Tour

17 October 2012 - Goodbye Symphonica!


Click here for more Earls Court photos!

"Like gladiators striding into the coliseum, the orchestra make their way to the stage for their final performance @GeorgeMichael" (Twitter) Marshall Arts

George Michael has performed his 67th and last Symphonica concert tonight. Last month George Michael announced the cancellation of his shows in Australia due to anxiety, which made tonights concert at Earls Court in London the very last show of 'Symphonica: The Orchestral Tour'. The tour now has come to a close after fifteen months.



16 October 2012 - Pulling the trigger...the final show tomorrow!



15 October 2012 - Earls Court, London

 "Walking into Earls Court it was hard to believe this was almost the last show. It all seems so familiar now, the red curtain shining so beautifully, the buzz of the audience talking excitedly, Bev walking around with that huge camera of hers, that it was hard to imagine this would all be over in a few days..." - Read Ada's full Earls Court gig review




11 October 2012 - The Symphonica clock is ticking

George Michael is to bring his 'Symphonica: The Orchestral Tour' to London this weekend for his last three concerts. The three dates will start this Saturday, 13 October, the second show will be on Sunday 14 October, with the final date on Wednesday 17 October, all at Earls Court.




10 October 2012 - Liverpool brings the noise!

Liverpool, the latest bestest crowd of the tour so far! Common London, your turn next!

 "@GeorgeMichael is singing his ass off tonight"(Twitter) Henry Hey - MD / Keys / Conductor
9 October 2012 - "Face Everybody And Rule"- And rule he did in Manchester!

'Amazing Revelations' tonight!

Tonights show saw two new setlist entries! Highlight of the evening, Star People and the long awaited and previously announced mystery song...F.E.A.R.! F.E.A.R is a song by Ian Brown, a musician from Manchester, best known as the lead singer of the rock band The Stone Roses. The song, which was released on 17 September 2001, incorporates a creative lyric scheme where each verse forms the acrostic "F.E.A.R."

During F.E.A.R., which George Michael sang in duet with backing vocalist Jay Henry, the lyrics showed up on the screen. Watch the performance here on youtube!

"Manchester is getting a lot of dancing in tonight....Bev #Symphonica" - (Twitter) GeorgeMOfficial


6 October 2012 - George Michael's 'smiling' is back!


Tonight George Michael played his second show in Cardiff, Wales. With the harbor in sight, George seemed to enjoy it and was really in contact with his audience in tonights intimate setting.

"Heard a woman say to her friend just now: "Ooh, brilliant"! Yup, that pretty much covers it. @GeorgeMichael did it again!" (Twitter) Ada

"Versatility is still the name of his game" - South Wales Argus


5 October 2012 - Cardiff


"Seriously, Cardiff. You've been a ridiculously great audience. Enjoy I Remember You. Goodnight and see you tomorrow! Bev #Symphonica" - (Twitter) GeorgeMOfficial


3 October 2012 - Good things come to those who wait

Photo by Rachel Sweeney (Twitter)
Sheffield and Newcastle waited, for a long time, but their patience has been rewarded this week, with fantastic Symphonica shows which had equal fantastic crowds!


"The room was so clearly full of love for him" - The Star

"He's a global superstar and for the first time ever he's been in the region to perform" - Watch Rachel Sweeney's Symphonica report on ITV news here: 'George Michael Plays Newcastle'


30 September 2012 - Packing up

Only minutes after the show finished at the Royal Albert Hall in London, crew worked hard to break down the stage and load all the equipment into the Redburn trucks under the supervision of their drivers, who then left for Sheffield.






30 September 2012 - London's homeboy on fire



 "Last night's news from @GeorgeMichael doesn't take away anything from the fact that the RAH show was (IMHO) one of his best! On fire!" (Twitter) Henry Hey - MD / Keys / Conductor

 Read the George Michael - Symphonica Tour, Royal Albert Hall review published by Music-News.com
29 September 2012 - George Michael cancels Australian Shows

I have today announced the cancellation of the shows in Australia which breaks my heart. By way of explanation all I can say at this time is that since last year's illness I have tried in vain to work my way through the trauma that the doctors who saved my life warned me I would experience. They recommended complete rest and the type of post traumatic counselling which is available in cases like mine but I'm afraid I believed (wrongly) that making music and getting out there to perform for the audiences that bring me such joy would be therapy enough in itself. Unfortunately I seriously underestimated how difficult this year would be and although I was right to believe that the shows would bring me great happiness and that my voice would recover completely (I truly think that some of my recent performances have been my best ever) I was wrong to think I could work my way through the major anxiety that has plagued me since I left Austria last December.

