In collaboration with ACCADEMIA SAN FELICE LTD London

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.
This communication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

The EUROPEAN FESTIVALS EXPERIENCE for TRAVELLING YOUTH ORCHESTRAS
1st May 2010 - 30th October 2011

Accademia San Felice Ltd is pleased to launch the European Festivals Experience, a very special project funded by the EU Culture Programme for Cooperation Projects.

Partners
Accademia San Felice Ltd London, UK
Les Floraisons Musicales Provence, France
Riga City Council, Education, Culture and Sports Department, Riga, Latvia

Project description
The European Festivals Experience unites three major European festivals to create an extensive programme of easily accessible symphonic concerts and offer a whole range of unique musical activities and cultural exchange programmes in France, Italy and Latvia for youth orchestras and young musicians from all over Europe.

Ten youth orchestras from different European countries will be invited to perform in two of the festivals over an 18-month period; each will be selected according to their musical ability and priority will be given to those who do not normally have the financial means or organisational capacity to travel.

The project will culminate in a total of 35 concerts given in splendid venues as part of the festivals in France, Italy and Latvia, bringing together artists and cultures from north, south, east and west Europe. Aside the concerts, each Festival will organise the young musicians additional activities and workshops offering something different and beneficial from a musical, cultural and educational standpoint.

The FESTIVALS

1) The International Festival of European Youth Orchetras, Tuscany, Italy
www.florenceyouthfestival.com
Now in its 12th year, the Florence Youth Festival welcomes c.15-20 youth orchestras from all over the world to perform in Florence and throughout Tuscany for a series of c. 60 concerts, every year during the month of July. Four orchestras will be invited to participate in the festival in 2010 and 2011 as part of the EFE project, and each will be invited to play in joint concerts with other participating orchestras or to take part in a masterclass on contemporary compositions from specially commissioned composers.

2) Festival Les Floraisons Musicales, Provence, France
www.floraisonsmusicales.com
Floraisons Musicales, Musiques et Patrimoine is a major festival of a professional standard which presents c. 40 concerts from June-October in cities, towns and villages of 5  Provencal departments. The festival will host 5/6 orchestras throughout the course of the EFE project, who will be lodged in ancient monasteries, chartreuses and hotels in the Avignon area and invited to perform concertos with renowned soloists during their stay.

3) Riga City Festival and the Latvian School Music and Dance Celebration, Riga, Latvia
Orchestras will perform in beautiful venues of the magnificent capital of Riga as part of the city's various summer cultural festivities, rural towns and villages outside the capital which have rarely or never previously experienced live classical music on such a scale, and for social benefit in retirement homes, hospitals or schools.

Each participating orchestra will combine their experience with cultural and touristic excursions in each country, and will have the chance to extend their stay to allow further opportunity for concerts and sight-seeing.

The festivals will offer various musical projects and activities, to include the following:

Musical Postcards
At each performance, all orchestras are required to play at least one piece of music representing their country, from the classical or contemporary tradition (it may even be a world premier under commission), so that their culture is represented and transported abroad through music. Two of the participating orchestras will then be invited to extend this idea by taking part in an intensive workshop on arrival in the host country, to learn a contemporary (commissioned) piece of music under the guidance of a local guest conductor or composer. The following year, they will transport this new piece of music to their second Festival Experience destination, where they will perform it to a brand new audience. They will there attend a masterclass where they will learn another short contemporary piece of music representative of this hosting country. On returning to their home country, they will present a truly 'European' concert where all newly acquired pieces of music are performed, representing musical traditions from three different European countries that they have experienced first hand.

Professional Pairing
Throughout the course of the project, 5 participating orchestras will be given the unique opportunity to accompany leading European guest soloists or perform under the baton of renowned guest conductors invited by the hosting festival.

Joint concerts
Travelling on tour can be a bonding experience for any orchestra; however, feedback and experience from the past has proven that for young musicians especially, the chance to meet other youth orchestras from different countries is welcomed and appreciated, as well as being beneficial on both a social and musical level. In this way, for four participating orchestras special 'joint concerts' will be arranged, whereby two orchestras meet during the festival, partake in a common social activity and perform a concert united together as an extended whole.

TIYO http://www.florenceyouthfestival.com/index.php?id=42
As part of the International Festival of European Youth Orchestras, an additional part of the project will be the formation of a new, international orchestral ensemble for individual young musicians from all over the world. In 2010, the Tuscan International Youth Orchestra (TIYO), based in Cortona, Italy, will bring together 60 young musicians from all over the world to form a project orchestra, immersed in a week of intense orchestral rehearsals and completed with a three-day concert tour of the area. Accommodation will be provided and the course will be held by renowned Italian conductors, tutors and soloists.

