Young Europe and Kazakhstan
8 March 2007
The European Union Youth Orchestra is about to undertake an extraordinary tour, beginning with a live televised performance, at the summit meeting of the Heads of State in Berlin, marking the 50th anniversary of the Signing of the Treaty Rome and culminating in two concerts in Kazakhstan.
The invitation to appear at the Heads of State summit meeting on 25 March comes from Chancellor Angela Merkel; an invitation made all the more remarkable due to the fact that never before has a live orchestra accompanied such a meeting.
Following this unique event, the EUYO will begin their tour of Europe, under the baton of world renowned conductor Vladimir Ashkenazy, performing programmes with Sir James Galway and Janine Jansen in Germany, Italy and Switzerland, before arriving in Kazakhstan. Here the EUYO will play two concerts at the new Palace of Peace and Reconciliation in Astana (the new capital) on 6 April and at the State Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet in Almaty (the old capital) on 7 April.
Ashkenazy and guest soloists, violinist Aiman Musakhodzhaeva and pianist Amir Tebenikhin (two of Kazakhstan's most high profile musicians) will perform a programme of European and Kazakh music. Both concerts are supported by the Ministry of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan, and will be performed under the Honorary Patronage of President Nursultan Nazarbayev, the President of Kazakhstan.
"This tour represents an extraordinary moment in the development of cultural relations between Europe and Kazakhstan. We are extremely proud to be uniting so many nations with the common language of music" says Mrs Joy Bryer, Co-Founder and Secretary General of the EUYO.
José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission and Head of the EUYO' Honorary Patrons, comments, "The EUYO's visit will serve as a fitting symbol of the great importance we attach to building closer and closer ties and cementing our relations beyond trade and commerce to secure a real meeting of minds."
The EUYO, made up of 120 talented young musicians representing every single one of the 27 European Union countries, will also be joined by 4 young Kazakh musicians for the duration of the tour, selected from the Kurmangazy Kazakh National Conservatory and the Kazakh National Academy of Music.
Michiel de Jong, CEO Europe of ABN AMRO, sponsors of the EUYO's Spring Tour, adds "At ABN AMRO, we believe in making more possible on many different levels. Every day our staff work across national borders to help clients achieve their dreams. In supporting the European Union Youth Orchestra, we can support the international pursuit of excellence and help young people fulfill their dreams at the same time. Beautiful music can inspire us all and help us share the common language of dreams."
This tour begins in Germany, where the orchestra will rehearse and perform over a two-week period before touring to Italy, Switzerland and Kazakhstan. The two concerts in Kazakhstan are under the patronage of the President of Kazakhstan, with support from the European Commission in Kazakhstan and the Kazakhstan Government. In addition the EUYO will be performing, at the invitation of the Federal Chancellery, in the official session of the Heads of State at their informal Summit in Berlin on Sunday 25 March in order to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Signing of the Treaty of Rome.
13-24 March Residential rehearsal period in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
25 March 19:30 Festsaal Werdenfels, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
Bach Brandenburg Concerto No 4 (Sir James Galway, Jeanne Galway and Zsolt-Tihamér Visontay)
Strauss Couperin Dance Suite
Schoenberg Verklaerte Nacht
26 March 19:30 Festsaal Werdenfels, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
Ravel Rapsodie Espagnole
Nielsen Flute Concerto (Sir James Galway)
Strauss Don Juan
Strauss Suite from Der Rosenkavalier
28 March 20:30 Teatro Comunale, Bolzano, Italy
Ravel Rapsodie Espagnole
Nielsen Flute Concerto (Sir James Galway)
Strauss Don Juan
Strauss Suite from Der Rosenkavalier
30 March 20:00 Kurhaus, Wiesbaden, Germany
Ravel Rapsodie Espagnole
Nielsen Flute Concerto (Sir James Galway)
Strauss Don Juan
Strauss Suite from Der Rosenkavalier
HypoVereinsbank Europe Concert 2007
31 March 19:30 Tonhalle, Zurich, Switzerland
Ravel Rapsodie Espagnole
Nielsen Flute Concerto (Sir James Galway)
Strauss Don Juan
Strauss Suite from Der Rosenkavalier
2 April 21:00 Teatro Carlo Felice, Genoa, Italy
Ravel Rapsodie Espagnole
Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E Minor, Op 64 (Janine Jansen)
Strauss Don Juan
Strauss Suite from Der Rosenkavalier
3 April 21:00 Teatro Manzoni, Bologna, Italy
Ravel Rapsodie Espagnole
Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E Minor, Op 64 (Janine Jansen)
Strauss Don Juan
Strauss Suite from Der Rosenkavalier
Young Europe and Kazakhstan in Concert
6 April 19:00 The Palace of Peace and Reconciliation, Astana, Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan National Anthem
Beethoven Ode to Joy from the Choral Symphony
Kazhgaliev Legends of the Steppes
Mozart Concert Rondo in D Major (Amir Tebenikin)
Waxman Carmen Fantasy (Aiman Musakhodzhaeva)
Strauss Don Juan
Strauss Suite from Der Rosenkavalier
7 April 19:00 State Opera House, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan National Anthem
Beethoven Ode to Joy from the Choral Symphony
Kazhgaliev Legends of the Steppes
Mozart Concert Rondo in D Major (Amir Tebenikin)
Waxman Carmen Fantasy (Aiman Musakhodzhaeva))
Strauss Don Juan
Strauss Suite from Der Rosenkavalier
The EUYO Spring Tour is sponsored by ABN AMRO
For more information please contact:
Emma Hood
Sponsorship & Marketing Manager
Tel: +44 (0)20 7235 7671
Email: emma@euyo.org.uk