Seattle Symphony: Rick Steves' Europe – A Symphonic Journey

John Stafford Smith — The Star-Spangled Banner
George Walker — Lyric for Strings
Aaron Copland — Fanfare for the Common Man
Samuel A. Ward — America the Beautiful
Johann Strauss II — On the Beautiful Blue Danube, Op. 314
Richard Wagner — Prelude to Act III from Lohengrin, WWV 75
Bedřich Smetana — "Vltava" ("The Moldau") from Má vlast
Giuseppe Verdi — Overture to Nabucco
Edward Elgar — Pomp and Circumstance Marches, Op. 39
Edvard Grieg — "Morning Mood" from Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46
Camille Saint-Saëns — March militaire
Ludwig van Beethoven — "Ode to Joy" from Symphony No. 9 in D minor Op. 125 "Choral"
Richard Strauss — Selected works
Philip Rothman — Selected works
Various — Armed Forces Salute
Various — A Salute to the Big Bands (arr. Calvin Custer)

Rick Steves, host
Lee Mills, conductor

John Stafford Smith – The Star-Spangled Banner
Arr. Windell – Armed Forces Salute
George Walker – Lyric for Strings
Aaron Copland – Fanfare for the Common Man
Arr. Calvin Custer – Salute to Big Bands
Arr. Philip Rothman – America the Beautiful
Johann Strauss Jr. – On the Beautiful Blue Danube, Waltzes, Op. 314
Richard Wagner – Prelude to Act III of Lohengrin
Bedřich Smetana – The Moldau, No. 2 from Má vlast
Giuseppe Verdi – Overture to Nabucco
Edward Elgar – Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1
Edvard Grieg – Morning Mood from Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46
Camille Saint-Saëns – Marche militaire française from Suite algérienne, Op. 60
Ludwig van Beethoven – Ode to Joy from Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 “Choral”

Rick Steves, America's leading authority on European travel, teams up with the Seattle Symphony for a musical journey that begins in the United States and touches down in seven different European countries. This unique concert celebrates music's power to stir the patriotic soul. Playing musical tour guide, Steves utilizes his extensive knowledge of European history and culture to help set the context for each piece. Then, the orchestra performs a selection of stirring 19th-century anthems by Romantic-era composers, including Edvard Grieg, Bedřich Smetana, Richard Strauss, Edward Elgar, Richard Wagner, and Giuseppe Verdi. Each selection honors a particular nationality, while the finale, Ludwig van Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" (Europe's official anthem) pays homage to the continent's motto of "United in Diversity." The music is accompanied by a montage of evocative video images from each country.

About Seattle Symphony

Recognized as one of the “most vital American orchestras” (NPR), the Seattle Symphony is internationally acclaimed for its inventive programming, community-minded initiatives, and superb recordings on the Seattle Symphony Media label. With a strong commitment to new music and a legacy of over 150 recordings, the orchestra has garnered five Grammy Awards, 26 Grammy nominations, and two Emmy Awards, and was named Gramophone’s 2018 Orchestra of the Year. The Symphony performs in Benaroya Hall in the heart of downtown Seattle.

https://www.seattlesymphony.org/