Led by Music Director Andrés Orozco-Estrada and joined by violin paragon Hilary Hahn, the Houston Symphony takes its talents to Europe March 9–March 19, 2018. One fantastic orchestra will tour eight illustrious cities and eight of the world’s most renowned concert halls and festivals.
Klarafestival at BOZAR
March 9 • Brussels, Belgium
The Houston Symphony’s performance gives a grand opening to the Klarafestival at Brussels’ prestigious performing arts center, the BOZAR. Houston Symphony fans will be able to listen to a live broadcast of the orchestra’s performance here at 1:00 pm CST on March 9, 2018.
Wiener Konzerthaus
March 15 • Vienna, Austria
Each year, this historic hall receives more than 600,000 visitors to more than 750 events featuring approximately 500 different musical compositions. Richard Strauss composed his Festival Prelude, Opus 61 for the venue’s grand opening on October 19, 1913.
Philharmonie Essen
March 11 • Essen, Germany
The original Philharmonie Essen was constructed in 1904. It was there that Gustav Mahler conducted the world premiere of his Symphony No. 6 in A minor in May 1906. The original edifice was largely destroyed during World War II, but the Philharmonie Essen was rebuilt in the 1950s and redesigned in 2004.
Elbphilharmonie Hamburg
March 17 • Hamburg, Germany
A modern architectural marvel, the Elbphilharmonie was completed in 2016. The state-of-the-art design of the main hall “combines innovative architecture with an exceptional location, outstanding acoustics and a visionary concert experience.” The special design of the main hall “places audience members no further than 30 meters from the conductor,” bringing intimacy to even the grandest performances.
Konzerthaus Berlin
March 12 • Berlin, Germany
This venue’s history boasts a catalogue of great Classical artists. Goethe wrote a special program for the grand opening on May 26, 1821, and Carl Maria von Weber’s opera Der Freischütz premiered there one month later. The hall would see recitalists Niccolò Paganini and Franz Liszt on the stage and Felix Mendelssohn and Richard Wagner at the podium.
Hannover Congress Centrum
March 18 • Hannover, Germany
Built from 1911-1914, the Centrum stands by its motto, “Tradition and Innovation.” In addition to hosting world-class concerts, the Centrum is also one of the largest convention and trade fair centers in German. The magnificently domed 13,000 square meter structure is surrounded by Hannover City Park.
Filharmonia Narodowa
March 14 • Warsaw, Poland
Initially constructed in 1901, the National Philharmonic in Warsaw was the first home of the prestigious Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition. It also continues to host the International Chopin Piano Competition every five years, anointing some of the new stars of the piano world.
Gasteig München
March 19 • Munich, Germany
A “center of cultural life in Munich” since opening its doors in 1985, the Gasteig München is home to the Munich Philharmonic and the Richard Strauss Conservatory. Integral to the German music scene, this venue is a fitting final stop on the Houston Symphony’s tour.
—Brian Glass, Marketing and Group Sales Specialist
