Thursday,
May 13, 2004 - Paris, France
The Philadelphia Orchestra's 2004 European Tour kicked off on a high note tonight with the first concert in Paris at Théâtre Mogador, temporary home of the Orchestre de Paris. Beethoven's Overture to Fidelio opened the program followed by Messiaen's Les Offrandes oubliées, which closed the first half to an enthusiastic ovation from the Parisian audience. Bruckner's monumental Seventh Symphony brought the audience to its feet, applauding rhythmically through four curtain calls and culminating in an encore of Wagner's Prelude to Act III of Lohengrin. It was a wonderful launch to the tour.
The start of tour has been auspicious in other ways as well. A free day at the outset allowed Orchestra members to adjust to the time change and get their "tour legs." And it appears that pretty much everyone in the tour party has fallen in love … with Paris, Christoph Eschenbach's "other home." How could they not? Great coffee, food, art, shopping, sights, and on Tuesday, weather, all contributed to an excellent mood. Trips to Versailles, the Louvre, the ballet at the Bastille, Île Saint-Louis, Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, and the Musée d'Orsay filled the itineraries of many. Perhaps the mood was best summed up at the start of rehearsal today when Co-Principal Horn Dave Wetherill announced, as Christoph Eschenbach took the podium, "Since we're all in Paris we wanted to play something to put everyone in the mood." and the four Wagner tubas launched into "La Vie en rose," to everyone's delight and amusement (ok, there were a few groans).
A number of musicians are taking advantage of the tour to visit instrument makers along the way. In Paris, Marjorie Miller, wife of Principal Horn Nolan Miller, purchased a new bow from Stephane Tomachot and Associate Principal Clarinet Donald Montanaro picked out a new clarinet at Buffet Crampon … and then proceeded to order another six for students, friends, and a cousin.
The Orchestra is partnering with the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau on the 2004 European Tour. A major initiative on their part was to work collaboratively with the Barnes Collection on an exhibit about Albert Barnes, which was held in the gallery of Maison des États-Unis. The opening reception, held on May 11, featured a short performance by Concertmaster David Kim and Principal Viola Roberto Diaz, a visit by Ambassador and Mrs. Howard Leach, and remarks by Christoph Eschenbach; Kimberly Camp, executive director of the Barnes Collection; and Sam Rogers, vice president for tourism at the PCVB. The PCVB also hosted pre- and post-concert receptions around the performance at the Théâtre Mogador and is organizing similar activities in Frankfurt, London, and Amsterdam.
And now, on to Germany…
Katherine Blodgett,
Director of Public/Media Relations
Orchestra
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