Concerts avec Sir Simon Rattle et Vilde Frang (Berlin Philharmonie)
30 Septembre - 6 Octobre 2020

For the COE, an international touring orchestra comprising of musicians who live far apart from each other in different European cities, the knock-on effects of the COVID-19 pandemic could not be more acutely felt. We have faced the nightmare scenario of seven very difficult months without being able to make music together as concert halls and music festivals all over the world close down.

As the virus is still active we continue to be faced with severe travel and quarantine restrictions and also a completely changed way of making live music with social distancing and other measures. However, there has been one project shining bright for several months that has been cutting through these barriers,  a project that we have been determined to find a way to bring to fruition: finally, on 5th October we were at last able to perform together again and most importantly at the Berlin Philharmonie with Sir Simon Rattle and violinist Vilde Frang. We presented repeat concerts at 5pm and 9pm in performance of Beethoven Violin Concerto and Haydn Symphony No. 90.

We have longed to work with Sir Simon Rattle for many years and it has been such an immense boost for us all, both musically and psychologically to have this opportunity with him now at this difficult and important time for the orchestra. We have been fortunate to perform with Vilde in the past and it was a great pleasure to join her again on this occasion to discover and immerse ourselves in her interpretation of the Beethoven Concerto.

In addition to the enjoyment and success of the rehearsals and concerts our project has been a Beacon of Hope. We have been able to join together and truly recharge our batteries and look to the future with renewed optimism. We would not have been able to realise the concert without Sir Simon’s support and with that of the Berlin Philharmonie nor without sponsorship from the Gatsby Foundation for which we are extremely grateful.

Please visit (and start following!) our brand new Instagram page for photos of our Berlin adventure.

Five-star review in RBB Kultur online (06/10/2020)
« This Orchestra does not need hierarchies and gives conductors the feeling to be musicians themselves. » (« The Sound of Democracy« , Tagesspiegel, 06/10/2020)
Five-star review on Bachtrack (08/10/2020): « In the double variations, the excellent soloists of the orchestra could be admired. »