EFE Launch Concert
The project will be launched on 2nd June 2010 with a celebratory concert in St John’s Church Waterloo, London, directly linking all of the partners and representing the countries involved in the project. This concert will be a special free event for school children and young musicians from all over the UK, and will promote the bringing together and cooperation of artists from all over Europe, who will unite in music and represent each of the four nationalities involved in the project.

EFE CALENDAR 2010

27 Junìe 12pm
Middelstum, Hippolytuskerk, Holland
Haydn Youth String Orchestra (Holland, 40 musicians)
P.A. Locatelli Concerto Grosso in E, op. 7 nr. 6, "Il Pianto d'Arianna"
H. Andriessen Variations on fugue and theme by van Johann Kuhnau
Pergolesi Salve Regina, in C mineur
P.A. Locatelli: L' Arte del violino, vioolconcert op. 3 nr. 1 in D
D. Shostakovich: Kammersinfonie op. 110a
Soprano Giulia Peri
Conductor Jan-Ype Nota

2 July 9pm
Palazzo PITTI, Florence
TIYO Tuscan International Youth Orchestra (50 musicians)
Beethoven 5th Symphony
Beethoven 5th piano concerto

Piano Gregorio Nardi
Conductor Daniele Giorgi

photogallery

3 July 6pm
Southwark Cathedral, London
Ealing Youth Orchestra (UK, 80 musicians)
Karlowitcz Song of Eternal Being
Butterworth A Shropshire Lad
Lalo Symphonie  Espagnole (I-II-IV-V)
Rossini Semiramide Overture
Stravinsky Firebird Suite
Violin Tom Crehan
Conductor Leon Gee / Andris Veismanis

photogallery

8 July 9pm
Boulbon, Eglise (Floraisons Musicales)
Joven Orquesta de Leioa (Spain, 55 musicians)
Beethoven Coriolano overture
Beethoven Triple concerto
Haydn Oxford Symphony
Cello Milan Vrsajkov
Violin Yves Desmons
Piano Franck Wasser
Conductor Margarita Lorenzo de Reizábal

9 July 9pm
Eglise Saing-Joseph, Boulbon (Floraisons Musicales)
Joven Orquesta de Leioa (Spain, 60 musicians)
Beethoven Coriolano overture Op.62
Beethoven Triple concerto Op.56
Haydn Oxford Symphony n.92
Violin Yves Desmons
Cello Milan Vrsajkov
Piano Franck Wasser
Conductor Margarita Lorenzo de Reizábal

10 July 6pm
Chateauneuf-du-Pape (Floraisons Musicales)
Domaines de Beaucastel – La Destinée – La Fagottière
Joven Orquesta de Leioa (Spain, 60 musicians)
Beethoven Triple concerto Op.56
Cello Milan Vrsajkov
Violin Pierre Hommage 
Piano Antonio Soria
Conductor Margarita Lorenzo de Reizábal

10 July 9pm
Florence, Loggia dei Lanzi
Estonia National Youth Symphony Orchestra (Estonia, 45 musicians)
Hofstads JeugdOrkest (Holland, 80 musicians)
D.Shostakovich Folk Feast & Romance from "The Gadfly"
J.-R. Kangur Sounds of Heaven
J. Williams Jurassic Park
R. Hardiman Lord of the Dance
C. Saint-Saëns Danse macabre                    
Andriessen Ricercare                              
L. Grøndahl Trombone concerto        
Holst Ballet music from The Perfect Fool
Rossini William Tell overture
Conductor Juri-Ruut Kangur / Lex Veelo

photogallery

11 July 6pm
Marseille, Musee Provencal (Floraisons Musicales)
Joven Orquesta de Leioa (Spain, 55 musicians)
Beethoven Coriolano overture
Beethoven Triple concerto
Haydn Oxford Symphony
Cello Milan Vrsajkov
Violin Yves Desmons
Piano Antonio Soria
Conductor Margarita Lorenzo de Reizábal

15 July 9pm
Cloitre du Couvent Royal, St-Maximin-la-Ste-Baume (Floraisons Musicales)
Estonia National Youth Symphony Orchestra (Estonia, 45 musicians)
Rossini Guillaume Tell, overture
Chopin Piano concerto n.2 in F min. op.21
Schubert Symphony n.8 D.759
Piano Sandro de Palma
Conductor Juri-Ruut Kangur
 

