Flying us musically to seven different countries, my one-hour public television special Rick Steves’ Europe: A Symphonic Journey celebrates how, in the late 19th century, Romanticism and nationalism mingled together, as music partnered with freedom-lovers. This final clip from the special features a rousing composition that, while dating from the 19th century, still carries special meaning in the 21st century, as the official anthem of the European Union: Ludwig van Beethoven’s Ode to Joy.
Video: A Symphonic Journey to France
In Revolution-era France, music supported the modern notion of government by, for, and of the people. Composer Hector Berlioz provided a stirring soundtrack for the Les Miz-type struggles of the people of 19th-century France — to whom all free people owe a mighty debt of gratitude.
This clip is from my one-hour public television special Rick Steves’ Europe: A Symphonic Journey, a greatest-hits panoply of Romantic and nationalistic music from seven different European nations. My role in the concert: tour guide — I had to provide a background of historical and cultural context to each composition. This is what I did for 25 years while leading our bus tours, and it shows the spirit of teaching that all guides at Rick Steves’ Europe Tours embrace, as we prepare our tour members to find both meaning and joy in new cultural experiences.
Video: A Symphonic Journey to Norway
A few years ago, I teamed up with Cascade Symphony to create Rick Steves’ Europe: A Symphonic Journey. In the hour-long special, we take a musical tour to seven different European countries.
In this clip from the special, we travel to the ruggedly beautiful west coast of Norway to hear the music of Edvard Grieg — a delightful soundtrack for the wonders of the fjords.
Video: A Symphonic Journey to England
A few years ago, I teamed up with Cascade Symphony to create Rick Steves’ Europe: A Symphonic Journey, an hour-long special that explores Europe’s Romantic music.
This was the soundtrack of the Victorian Age, back when the sun never set upon the British Empire. And in this clip from the special, we travel to jolly olde England, where you’ll hear the grandeur and confidence behind Edward Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance.
Re-watching this clip, I remember the fun challenge of introducing each of these great works of patriotic music. I had to give each piece some historical and cultural context — just as all of our guides at Rick Steves’ Europe Tours endeavor to prepare our tour members to find both meaning and joy in new cultural experiences.
We Met Our Goal! $500,000 for Bread for the World
We did it! Rick Steves’ Europe travelers have met our goal of raising $500,000 to help empower Bread for the World to combat structural poverty and hunger.
2,123 of you gave $100 or more each, totaling $282,073. As promised, I matched the first $250,000. Together, we raised $532,073 to fight structural causes of hunger. All this money — 100% — was given to Bread for the World to advocate (as they so expertly do) in our halls of government for policies that help the hungry both at home and abroad. This is not “handouts for the lazy,” and it’s not “trickle down,” either. Good Americans, surrounded by a sea of abundance (and in the midst of what I see as a political storm of greed), struggle to simply feed their children. Our initiative is smart compassion in action.
Now let’s see if we can go beyond our goal! Please let your loved ones know about this timely challenge. You have until this Sunday to join us and get your thank-you gift — my European Christmas gift pack or the Rick Steves’ Europe Complete Collection DVD Box Set — before Christmas.
Giving in partnership with caring travelers like you makes my work even more gratifying. Thanks, happy holidays, and Merry Christmas to all.