Boston Symphony Orchestra Begins European Tour

BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Symphony Orchestra is heading to Europe for its first tour of the continent since 2007.

The orchestra is opening the two week trip Saturday with a performance at Royal Albert Hall in London, followed by another one Sunday.

The ensemble will hit 8 cities in all, performing in some of the most prominent orchestral venues in Austria, Switzerland, Italy, France and Germany. The tour wraps up in Berlin on Sept. 5 with a performance at the Berliner Philharmonie concert hall.

Renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma and trumpet virtuoso Hakan Hardenberger will join the orchestra for several performances.

The tour is the first under music director Andris Nelsons, who took helm last September after a career leading orchestras in Europe. The orchestra's most recent overseas tour took it to China last year.

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