The Philadelphia Orchestra embarked on its 2023 Europe Tour, leaving Philadelphia for Frankfurt. The tour commemorates the 150th birthday of Sergei Rachmaninoff and will include nine performances in Luxembourg, Paris, Hamburg, and Baden-Baden over two weeks. The Philadelphia Orchestra’s 2023 Europe Tour is made possible through the generous support of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.
Oct. 24, Philadelphia: Associate Principal Trumpet Jeffrey Curnow arrives at Philadelphia International Airport. Photo by Todd Rosenberg
Oct. 24, Philadelphia: Principal Clarinet Ricardo Morales makes his way inside the airport; his wife, violinist Amy Oshiro-Morales, follows closely behind. Photo by Todd Rosenberg
Oct. 24, Philadelphia: Cellist Robert Cafaro checks in with Operations and Touring Manager Michelle Zwi. Photo by Todd Rosenberg
Oct. 24, Philadelphia: Principal Timpani Don Liuzzi and Principal Second Violin Kimberly Fisher are buckled up and ready to depart. Photo by Todd Rosenberg
Oct. 24, Philadelphia: Violinist Daniel Han sports a tour t-shirt for the flight. Photo by Todd Rosenberg
Oct. 25, Frankfurt: Assistant Concertmaster Marc Rovetti is very happy to have arrived in Frankfurt after the overnight flight. Photo by Todd Rosenberg
Oct. 25, Frankfurt: Violist Marvin Moon waits for his luggage at the Frankfurt International Airport with a disappointed look on his face after learning about the Phillies’ NLCS loss. Photo by Todd Rosenberg
Oct. 25, Frankfurt: After an early morning arrival in Frankfurt, members of the bass section (Christian Gray, Acting Assistant Principal Nathaniel West, and Michael Franz) walk to the buses for the ride to Luxembourg. Photo by Todd Rosenberg
Oct. 25, Frankfurt–Luxembourg: The ride from the airport to Luxembourg City is about 3 ½ hours, traveling through beautiful countryside. Photo by Todd Rosenberg
Oct. 25, Luxembourg: Trumpet player Anthony Prisk arrives at the Luxembourg hotel on a rainy afternoon. Photo by Todd Rosenberg
Oct. 25, Luxembourg: Staff gathered at the hotel for a meeting to review the complex tour logistics one more time before the tour officially begins. Photo by Todd Rosenberg
After a long day of travel, the musicians and staff had a welcome day off before beginning rehearsals and concerts. Many went to the Bock Casemates, a subterranean defense system. (Bock was also the name of the fortress that stood atop the Casemates.) Originally carved out in the 17th century, when Luxembourg was under Spanish rule, the site is made up of 14 miles of tunnels and overlooks the Alzette River.
Oct. 26, Luxembourg: Co-Principal Trombone Matt Vaughn takes a photo while sightseeing on a walk to the Casemates. Photo by Todd Rosenberg
Oct. 26, Luxembourg: Horn player Christopher Dwyer amidst the wonderful symmetry of the numerous arches throughout the Casemates. The complex included not only 25 artillery slots but also stables, storehouses, workshops, kitchens, bakeries, slaughterhouses, and barracks for 1200 soldiers. A well 155 feet deep supplied the complex with fresh water. Photo by Todd Rosenberg
Oct. 26, Luxembourg: Inside one of the many tunnels at the Casemates. The Casemates helped the Bock resist a seven-month siege by the French Republican Army in 1794; when the Habsburg forces in the fortress eventually surrendered, the walls remained unbreached. Ultimately, the Bock’s destruction (as well as the perpetual neutrality of Luxembourg) was ordered by the 1867 Treaty of London in an effort to defuse tensions between France and Germany. The demolition took 16 years to complete. However, the Casemates could not be destroyed without also destroying part of the city, so that is why 14 miles of the tunnels still remain. The Casemates were opened to the public in 1933 and were used as a bomb shelter for 35,000 people during World War II. Photo by Todd Rosenberg
Oct. 26, Luxembourg: Associate Principal Cello Priscilla Lee and Grace Jan, her friend since 7th grade, take in one of the many stunning views from the Casemates. Photo by Todd Rosenberg
Oct. 26, Luxembourg: Principal Cello Hai-Ye Ni (second from left) and violinist Elina Kalendarova (right) take a stroll through Luxembourg City’s old town with Elina’s mother, Asiya Kalendar, and Hai-Ye’s husband, Alfred Brown. Photo by Todd Rosenberg
Oct. 26, Luxembourg: Violinist Amy Oshiro-Morales does some cheese shopping. She finally decided on a Camembert whiskey cheese, which she thoroughly enjoyed. Photo by Todd Rosenberg
Oct. 26, Luxembourg: Associate Principal Clarinet Samuel Caviezel and his wife and daughter enjoy an evening stroll. Photo by Todd Rosenberg