 2006 by Dr Fawzy El-Shamy, then dean of the Cairo Conservatory, the orchestra makes the vision of encounter and dialogue through music come true. Unique in its make-up, the AYPO unites musicians from thirteen Arab countries (Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Bahrain, Dubai, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, the Palestine Territories, Sudan and Syria). In cooperation with the German Foreign Office, Young Euro Classic enables AYPO to hold its first peaceful rehearsal phase in three years in Berlin, led by the Bremen-based conductor Heiner Buhlmann. The programme is varied, offering brand-new works by Arab composers, French opera arias and a symphony by Johannes Brahms. The mezzo-soprano Gala El Hadidi, an ensemble member at Dresden’s Semper Opera, performs the solo part.
The Programme: an Overview
None of the young orchestras hesitate to reach for the “stars”: the last great works, the most personal creations of their composers. Whether Bruckner’s mighty Ninth or Tchaikovsky’s “Pathétique” (Symphony No. 6), whether Mahler’s last completed symphony or Rachmaninov’s Third – the Young Euro Classic programme offers a plethora of grand late works. Sumptuous piano concertos by Brahms and Rachmaninov will be heard from the excellent National Youth Orchestra of the Netherlands and from the Latvian guests. And then there are works never heard before – six world premieres and four German premieres will be presented by the young musicians, of which there are approximately 1500 in the festival. Those seeking more unusual or lighter fare should aim for the student orchestra from Mexico City or the German String Philharmonic, which performs cheerful works by Mozart and Josef Suk. And dance lovers will enjoy the newest programme of the National Youth Ballet of Germany. Four young prize-winning pianists give solo recitals one Sunday at the “Piano Festival”. The well-established series “Classic meets Jazz” led by the renowned jazz trombonist Nils Landgren explores the musical world of Turkey, together with Sinem Altan, winner of the 2015 European Composers Prize.
The Idea
The orchestra as a utopian form of cooperation, as a social and communal model of participation – that is another idea Young Euro Classic stands for. Here young musicians dedicate themselves at the highest level to the values that have characterized European orchestral culture for centuries, i.e. its power to transcend borders and integrate – promoting encounters, exchange, and cooperation in peaceful coexistence. During our times of crisis, these values constitute an important message.
The festival is also part of youth culture, contravening the demographic change among the classical music audience with more than 28,000 visitors annually whose median age is significantly lower than that of the average concertgoer.
Young Euro Classic opens minds and transcends borders – do join us!
Young Euro Classic 2016 from August 17 to September 3, 2016 at the Konzerthaus Berlin
Ticket Sales begin on April 7, 2016
Complete information and the programme are available from April 7 onwards at: www.young-euro-classic.de
Tickets priced at 16/22/25 Euros are available at the usual ticket sales points,
online at www.young-euro-classic.de or by calling our toll-free hotline, +49-30-8410 8909.
Further ticket sales points at Konzerthaus Berlin and at Kulturkaufhaus Dussmann.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Young.Euro.Classic
Press Contact:
Artefakt Kulturkonzepte
Elisabeth Friedrich, +49 30 440 10 687 I mail@artefakt-berlin.de
Marienburger Str. 16, 10405 Berlin, Germany
Press Downloads: www.artefakt-berlin.de
