NEC YOuth Symphony European Tour: Ellen B and Emma C report from Bratislava

Visiting the beautiful, historic city of Bratislava was truly an incredible experience.  We started off our day by eating lunch, we took a walking tour of the cities most famous and beautiful sights.  A few of those included visiting the house where Mozart stayed as a child and seeing the magnificent church where the coronation of Maria Teresa was held.  We even walked the same path where many royal coronation processions took place.  In the evening we traveled a short distance to Vienna, one of the music capitals of the world, where we were invited to attend the Youth Philharmonic Orchestra’s concert in the magnificent concert hall, the Musikferien.  We were captivated with George Li’s performance of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 and were swept up in the passion of Mahler’s 9th Symphony.  Afterwards, we joined the YPO at a charming, romantic candlelit restaurant for a traditional dinner of Schnitzel and rich dark chocolate cake.  The laughter and smiles shared between friends was the perfect way to end a day that we will all treasure forever. – Ellen B. and Emma C.