Europa Philharmonie
Encyclopedia
The Europa Philharmonie is a European symphony orchestra made up of musicians from European Union countries as well as musicians from all over the world who have made Europe their home. Since 2009, the orchestra has been based in Baden-Württemberg
, Germany
, and is supported by the association Friends of Europa Philharmonie. The founder and principal conductor is Reinhard Seehafer
.
. The orchestra's debut took place in 1996 with live television coverage across Europe with 3sat
, performing Gustav Mahler's "Resurrection " in St. Peters's Church, Görlitz
under the direction of principal conductor Reinhard Seehafer, with cooperation from the foundation Kreisau/Krzyzowa.
Europa Philharmonie stands for a tolerant and unified Europe, which is a view also reflected in the patronage of the German and Polish state presidents, and the president of the German Federal Parliament, as well as the work of the board of trustees "Indivisible Europe" of which Professor Kurt Masur
, the late Lea Rabin
, Hans-Dietrich Genscher
and Prof.
Dr. Dieter Stolte are members.
From 1998 to 2007, the orchestra was based in Schloss Hundisburg (Hundisburg Castle) in Saxony-Anhalt
, which is one of the most important baroque castles in northern Germany.
Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg is one of the 16 states of Germany. Baden-Württemberg is in the southwestern part of the country to the east of the Upper Rhine, and is the third largest in both area and population of Germany's sixteen states, with an area of and 10.7 million inhabitants...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, and is supported by the association Friends of Europa Philharmonie. The founder and principal conductor is Reinhard Seehafer
Reinhard Seehafer
Reinhard Seehafer is a German conductor, pianist and composer of contemporary classical music.-Biography:At the age of 5 years, Reinhard Seehafer received his first piano lessons. In addition, he composed little piano pieces, chamber music and songs...
.
History
The idea for a European orchestra came from general director Professor Wolf-Dieter Ludwig and the principal conductor, Reinhard Seehafer, after the borders in Europe had fallen away, and later under the name of Europa Philharmonie, was substantiated through the work with the artistic director Ferry Tomaszyk at worldwide guest performances as ambassadors of the Federal Republic of GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. The orchestra's debut took place in 1996 with live television coverage across Europe with 3sat
3sat
3sat is the name of a public, advertising-free, television network in Central Europe. The programming is in German and is broadcast primarily within Germany, Austria and Switzerland .3sat was established for cultural...
, performing Gustav Mahler's "Resurrection " in St. Peters's Church, Görlitz
Görlitz
Görlitz is a town in Germany. It is the easternmost town in the country, located on the Lusatian Neisse River in the Bundesland of Saxony. It is opposite the Polish town of Zgorzelec, which was a part of Görlitz until 1945. Historically, Görlitz was in the region of Upper Lusatia...
under the direction of principal conductor Reinhard Seehafer, with cooperation from the foundation Kreisau/Krzyzowa.
Europa Philharmonie stands for a tolerant and unified Europe, which is a view also reflected in the patronage of the German and Polish state presidents, and the president of the German Federal Parliament, as well as the work of the board of trustees "Indivisible Europe" of which Professor Kurt Masur
Kurt Masur
Kurt Masur is a German conductor, particularly noted for his interpretation of German Romantic music.- Biography :Masur was born in Brieg, Lower Silesia, Germany and studied piano, composition and conducting in Leipzig, Saxony. Masur has been married three times...
, the late Lea Rabin
Lea Rabin
Leah Rabin was the widow of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, who was assassinated in 1995.-Biography:Born in Königsberg, East Prussia, Germany , in 1933 Leah emigrated with her family to Mandate Palestine where she met her future husband, Yitzhak Rabin, at school...
, Hans-Dietrich Genscher
Hans-Dietrich Genscher
Hans-Dietrich Genscher is a German politician of the liberal Free Democratic Party . He served as Foreign Minister and Vice Chancellor of Germany from 1974 to 1982 and, after a two-week pause, from 1982 to 1992, making him Germany's longest serving Foreign Minister and Vice Chancellor...
and Prof.
Dr. Dieter Stolte are members.
From 1998 to 2007, the orchestra was based in Schloss Hundisburg (Hundisburg Castle) in Saxony-Anhalt
Saxony-Anhalt
Saxony-Anhalt is a landlocked state of Germany. Its capital is Magdeburg and it is surrounded by the German states of Lower Saxony, Brandenburg, Saxony, and Thuringia.Saxony-Anhalt covers an area of...
, which is one of the most important baroque castles in northern Germany.
Worldwide Concert Activity
- In honour of the 30th anniversary of the diplomatic relationship between the Federal Republic of Germany and the People's Republic of ChinaChinaChinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
in 2002, Europa Philharmonie gave guest performances in Shanghai, Beijing and five other cities in China. - In 2004, the orchestra was the first classical symphony orchestra in the world to perform in Sana'aSana'a-Districts:*Al Wahdah District*As Sabain District*Assafi'yah District*At Tahrir District*Ath'thaorah District*Az'zal District*Bani Al Harith District*Ma'ain District*Old City District*Shu'aub District-Old City:...
, the capital city of Yemen, at the opening concert for "Sana'a - Cultural Capital of the Arab World", which was attended by its patron, the former President of the BundestagBundestagThe Bundestag is a federal legislative body in Germany. In practice Germany is governed by a bicameral legislature, of which the Bundestag serves as the lower house and the Bundesrat the upper house. The Bundestag is established by the German Basic Law of 1949, as the successor to the earlier...
, Wolfgang ThierseWolfgang ThierseWolfgang Thierse is a German politician .- Early years in the GDR :Thierse was born in Breslau . He is a Roman Catholic and grew up in East Germany. After his A-levels he first worked as a typesetter in Weimar...
, and the Yemen Minister for Culture and Tourism, Khalid Al-Rewaishan. In addition to the invited guests, an audience of 5.000 experienced this spectacular concert with the city of Sana'a as a backdrop. The concert was also televised across the entire Arabian world. This tour also took the orchestra to Abu-Dhabi, AjmanAjmanAjman , also spelt Ujman, is one of the seven emirates constituting the United Arab Emirates . With an area of just 260 square kilometres , Ajman is the smallest emirate by area...
and OmanOmanOman , officially called the Sultanate of Oman , is an Arab state in southwest Asia on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by the United Arab Emirates to the northwest, Saudi Arabia to the west, and Yemen to the southwest. The coast is formed by the Arabian Sea on the...
, where the orchestra performed traditional New Year's concerts. - Gala Concert "Welcome to Europe" in 2004, televised live, in the capital city of CyprusCyprusCyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
, Nicosia, in honour of Cyprus' upcoming entry into the EU. - In 2005, the orchestra undertook a concert tour as ambassadors for the Federal Republic of Germany in honour of the 60th anniversary of the end of the 2nd world war from Kefalonia to Athens and Crete. All places where massacres took place.
- "Christmas Gala" 2005 in Antalya, TurkeyTurkeyTurkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, where the orchestra was awarded a prize for their work in intercultural understanding.
Current projects
- Education and Music for apprentice under the patronage of Prof. Dr. Claus Hipp
- Europe needs young people for school students in Germany, Switzerland and France
- Cultural Sustainability for Future Generations with projects to do with climate change and the protection of the environment