 All that's left for me to do is apologise to my wonderful Australian fan base and to promise faithfully that as soon as I completed these shows here in the UK I will receive the treatment which is so long overdue.

George Michael

Please visit GeorgeMichael.com and Dainty Group for more information!!


25 September 2012 - En-route to London

George on the wall in the RAH
"All trucks packed and the last one just leaving Glasgow. En-route to London" (Twitter) Andy Barr - Lead Truck Driver

 After 10 Symphonica concerts, we are exactly half way through the Europe/UK leg of the tour, and we now have a few days off to rest. On Saturday George Michael will be playing in his beloved Royal Albert Hall in London, England. This promises to be quite something! For concert updates, join us and everyone else sharing their experiences live from London, this Saturday 29 September on Twitter!


24 September 2012 - Rehearsals: What do they have up their sleeves?

While George Michael works his way through his well-oiled and fixed setlist night after night, some may be surprised to learn that the Symphonica team actually has more songs up their sleeves. Songs we've never heard live during this tour but of which a few may see the light of day in the coming weeks! It has to be said for the rest of those songs, knowing George, they will most likely never appear on the setlist.

Let's have a little look at some of those songs. We know 'Knocks Me Off My Feet', a song by Stevie Wonder, which fans are eager to hear. We have 'Older', George's own composition, beautifully orchestrated, but always fails to make it on the setlist because it's "too boring" in George's eyes. The 'First Time Ever I Saw Your Face', 'December Song' and 'My Mother Had A Brother' are others. It has been announced that George will play a 'mystery song' during his 2nd show in Manchester, and we can reveal it's none of the above! To top the mystery, something big is being rehearsed, lots of basses and cellos involved and it will blow off the roof if ever played live!


 23 September 2012 - George 'brings stylish Symphonica to Glasgow'

  

"Glasgow was LOUD last night. #SymphonicaTour" (Twitter) Una Palliser - Violinist

"There’s plenty of life left in George yet – and last night’s audience appeared to realise how lucky they were to be witness to it, after such a close shave" - STV
21 September 2012 - Manchester: 'George is back, and boy he means business'


"Here he is, looking and sounding at the peak of his powers and resuming his Symphonica Tour to a delirious fan faithful" - Manchester Evening News


17 September 2012 - Birmingham - 5 star concert!

"George proved why he is one of the finest voices and songwriters of a generation" - Express & Star



Last nights UK tour kick-off concert in Birmingham received a five star review. Read it here!


16 September 2012 - "I'm back!" George Michael kicks off UK tour

 George Michael kicked off the first UK show of the second leg of his 'Symphonica - The Orchestral Tour'. George spoke exclusively to ITV Central News ahead of his concert at the sold out LG Arena in Birmingham..



14 September 2012 - "I love you Amsterdam"

The feeling was mutual! George Michael had the audience eating out of the palm of his hand!

"#GeorgeMichael in #ZiggoDome "You Can't Always Get What You Want"...we can, because we have #GeorgeMichael!" (Twitter) Ziggo Dome





11 September 2012 - Good show in Brussels


"Bloomin heck...that was a good show" (Twitter) Lisa Johnson - Assistant Tour Director



9 September 2012 - George Michael rocks Paris Opera

The Palais Garnier, historic home to the Phantom Of The Opera was rocked tonight by George Michael in his gala event for the Aids Charity Sidaction. George Michael became the first international pop singer to perform in Paris' Opera Garnier, a venue more known as a stage for classical music and opera.

With the concert, and afterwards dinner and the auction, George raised about 289000 euros for Sidaction tonight.



9 September 2012 - Rehearsals at the Palais Garnier

Tonight George Michael will perform his charity concert here at the Palais Garnier. We had a look around in the stunning Opera House this afternoon as soundcheck and rehearsals were on its way.

