In November 2000, the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra packed up and left town for a whirlwind tour of Europe, playing 12 venues in 12 cities over 14 days — and creating countless memorable moments.
The details of the tour were shared at a media conference in the Jack Singer Concert Hall: “The Tour is confirmed after a two-year planning stage, and will see Calgary’s orchestra, led by Music Director Hans Graf, as the first Western Canadian orchestra to tour the concert halls of Switzerland, Germany, Austria, and France,” said Jack Mills, who was President of the Calgary Phil at the time. “The Orchestra is greatly excited to be offered the opportunity to showcase our formidable talent and world-class musical ability in some of the world’s finest concerts halls.”
Dignitaries including Prime Minister Jean Chretien, Premier Ralph Klein and Mayor Al Duerr wrote messages of support and congratulations, and the tour was followed with interest by media at home and abroad. Calgary Herald arts writer Bob Clark, who followed the Orchestra on tour, noted that the plans included providing 4,300 meals for the musicians, and transporting 3,400 kilograms of freight — all musical instruments larger than a violin had to be shipped in the aircraft’s cargo hold, then moved by truck between the 12 cities.
Each concert opened with a short Canadian work, composer José Evangelista’s Symphonie Minute. Following the Calgary Phil’s appearance in Vienna at the historic Musïkverein, which is renowned for its acoustics, Clark called the performance simply brilliant. “The musicians of the Calgary Philharmonic were walking on air Monday night after their triumphant concert in Vienna’s famous 1,600-seat Musïkverein before a near capacity audience.”
At the end of the tour, as musicians were heading home and looking forward to reuniting with loved ones, Clark described the experience as one of the most successful European tours every made by a Canadian orchestra, with large and enthusiastic audiences from start to finish. “For most of the (Calgary Phil) musicians the tour has been an unexpectedly emotional one, bringing them directly into contact with the musical greatness of the past that they had only previously known second-hand,” he wrote.
The tour remains a highlight in the careers of many Calgary Phil musicians, past and present. To celebrate its 20th anniversary, they share memories and photos of the performances they gave as well as they cities they visited and the time they spent together.
Watch: Tour Slideshow by Tisha Murvihill, Principal Harp, with music added by Michael Hope, Bassoon
A Message from Music Director Laureate Hans Graf
The time I was allowed to work with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, these eight years from 1994 until 2002, were from all my 40 years of conducting musically the most happy, sunny, and warmhearted. It was a privilege and an honour to feel so ‘at home’ and accepted, to be a part of this family, and I don’t remember a cloudy or boring day in our work and relationship. Similar to the Calgary weather…
I think that the level and results of our collaboration were very good and dignified, and the crown on this period was certainly the European Tour 2000, which showed to sometimes astonished European audiences the quality, freshness, and pride of this great orchestra. It was a high point in our lives, a great presentation of what Canada is — beyond the ‘overwhelming importance’ of the East — and a trip that united us even stronger in joy and pride and which will not be forgotten.
— Hans Graf, Music Director Laureate
More Memories from our Musicians
Vienna: I remember when I sat tentatively on those old wooden chairs at Musikverein. I imagined all the great masters who had performed on this stage. The connection to history in this hall, to the masters, helped me to play my best. It was inspiring and the thought of their presence transported me as if all of them were there when I played. It truly encouraged me to keep making music.
In Montreux, I remember one night walking into a pub near our amazing hotel. Once inside, I immediately noticed posters on the wall of all the Quebec kinds of beers. Being originally Quebecoise it certainly surprised me. So I went to the bar and ordered “Une Maudite.” The bartender noticed my accent and yelled “UNE QUEBECOISE.” The whole crowd cheered and put their glass up for me. I will never forget that. What a warm welcome!
Lise Boutin, Violin
Hans Graf lead us on a glorious adventure to Europe. We were treated royally, playing in concert halls we previously only dreamed of. It was a time of some of our best music making and unity as an orchestra and a good time was had by all!!
