The European Union Youth Orchestra (EUYO) brings together more than 90 musicians from 27 countries, which is unique in the world. These young people are among the best of their generation. And the symphonic ensemble they form begins that evening in Ferrara, Italy, a three-week tour throughout Europe. The performance begins with a violin concerto by Finnish composer Jean Sibelius (1865-1957).
What does it mean to be a European, a European, when you are 20 or 25 years old? Does that make sense, asks the magazine “1:15 p.m. on Saturday” (replay) to double bassist Mathilde? “Yes, that makes sense. I’m French, I’m European. We’re together, we’re going to protect ourselves together, we’re going to react together, we’re going to support each other and we’re going to share a lot of things together.”
“Wherever I am in Europe, I feel at home”
“For me, it’s sharing values of freedom, solidarity and fraternity too”, answers the Spaniard Carlos. Polish Agnieszka says: “Values of democracy, equality. Wherever I am in Europe, I feel at home.” And the young Dutchman Joost thinks that “From a geopolitical point of view, it’s very important that we all stay together in Europe, that we really are like a big bloc.”
Hungarian conductor Ivan Fischer gives his thoughts on the power of music: “There are good people and bad people. We are not angels. We are terrible creatures, but we are better because of music. For example, if people are sitting in a concert hall and they’re listening to Mozart, they’re not going to kill each other right away. Maybe it would take several days after listening to Mozart…”
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