Christian Reif and SFSYO embark on European tour
Christian Reif with the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra (Photo credit: Stefan Cohen)
The San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra (SFSYO), led by Music Director Christian Reif, embarks on its 11th international tour this week with concerts in Denmark, Germany, Austria, and Hungary. The 17-day tour comprises six concerts: at the Odense Koncerthus in Odense, Denmark; the Tivoli Concert Hall in Copenhagen, Denmark; the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, Germany; the Berliner Philharmonie in Berlin, Germany; the Musikverein in Vienna, Austria; and the Margaret Island Open-Air Stage in Budapest, Hungary.
Tour repertoire features Mahler’s Symphony No. 1, Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto, and Prelude No. 1 from German composer Detlev Glanert’s Three American Preludes. Violinist Nicola Benedetti is soloist in concerts in Odense, Hamburg, Berlin, Vienna and Budapest, and Karen Gomyo is soloist in San Francisco (June 16) and Copenhagen.
The SFSYO, composed of highly gifted young people ranging from age 12 to 21, is a hallmark of the San Francisco Symphony’s commitment to Bay Area youth and music education. The tuition-free SFSYO tours internationally every three to four years. Because the average tenure of a Youth Orchestra musician is three to four years, this allows most members to experience the process of touring, ensemble building, and the once-in-a-lifetime experience of making music in some of the world’s most venerable concert halls. A scholarship fund ensures that every student is able to participate.
Reif told the San Francisco Classical Voice: “The young musicians of this Orchestra are boldly exploring and expanding their awareness of the world. Performing in these important venues and visiting these wonderful cities together will create experiences for the young musicians and myself that we will cherish all our lives. For most of them, this is their first trip to Europe, and I know that it will be life-changing to walk the streets and breathe the air in places that were important in the lives of legendary composers themselves.”
Check out the tour details below:
2019 EUROPEAN TOUR
ODENSE, DENMARK
Sunday, June 23, 2019 at 3 pm
Odense Koncerthus – Carl Nielsen Hall
Odense, Denmark
Christian Reif conductor
Nicola Benedetti violin
San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra
Detlev GLANERT
Prelude No. 1, from Three American Preludes
TCHAIKOVSKY
Violin Concerto in D Major, Opus 35
MAHLER
Symphony No. 1 in D Major
Tickets: Free Admission
COPENHAGEN, DENMARK
Monday, June 24, 2019 at 7:30 pm
Tivoli Concert Hall
Copenhagen, Denmark
Christian Reif conductor
Karen Gomyo violin
San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra
Detlev GLANERT
Prelude No. 1, from Three American Preludes
TCHAIKOVSKY
Violin Concerto in D Major, Opus 35
MAHLER
Symphony No. 1 in D Major
Tickets: 50 DKK at the entrance to the concert hall, free admission for Tivoli Card Holders
HAMBURG, GERMANY
Wednesday, June 26, 2019 at 8 pm
Elbphilharmonie
Hamburg, Germany
Christian Reif conductor
Nicola Benedetti violin
San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra
Detlev GLANERT
Prelude No. 1, from Three American Preludes
TCHAIKOVSKY
Violin Concerto in D Major, Opus 35
MAHLER
Symphony No. 1 in D Major
Tickets: Sold Out, remaining tickets occasionally available at venue 90 minutes before start
BERLIN, GERMANY
Saturday, June 29 at 8 pm
Berliner Philharmonie
Berlin, Germany
Christian Reif conductor
Nicola Benedetti violin
San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra
Detlev GLANERT
Prelude No. 1, from Three American Preludes
TCHAIKOVSKY
Violin Concerto in D Major, Opus 35
MAHLER
Symphony No. 1 in D Major Tickets: €11.35–33.90
VIENNA, AUSTRIA
Tuesday, July 2 at 3:30 pm
Musikverein – Goldener Saal
Vienna, Austria
Christian Reif conductor
Nicola Benedetti violin
San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra
Detlev GLANERT
Prelude No. 1, from Three American Preludes
TCHAIKOVSKY
Violin Concerto in D Major, Opus 35
MAHLER
Symphony No. 1 in D Major
Tickets: €10–20
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
Thursday, July 4 at 8 pm
Margaret Island Open-Air Stage
Budapest, Hungary
Christian Reif conductor
Nicola Benedetti violin
San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra
Detlev GLANERT
Prelude No. 1, from Three American Preludes
TCHAIKOVSKY
Violin Concerto in D Major, Opus 35
MAHLER
Symphony No. 1 in D Major
Tickets: 3900–8500 Ft