New European Chamber Orchestra: Spirit of Europe

New European Chamber Orchestra: Spirit of Europe

AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands, September 21/PRNewswire/ --

- International Orchestra's First Official Performance to be for European Parliament

On October 25, 2005, Spirit of Europe, a new European orchestra recently formed by The Federal Province of Lower Austria, will give its first official performance at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Spirit of Europe was formed to mark Austria's entry into the EU. The orchestra, which is comprised of top musicians, many of them section leaders, from prominent orchestras from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, Germany, France, and Austria, is based in the city of Melk on the Danube.

The orchestra's Chief conductor will be Martin Sieghart, an Austrian who has been enjoying a successful international career as a conductor since 1990. A popular guest conductor with many large orchestras, he regularly appears as a conductor with leading orchestras in the U.K., Japan and Germany, and is also a chief conductor of the Arnhem Philharmonic Orchestra.

Dr. Erwin Proll, Governor of Lower Austria and initiator of the new orchestra, describes Spirit of Europe as an important lasting symbol of European unity. Annually, the orchestra is scheduled to give a substantial amount of performances in different countries around the EU.

In addition, it will tour the Near East once a year, focusing on countries with an Islamic culture. This annual tour is part of the "Dialogue of the Cultures" program, another initiative of the Federal Province of Lower Austria.

The first CD (featuring works by Brahms and Mozart) is due out late Autumn 2005.

After a number of warm-up concerts in Austria during 2005, the orchestra will play the Carthage Festival in Tunis on October 1. Spirit of Europe's first European appearance will be in Strasbourg, to mark Austria's Commemoration Day of 60 years Liberation, 50 years of the Signing of the State Treaty and 10 years since joining the EU.

The orchestra boasts an impressive list of "Patrons", including Austrian Federal Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel and EU delegates of virtually all European countries. Spirit of Europe's structural sponsors include Siemens and Deutsche Bank. www.spirit-of-europe.com

Concert in European Parliament (Allee du Printemps, Strasbourg), October 25th, 19.30. Berg/Schnittke Canon A. Copland Prelude to Symphony Nr. I M. Ravel Pavane pour une Infante défunte W.A. Mozart Symphonie g-moll KV 550

www.spirit-of-europe.com

Source: Spirit of Europe

Ms Doris Buchmann, Kulturbezirk 2, A-3109 St. Pölten, Austria, tel +43(0)-699-10050170, Email: management@spirit-of-europe.com. www.spirit-of-europe.com

------- Profile: Ent