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April 12th, 2022

Festival from August 5 to 21, 2022 at the Konzerthaus Berlin

The international youth orchestra festival Young Euro Classic returns to form in 2022: large-scale orchestras from all over the world perform 17 evening concerts, presenting classical and contemporary international repertoire. Given current world affairs, European values are undergoing a profound test. Therefore, the appearance by the Youth Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine (Aug. 10) under Oksana Lyniv’s baton has acquired particular symbolism:

“They are part of a world community of young musicians who want, and need, to make their mark in the world,” says festival director Dr. Gabriele Minz. “We hope that the feeling of being part of this festival, of this community gives them strength and confidence. Young Euro Classic stands for tomorrow’s musicians today, and that is why the Ukrainians will always have a place here.”

Prof. Dr. Dieter Rexroth, the festival’s artistic director, remarks on the context of the current Festival edition: “Without music, Friedrich Nietzsche said, life would be a mistake. Whether in times of misery or in times of peace, prosperity and happiness – music says YES to life; and especially when it is performed by young musicians from around the world at Young Euro Classic. More than even just recently, we need this youthful affirmation of life; we need music and the arts.”

Debuts from Far and Near

Two orchestra debuts are particularly symbolic for open-mindedness: the international ensemble Chineke! Junior Orchestra (Aug. 11), at home in London, considers itself an emancipatory platform for People of Colour. The Western Balkans Youth Orchestra (Aug. 14) consists of musicians from six non-EU countries of former Yugoslavia; its goal is to foster international understanding.

From Austria, another ensemble with an ambitious educational programme makes its Festival debut: the Angelika Prokopp Summer Academy of the Vienna Philharmonic (Aug. 18). An extraordinary South American programme awaits when the Orquesta Nacional Juvenil de Uruguay – Sodre (Aug. 19) makes its Young Euro Classic debut. Another first appearance at the Festival will be made by the International Lutosławski Youth Orchestra (Aug. 17) from Poland.

Rich Sound

After two years of the pandemic, large-format orchestras can finally return to the Konzerthaus: the National Youth Orchestra of the USA opens the Festival under Daniel Harding’s baton, playing Elgar’s Cello Concerto with soloist Alisa Weilerstein (Aug. 5). The audience favourite Jovem Orquestra Portuguesa (Aug. 9) presents a special world premiere, featuring members of its own children’s orchestra as soloists. The European Union Youth Orchestra appears with star violinist Renaud Capuçon under the baton of Gustavo Gimeno (Aug. 8). The National Youth Orchestra of Germany performs Johannes Brahms’ Double Concerto with soloists Antje Weithaas, violin, and Maximilian Hornung, cello (Aug. 6), while the National Youth Philharmonic of Turkey dedicates itself to Tchaikovsky and Schumann under Cem Mansur (Aug. 16). The Orchestra Giovanile Italiana (Aug. 12) – last heard at Young Euro Classic ten years ago – plays works from the 20th and 21st century. And the Festival finale features Mahler, Britten and Strauss, performed by the Nationaal Jeugdorkest of the Netherlands (Aug. 21).

The Bundesjazzorchester expands musical horizons with an exclusive programme under the artistic leadership of Michael Gibbs (Aug. 20). The National Youth Ballet of Germany presents “John’s BJB Bach”, a fresh compilation of choreographies by John Neumeier and the dancers themselves.

Tomorrow’s Generation: Residency Format and NEXT GENERATION

Young Euro Classic strives to establish a new format, presenting promising young artists in a Residency of their own in 2022. As part of this project, an innovative ensemble takes on the artistic leadership on two evenings and also works with younger musicians on an educational project. The 2022 Orchestra in Residence is the O/Modernt New Generation Orchestra. Known for its visionary stage programmes, the ensemble surrounding Hugo Ticciati plays one concert in which Hungarian classics of the 20th century meet traditional Sinti and Romany music (Aug. 13). The second evening, entitled “Milestones”, is dedicated to jazz legend Miles Davis and Josquin des Préz. The star guest on this musical journey is Nils Landgren (Aug. 15).

The young people’s programme NEXT GENERATION also involves the Orchestra in Residence. As part of a master course, they share their creative impulses with young talents from the Lilla Akademien in Stockholm and the Julius-Stern-Institute Berlin. The result – a “Musical Journey around the World with Nils Holgersson” – can be admired by young audiences at the NEXT GENERATION Children’s Day on August 14.

The German-French Junior Academy, a project co-organized with the Paul Hindemith Music School in Neukölln (Berlin) and the Youth Orchestra El Camino Pau of the OPPB, will take place in France in 2022. The final concert of the ten-day youth encounter will take place in Pau on July 23 and will be live-streamed in Berlin as a pre-opening concert.

European Composition Award

After two years of pandemic-induced hiatus, in 2022 an audience jury will once again determine the recipient of the European Composition Award. The award is presented by the Mayor of Berlin for outstanding compositions which have their world or German premiere at Young Euro Classic. This year, various orchestras present three world premieres and two German premieres. Those interested in joining the audience jury can apply starting in June via the Festival website.

Enabling Joyful Music-Making

Without the faith and trust of its long-term partners, the summer festival Young Euro Classic is unthinkable. The organizers wish to thank the Federal Government, the State of Berlin and the Hauptstadtkulturfonds, the KfW and the Volksbanken und Raiffeisenbanken, the GVL, its media partners, its numerous donors and its wonderful audience. For making NEXT GENERATION possible, the Festival thanks the German Federal Ministry of Families and the Deutsch-Französisches Jugendwerk.

Young Euro Classic takes place in close cooperation with the Konzerthaus Berlin. The concerts will once again take place before a full-capacity audience, with intervals. The wearing of facemasks is obligatory throughout the event (as of April 2022, information subject to change).

 

Tomorrow’s Musicians Today!

Young Euro Classic. The Festival of the World’s Best Youth Orchestras
August 5 – 21, 2022 at Konzerthaus Berlin

Further information and the current programme can be found at:
www.young-euro-classic.de

Tickets are priced at 33 / 26 / 18 Euro
Tickets for the Children’s Concert start at 5 Euro
Tickets can be purchased via the Young Euro Classic website, the ticket hotline (+49 – 30 – 8410 8909, open Monday to Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm) and at all familiar ticket sales points.

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