January to July 2008

January

The orchestra’s first concerts of 2008 took place at the Gulbenkian Foundation in Lisbon as part of a twelve day residency. As well as concerts conducted by Yannick Nezet Seguin, Douglas Boyd and Thomas Hengelbrock, the orchestra gave a series of master classes, workshops for school children and Feldenkrais method workshops.

“With the first notes, the magic happens. The captivating sound world that the Chamber Orchestra of Europe creates is one of incomparable beauty. The orchestra is in residence at the Gulbenkian for 12 days. Rehearsals and two concerts on January 11 and 13 in the Grand Auditorium have already taken place. On 20 and 21 January the orchestra will perform Brahms Requiem together with the Gulbenkian Choir. Each of the three programmes presented has it’s own maestro and a contrasting selection of works, and as a whole, can be seen as an arc that extends in time from the late Baroque to Romanticism. Step by step, and taking into account the size of the orchestra, we are presented with some of the most famous of composers i.e. J. S. Bach, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert.

The COE may be an orchestra democratic in structure and organization, but it is also a elite group of musicians with instrumentalists that are the best of the best. Although most of them have careers as soloists and/or have associations with other chamber groups, orchestras and conservatoires, the harmony and balance of the ensemble is impressive. There are no technical barriers to overcome so that all energies are channeled to the aesthetics of interpretation.

“The Magical Sound of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe”
Reviewed by: Cristina Fernandes
Newspaper: “Publico”   Lisbon
Date: 18.01.2008

February

The COE will perform for the first time at the Palace of Arts in Budapest, and National Concert Hall in Dublin with conductor and pianist Andras Schiff in performance of works by Mendelssohn and Schumann.

On 31 March 2008, four soloists from the Chamber Orchestra of Europe – Fran�ois Leleux (oboe), Fredrik Paulsson (violin), Gert–Inge Andersson (viola) and Kate Gould (cello) – will perform together in the Yehudi Menuhin room of the European Parliament. All are renowned international musicians and winners of numerous international awards in Europe and worldwide. The concert programme will include Mozart’s Oboe Quartet and Duos for Oboe and Violin from the Magic Flute as well as Bach’s Inventions for Oboe and Cello and Beethoven’s Theme and Variations on “La ci darem la mano” from Mozart’s Don Giovanni.

March

The orchestra will embark on a very exciting and eagerly awaited Beethoven Symphony and Concerto cycle this March at the Luzern Easter Festival with conductor Bernard Haitink. The cycle is divided into three projects. Following our first project during March, we return to the Luzern Summer Festival this September with the final and third project taking place during March 2009 at the Luzern Easter Festival.

April

The orchestra will join the pianist Pierre Laurent Aimard for one concert on April 3 as part of his residence at the Cite de la musique in Paris, in performance of Haydn, Mozart, Webern, Ligeti and Schoenberg. The programme is also performed at the Cologne Philharmonie on April 6.

May

The COE will be in residence at the SchumannFest Düsseldorf giving concerts on May 9 and 10 with conductor Frans Brüggen and soloists Lisa Batiashvilli, Alban Gerhard and Antje Weithaas.

June

The orchestra will take part in a Gala Concert to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the European Central Bank at the Alte Oper in Frankfurt on June 2 with conductor Sir Roger Norrington and soloist Toby Spence.

Later in the month the orchestra will be in residence at the Styriarte Festival with concerts with pianist Pierre Laurent Aimard on June 28 and 29 in performance of Mozart Piano concertos K488, K537 and Piano and Wind Quintet. Soloists from the chamber orchestra of Europe will also take part in a chamber concert with Pierre Laurent on July 2nd in performance of works by Carter, Boulez and Messiaen.