It has been 18 years since the world-famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square last performed in Europe. The Choir first traveled to Europe on a seven-week tour in 1955. Since then, they have returned four times to include visits to western and central Europe in 1973, northern Europe in 1982, Eastern Europe in 1991, and southern Europe in 1998.
2016 International Tour Announced
Europeans will once again be blessed to hear the wondrous sounds of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square during a 20-day, eight European city tour that is scheduled from Monday, 27 June 2016, through Saturday, 16 July 2016. During a Thursday evening rehearsal, the Choir’s president, Ron Jarrett, announced the international tour to the performers who had just returned on 7 July 2015 from a successful 10-day tour to the US Atlantic Coast. Venue and ticket information for the performances will be announced at a later date.
The first stop on the international tour will be in Germany, where the Choir and Orchestra will perform in Berlin and Nuremberg. The Choir first performed in Bavaria, Germany in 1973. Following those performances, they will then go to Vienna, Austria, and Zurich, Switzerland. Afterwards, they will return to Germany for a performance in Frankfurt, which will be followed by concerts in Brussels, Belgium, and Rotterdam, Netherlands. The last stop on the tour will be Paris, France.
President and Prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and adviser to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Thomas S. Monson commented:
Our goal is for the choir and its companion Orchestra at Temple Square to be a shining example of the musical arts to all the world. With the announcement of this European tour, I am delighted that these noted ensembles will have the opportunity to touch the hearts of people in multiple nations through their magnificent music. This tour will be an important step forward as the choir and orchestra continue to build bridges of friendship and understanding across the globe as ambassadors of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Ron Jarrett, president of the Choir, remarked:
One of my primary goals when I became the choir’s president in 2012 was to start touring internationally again. Through social media we have been able to reach audiences far and wide. Now with this tour, we are thrilled that for the first time in nearly two decades international audiences will be able to enjoy the music of the choir in person. With the challenges of today’s world, we are excited to share the joy and peace the music of the choir brings, which knows no boundaries of age or nationality. The choir and orchestra members are all volunteers and literally dedicate their lives to blessing the lives of others through music. This is more than a dream come true for them; it is a humbling, well-deserved honor.
