Rick Steves’ Europe: A Symphonic Journey

Rick Steves, America’s leading authority on European travel, teams up with Boulder Symphony and Maestro Devin Patrick Hughes for an inspirational musical journey.

The tour begins in the United States and then touches down in eight different European countries. The 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 set the context for each piece. Then, with the help of evocative video images from his public television series, the orchestra performs a selection of stirring 19th-century anthems by Romantic-era composers, including Grieg, Smetana, Strauss, Saint-Saëns, Elgar, Wagner, and Verdi.

Each selection honors a particular nationality, while the finale, Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” (Europe’s official anthem), pays homage to the continent’s motto of “United in Diversity” and its passion for freedom.

Preconcert Talk: From 3:30-4:00, join Devin Patrick Hughes as he sits down with Rick Steves via video broadcast!