From Chen Yi’s Landscape Impressions in Berlin to Strauss’s Also sprach Zarathustra in Krakow, the UC Berkeley Symphony Orchestra’s (UCBSO) ten-day journey across Central Europe was equal parts whirlwind and wonder. Composed of more than 100 musicians, UCBSO brought its distinguished tradition to four historic cities—and students came home with memories that will last a lifetime.
At the tour’s first stop, Berlin’s Konzerthaus, the orchestra opened with Landscape Impressions, followed by Hindemith’s Symphonic Metamorphosis and Strauss’s epic ode to Nietzschean grandeur. It was an ambitious opening program, and one the students eagerly took on, much to the appreciation of the crowd in attendance.
“The venues, the performances, even the plane rides — everything felt new and exciting.”
— Austin Tao, clarinetist
Berlin gave way to Prague’s Smetana Hall, and with it came a marathon: Lutosławski’s Symphony No. 3 followed by Mahler’s Seventh, a 2.5-hour juggernaut that tested both musical focus and jetlag resilience. By the time the final chord faded, the ensemble had found its rhythm. The hall’s art nouveau ornamentation shimmered with each brass burst, and with it, the orchestra’s growing confidence.
“It felt so powerful to experience playing the music while being surrounded by the beautiful golden hall.”
— Kylie Cloutier, flutist
Vienna brought the emotional high point of the tour. After all, it’s hard to top Mahler’s Seventh Symphony in the Musikverein’s Golden Hall, a venue that has launched legends, humbled greats, and, in this case, earned UCBSO one of its most rousing ovations of the trip. The performance was part of a two-concert day: UCBSO played Mahler's Seventh at noon, while the Tonkünstler-Orchester Niederösterreich followed that evening with Mahler’s Eighth.
“Music surrounded me at every moment—not only during the concerts, but under trees, inside empty churches, and on the streets of each city. The soundscapes and landscapes of the tour brought the composers of our repertoire to life in my mind.”
— Jenny Xiong, flutist
Between rehearsals, students wandered the Belvedere, visited the Mozart statue, and made tough calls between espressos and Sacher Torte.
The final stop was Krakow—a rapid 24-hour stay packed with city walks, WWII history, flash thunderstorms, and some delicious food—before a spirited finale performance at the Krakow Philharmonic. The program featured Hindemith, Lutosławski, and Strauss, with the venue’s majestic pipe organ powering the final notes of Also sprach Zarathustra, bringing the trip full circle.
“Performing Strauss and Mahler across Europe was a dream come true. Outside of rehearsals, it honestly felt like a group vacation.”
— Amy He, violinist
At the end of it all, the students returned to Berkeley sleep-deprived, inspired, and perhaps still humming fragments of Mahler’s Seventh, bringing with them memories of much more than programs and passport stamps.
“I’ll carry these memories with me for the rest of my life.”
— Jackson Green, pianist/guitarist
