For the first time in history, instrumentalists and singers from across Europe are to perform together in real time from different locations — in a synchronised live concert initiated by the Dresdner Sinfoniker, who were early adopters of multimedia elements in their concert projects. This is made possible using a system developed by Prof. Dr Alexander Carôt, which transmits audio and video signals in real time. A key challenge remains the inevitable latency: even with state-of-the-art infrastructure, delays of around 35 milliseconds occur. As part of the project, researchers and musicians are jointly exploring how this form of 'remote music-making' can be realised with both technical precision and artistic integrity.
The Mozarteum University Salzburg, under the project lead Heike Henning (Music Education Innsbruck), is one of the key partners in this project. Through the Mozarteum Lab Choir, the Mozarteum University in Salzburg is actively participating in the European Symphony. As one of twelve European ensembles, the choir brings both artistic quality and academic expertise to the project:
As part of the ERASMUS+ project “Choir@Home” (2022–2024), Prof. Dr Heike Henning (Mozarteum University Salzburg), together with Prof. Dr Alexander Carôt (Anhalt University of Applied Sciences) and Dr Janine Hacker (University of Liechtenstein), investigated how singing together across a distance – i.e. ‘remotely’ – can work. The project achieved all of its goals – and even exceeded many of them. This resulted in a comprehensive knowledge base on suitable digital tools, practical guidelines were developed for choir directors and choirs, and the online rehearsals demonstrated that singing together can be vibrant and socially connecting even in a digital setting. The valuable insights generated there now form the foundation for the implementation of the European Symphony.
The world premiere will take place on 18 June 2027 at the Messe Dresden, and will be live-streamed to the locations of all twelve project partners. The visual and acoustic heart of the event is the 62-member string section of the Dresden Symphony Orchestra, which will be physically on stage in Dresden. The other orchestral sections and choirs will be broadcast in real time from locations across the European continent to Dresden, where they will appear life-size on LED screens alongside the string orchestra on stage.
This cross-border sound network is made up of high-calibre contributions: while the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra provides the low brass – tuba and trombones – the flutes are played by the Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano in Italy, the trumpets of the No Borders Orchestra from Serbia are digitally integrated, and the clarinet parts are performed by the Athens State Orchestra from Greece. The Brussels Philharmonic from Belgium provides the percussion. The vocal component will be performed by choral ensembles from the Mozarteum University and the Czech Philharmonic. The Orquesta Sinfónica de Madrid provides the bassoons, the Pannon Philharmonic from Hungary plays the horns, the Polish Sinfonia Varsovia plays the oboes, and the Birmingham Contemporary Music Group is responsible for the piano, celesta, and harp. A monumental and musically cohesive whole – despite geographical distances of up to 2,200 kilometres. The result is an innovative orchestra that does not exist in a single location, but manifests itself as a digital soundscape spread across Europe.
A major component of this innovative project is an international composition competition; submissions for the world premiere in 2027 will be accepted until 31 July 2026. We are seeking works that artistically explore the unique challenges of a performance transmitted in real-time and that fundamentally rethink the concept of making music across distances. The competition is open to submissions in the categories of orchestral work (for large symphony orchestra) and orchestral work with choir (for large symphony orchestra and choir); composers may submit one excerpt per category and may enter one or both categories. Three works will be selected, each of which will be awarded a prize of €14,000.
Against the backdrop of a Europe under pressure, the European Symphony stands for a continent and for the European ideal of partnership. The project should also be understood as a call for ongoing dialogue among all Europeans and as a testament to European solidarity – technological, artistic, and cultural: It links artistic innovation across Europe with technological and music education research and demonstrates how remotely organised collaboration opens up new perspectives for making music together. The plan is to establish a digital platform with permanent “remote studios” across Europe. Musicians, orchestras, and composers will be able to rehearse, record, and produce music across borders – without the need to travel, in an environmentally friendly way, and with an open door to experimental projects that would otherwise have little chance of success in the traditional concert circuit.
