Heart of Europe

Grafenegg lies in the «Heart of Europe». The new festival of the same name, featuring the European Union Youth Orchestra, will showcase what unites Europe over three weekends, from 24 July to 7 August, with major concerts and a wide-ranging programme of events. From midday until the evening on 24 July, «Europe in the Park»  will be celebrated, with music everywhere – at all venues, in the park, in the castle, in the Rudolf Buchbinder Hall, in the Auditorium and at the Wolkenturm – everything will be buzzing with music. The second weekend ranges from the closing concert of the «Schlagwerkstatt» workshop with Colin Currie, through Reich’s «It’s Gonna Rain» in the castle chapel, to «Europe’s Heroes? » featuring EUYO alumnus Leonidas Kavakos, who will conduct Beethoven’s „«Coriolan» Overture and the «Eroica». On the third weekend, there will be an insight into the intensive rehearsal process: Iván Fischer rehearses «Thus Spoke Zarathustra» in a new version for a choreographed orchestra. The world premiere takes place three days later, on 6 August, with the fantastic pianist Daniil Trifonov opening the concert evening as soloist in Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3. To round off the programme and bring it to a grand finale: Beethoven’s Ninth, conducted by the EUYO’s principal conductor, Iván Fischer.

With the three major Wolkenturm concerts featuring the European Union Youth Orchestra, enjoy flexible access to all events in the new festival format of the «Heart of Europe»  festival. Receive a 20 per cent discount on all events from 24 July to 7 August (30 per cent discount for members of the Friends’ Association).