Joceyln Colquhoun, Assistant Principal Clarinet
Hans Graf lead us on a glorious adventure to Europe. We were treated royally, playing in concert halls we previously only dreamed of. It was a time of some of our best music making and unity as an orchestra and a good time was had by all!!
Joceyln Colquhoun, Assistant Principal Clarinet
Just a few photos of the viola section…
Katherine Grigoriu, Viola
This was taken at the Calgary airport before leaving for Europe. Laurie Matiation, French horn, and myself, violist Faye Huggins with Joan Kent (cello) and Judy Bessel (violin) far left background. It was all very exciting and the musical pinnacle of CPO history thus far.
Faye Huggins, Viola
This was taken at the Calgary airport before leaving for Europe. Laurie Matiation, French horn, and myself, violist Faye Huggins with Joan Kent (cello) and Judy Bessel (violin) far left background. It was all very exciting and the musical pinnacle of CPO history thus far.
Faye Huggins, Viola
The European Tour of 2000 was an unforgettable time! Two weeks of travelling, performing on most prestigious stages in Europe, eating out with friends every day and sightseeing beautiful places. That is as close to heaven as I can imagine.
Anna Kozak, Violin
I played cello in the CPO 1979-2018. The European Tour in 2000 was definitely the high point of all those years. The orchestra and Music Director, Hans Graf, were working in close harmony, and the tour itinerary took us to places and concert halls that I hadn’t dreamed of playing in before the tour planning started a few years earlier. There are more renowned, bigger-budget orchestras that play major tours annually, but the CPO had never been overseas, and since 2000 hasn’t played outside Alberta. So this was, even more in retrospect, a treasured experience, but I hope it is one that is repeated in some form by the CPO before too long.
Tom Mirhady, Cello
I played cello in the CPO 1979-2018. The European Tour in 2000 was definitely the high point of all those years. The orchestra and Music Director, Hans Graf, were working in close harmony, and the tour itinerary took us to places and concert halls that I hadn’t dreamed of playing in before the tour planning started a few years earlier. There are more renowned, bigger-budget orchestras that play major tours annually, but the CPO had never been overseas, and since 2000 hasn’t played outside Alberta. So this was, even more in retrospect, a treasured experience, but I hope it is one that is repeated in some form by the CPO before too long.
Tom Mirhady, Cello
For me (retired principal flute) the tour was a highlight of my 35 year career with the orchestra. Under the inspired leadership of our much loved conductor, Hans Graf, we were privileged to play in some of the finest concert halls in Europe. There’s no denying that the tour was exhausting but the rewards were huge. Playing as we did day after day in different venues was a challenge, but brought with it a sense of togetherness, both musically and personally.
Philippa FitzGerald-Finch, Principal Flute
My favourite memory was in Innsbruck. We had a day off so the percussionists/tympanist went to the Grassmayr Bell Foundry- a 400 year old family business! the current owner is the 14 th generation . That was a wonderful day.
Kathleen Ramsay, Percussion
What a joy to revisit the sights and sounds of those truly exciting days of the 2000 European Tour. The music making was truly exceptional and the concerts were played in some of the best concert halls anywhere. As a classical musician, I will always be grateful and humbled to have been included in this special project and will cherish so many wonderful memories.
Ronald George, Horn
The CPO European Tour was a high point of orchestra history. I was reminded daily of the great artistry of my orchestra colleagues. Playing in all of those historic halls, and having audiences demand multiple encores each night was thrilling. My favorite impressions from my first visit to Europe center around the important role that the arts play in their society. Statues of Mozart, Beethoven and Brahms in public parks, and Honneger on the Swiss currency.
Hans Graf was the consummate leader for the tour – not only musically, but his kindness to the players will always be remembered fondly. At the reception after the final concert, he made a point of shaking the hand and thanking every musician on the tour, and the next morning he showed up to the 4:30AM bus call for the orchestra to wish us a good trip. Of course, a long 21 hours later, many members of our Calgary audience were at the airport to welcome us home, having followed our progress in daily news coverage. What great memories!