Inside the Palais Garnier Symphonica crew members were testing the instruments, sound systems and the lighting before the orchestra, and George Michael a little later, entered the auditorium to start their rehearsals.

   

Inside the auditorium (by Mark McLean) 
At the rehearsals they played songs like 'Going To A Town', 'Wild is the Wind', 'Brother Can You Spare A Dime', 'Idol', 'Praying For Time' and 'Cowboys & Angels'.

In between rehearsals there was time for a Happy Birthday song for guitarist, and birthday boy, Phil Palmer.



8 September 2012 - George Michael to perform at Palais Garnier Opera House

Opera capacity around 2000
George Michael will perform at the Opera of the Palace Garnier in Paris, France tomorrow. George will be playing a special charity Gala concert in the Opera to raise money for Sidaction, a French HIV and AIDS organisation that provides information, advocacy and research into HIV and communities affected by HIV. The unique concert will be followed by a Gala dinner and an auction of which all proceeds will also benefit Sidaction.

The Grand Foyer
The Palais Garnier, probably the most famous opera house in the world and a symbol of Paris, was originally called the Salle des Capucines because of its location on the Boulevard des Capucines in the 9th arrondissement of Paris. But soon it became known as the Palais Garnier in recognition of its opulence and its architect, Charles Garnier.



6 September 2012 - On stage in Vienna

Tonight George Michael performed his second show at the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna.

 "I know he always gives it, but George is performing the hell out of Wild is the Wind tonight. #Symphonica - Bev" (Twitter) - Bev


4 September 2012 - George Michael makes a triumphant return to the stage

Click to enlarge
George Michael has made a triumphant return to the stage at the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna tonight.

George Michael paid tribute to the medical staff who saved his life: "I'd like to take the opportunity to say that there are a number of people without whom none of us would be here tonight. This is one of the greatest honours of my life, to sing to the men and women who saved my life," he said, before singing Feeling Good - a request from one of the doctors.

Backed by the Czech National Symphony Orchestra and his tour band, he sang flawless and powerful covers of Russian Roulette and Wild is the Wind, as well as his own songs including Father Figure and Waiting For That Day, both new on the Symphonica setlist! Before his final song, White Light, he revealed: "One last treat for you all before we go. I think given the manner of men and women who did save my life, we could not go without singing this song. Let's hear it for the people who saved my life!"

"Head is still spinning, mind still in turmoil. It was a memorable evening..." (Twitter) Ada




3 September 2012 - ORF / Heute
Wiener Stadthalle
Austria's national TV station, ORF, was at todays rehearsals. Their tv report which was broadcasted tonight on ORF2 included footage of the Czech National Symphony Orchestra and band rehearsing 'Praying For Time', as well as an interview with Musical Director Henry Hey and Harpist Michal Matejcik.

You can watch the report here.



3 September 2012 - Rehearsals

Rehearsals in Wembley Arena
Today are the final rehearsals before the highly anticipated and long awaited restart of the Symphonica Tour tomorrow night, September 4th,  in the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna, Austria. Band, orchestra, crew and George Michael himself have spent the past few weeks working hard to get the show ready to hit the road again.

 While the musician were rehearsing in the Air Studios, Symphonica crew worked 300 kilometers further ahead on the stage and lighting before taking it all down and transffering it to Wembley Arena were the last London rehearsals took place.

"Rehearsals are going so well..." (Twitter) Shirley Lewis & Lucy Jules - Backing Vocals

"George Michael is sounding VERY good" (Twitter) Henry Hey - MD / Keys / Conductor

Air Studios
George Michael sang the whole show multiple times during the rehearsals and surprised everyone with a strong voice. Rehearsals went really well. As for the setlist, we can welcome a new entry with a beautiful orchestral intro, 'Father Figure'. If there are any other changes in the setlist, you'll have to find out for yourself and join us at one of the Symphonica concerts!

"George Michael is entirely fit again and his voice sounds even better than on any record. He has plenty of energy, is highly professional and well prepared, yet he also has time for a laugh with us " (Austrian Press) Michal Matejcik - Harp

Symphonica, we are ready!!


Read 'George Michael by Twitterlight' for all our 2011 Symphonica Tour adventures!