16 July 9,30pm
Bagnols-Sur-Ceze (Floraisons Musicales)
Estonia National Youth Symphony Orchestra (Estonia, 45 musicians)
Rossini Guillaume Tell, overture
Chopin Piano concerto n.2 in F min. op.21
Schubert Symphony n.8 D.759
Piano Sandro de Palma
Conductor Juri-Ruut Kangur

16 July 9pm
Florence, Palazzo Pitti
Haydn Youth String Orchestra (Holland, 40 musicians)
SHOSTAKOVICH Kammersinfonie op. 110a
ELGAR Serenade for Strings in E minor, op. 20 (1892)
PERGOLESI da definire
LOCATELLI Concerto Grosso in Es majeur, op. 7, nr. 6, "Il Pianto d'Arianna"
MOZART Concerto for piano and string orchestra no. 12 in A majeur, KV. 414
MENDELSSOHN Bartholdy Vioolconcert in D mineur, ongenummerd (1823)
LOCATELLI  L'arte del violino: vioolconcert nr. 1 in D op. 3 (1733)
Soprano Giulia Peri
Conductor Jan-Ype Nota


16 July 9pm
Bagnols-sur-Ceze (Floraisons Musicales)
Estonia National Youth Symphony Orchestra (Estonia, 45 musicians)
Rossini Barber of Seville overture
Chopin Piano concerto n.2
Schubert Symphony n.8
Soloists Sandro de Palma
Conductor Juri-Ruut Kangur

26 July 9pm
Firenze, Palazzo Pitti
Riga United Music Schools Symphony Orchestra (Latvia, 50 musicians)
Goppinger Jugendsinfonieorchester (Germany, 86 musicians)
Humperinck Ouvertüre “Hänsel und Gretel”
Puccini Arie da  “La Bohéme, Tosca, Turandot
Dvorak Sinfonia n. 9  op. 95 “Dal Nuovo Mondo“
Andrejs Jurjns Barcarolle
Imants Kalni 4th Symphony - 1st movement
Imants Kalni 5th Symphony
Adolfs Skulte Arietta
Maurice Ravel Mother Goose
Arturs Maskats Tango
conductors Martin Gunkel & Andris Veismanis

27 Luglio 9pm Venue tbc
Riga United Music Schools Symphony Orchestra (Latvia, 50 musicians)
A. Jurjans Barcarolle  (for French horn quartet with orchestra)
I. Kalnins 4th Symphony - 1st movement
A. Skulte Arietta
A. Maskats Tango   
E. Darzins Melanholiskais valsis (The Melancholy Waltz ) 
G. Puccini Medley of various operas
G. Rossini Semiramide-Overture
J. Massenet Meditation
J. Brahms Hungarian Dance No. 5
G. Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue
Piano Janis Miltins
Conductor Andris Veismanis

20 August 5pm
Riga, Town Hall Square
Tapiola Youth Orchestra (Finland, 60 musicians)
Rautavaara Isle of Bliss
Strauss Horn Concerto
Sibelius Pohjola's Daughter
Schubert Unfinished Symphony
Horn tbe
Conductor Jani Telaranta


21 August 7pm
Riga, Dom (Cathedral)
Tapiola Youth Orchestra (Finland, 60 musicians)
Rautavaara Isle of Bliss
Strauss Horn Concerto
Sibelius Pohjola's Daughter
Schubert Unfinished Symphony
Horn tbe
Conductor Jani Telaranta

PARTICIPATING ORCHESTRAS
The selected orchestras will represent the best of European talent but priority will be given to those who would otherwise not have the financial means or organisational capacity to travel. At least 7 EU member states will be represented by orchestras in the project. Those who have confirmed their interest/involvement include:

- Joven Orquesta de Leioa (Spain, 60 musicians)   
- Tapiola Youth Orchestra (Finland, 60 musicians)
- Orchestre d'Etudiants de Louvain-la-Neuve (Belgium, 60 musicians)
- TIYO Tuscan International Youth Orchestra (50 musicians)
- Vuurvogel Youth Orchestra (Holland, 55 musicians)
- Novomestsky Youth Orchestra (Czech Republic, 60 musicians)
- Flevoland Jeugd Sinfonie Orkest (Holland, 60 musicians)
- Estonia National Youth Symphony Orchestra (Estonia, 45 musicians)
- Haydn Youth String Orchestra (Holland, 40 musicians)
- Hofstads JeugdOrkest (Holland, 70 musicians)
- Ealing Youth Orchestra (UK, 80 musicians)
- Riga United Music Schools Symphony Orchestra (Latvia, 55 musicians)
- Göppinger Jugendsinfonieorchester (Germany, 86 musicians)

Please contact andrea@accademiasanfelice.com for more information on the project.