James Scott, Principal Trombone
Here are a few of my most memorable highlights of the 2000 European Tour:
- I so admired the artistry and the works performed by Hanna Weinmeister (Berg’s Violin Concerto) and Michael Kofler (Ibert’s Flute Concerto). And my favourite concert hall — the glorious Musïkverein!
- Clearly, some of the most fun musicians to hang out with: John Feldberg, Stan Climie, Mike Hope, and Arthur Bachmann. And the best friends who taught me the ease and love of travel: Joy Crawford and Faye Huggins.
- The gorgeous hotel overlooking Lac Leman in Montreux, and the delicious fondue in Geneva!
- A memorable day in Innsbruck — shopping for cuckoo clocks and discovering Kruder and Dorfmeister in an internet cafe/bar.
- I am forever grateful to the fantastic babysitter who made it possible for me to go on the tour, Betty Beyer (despite the fact my daughter’s hair was dyed pitch black upon return).
And thank you to the most generous music director, Hans Graf.
Sue Bryant, Assistant Principal Viola
Musician Roster
FIRST VIOLIN
Cenek Vrba, Concertmaster
John Lowry, Associate Concertmaster
Karen Krout, Assistant Concertmaster
Janice Amsel
Steve Bryant (on leave)
Kathryn Corvino
Alana Grlen
Olga Kotova
Theresa Kraucunas
Susan Light (on leave)
Bonnie Louie
Alla Magid
Robert Penner
Xiao-Ming Wu
SECOND VIOLIN
Jeffrey Plotnick, Principal
Stephanie Soltice-Johnson, Assistant Principal
Judith Bessel
Craig Hutchenreuther
Kathy Lapp (on leave)
Richard Van der Geer
David Zweifel
VIOLA
John Thompson, Principal
Sue Jane Bryant, Assistant Principal
Arthur Bachmann
Carl Boychuk
Katherine Grigoriu
Heather Heron-Mykyte
Faye Huggins
Julie Westgate
CELLO
Jeehoon Kim, Principal
Susan Foulkes, Assistant Principal
Yuri Gindin
Joan Kent
Thomas Megee
Tom Mirhady
Beth Root Sandvoss
Karen Youngquist
BASS
Charles Garrett, Principal
Sheila Garrett, Assistant Principal
Patricia Bereti
Robert Yung-il Kim
Graeme Mudd
Marley Rynd (on leave)
FLUTE
Philippa Fullerton, Principal
Gwen Klassen, Assistant Principal
PICCOLO
Gwen Klassen, Assistant Principal
OBOE
Jean Landa, Principal
David Sussman, Assistant Principal
ENGLISH HORN
David Sussman, Assistant Principal
CLARINET
Steve Amsel, Principal
Jocelyn Colquhoun, Assistant Principal
BASSOON
Stephen Franse, Principal
Michael Hope, Assistant Principal
HORN
Robert McCosh, Associate Principal
William Hopson, Assistant Principal
Laurie Matiation, Assistant Principal
Heather Wootton, Assistant Principal
TRUMPET
Howard Engstrom, Principal
Gareth Jones, Assistant Principal
TROMBONE
James Scott, Principal
David Reid, Assistant Principal
BASS TROMBONE
Mark Johnson, Principal
TUBA
Michael Eastep, Principal
TIMPANI
Tom Miller, Principal
PERCUSSION
Tim Rawlings, Principal
HARP
Tisha Murvihill, Principal
Extra Musicians on Tour
FIRST VIOLIN
Lise Boutin
Hiroko Kagawa
Diane Valentine
SECOND VIOLIN
Fiona Carnie
Anna Kozak
Caroline Soo
Laurie Syer
Keiko Takahashi
VIOLA
Michael Vandersloot
Theresa Plotnick
BASS
John Taylor
FLUTE
Lauren Eselson
OBOE
Melody McKnight
CLARINET
Stan Climie
Ilana Dahl
BASSOON
John Feldberg
HORN
Ron George
TRUMPET
Linda Brown
PERCUSSION
Kathy Ramsay
Mike Schuett