Symphonica Tour

Symphonica (also promoted as Symphonica: The Orchestral Tour) was an orchestral concert tour by George Michael and his last tour. The singer performed the songs mainly from Songs from the Last Century and Patience albums as well as some cover versions in new arrangements.

Symphonica: The Orchestral Tour
World tour by George Michael
Promotional poster for LG Arena, Birmingham show
LocationEurope
Start date22 August 2011
End date17 October 2012
Legs2
No. of shows67 (75 scheduled)
George Michael concert chronology

Background

The tour was officially announced on 11 May 2011.[1] Due to high demand for tickets, extra shows were added in Dublin, London, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Cardiff, Rotterdam, Herning & Verona. A Brussels show was later announced on 3 June.[2] Milan and Copenhagen shows were later announced.

A "Songs From The Last Century-Tour", with most off the songs that appear on Symphonica, was actually planned around the release of its album, but the idea obviously got shelved until after the hugely well received and successful "25-Tour".

Many of the shows had already sold out completely. Prague, Antwerp, Rotterdam, London (Royal Albert Hall & Royal Opera House), Dublin, Cardiff, Sheffield and Newcastle had all sold out.

The Show included four new core band members who were selected by producer Phil Ramone and George Michael. These new members included musical director and pianist Henry Hey, guitarist Ben Butler, bassist David Finck, and drummer Mark McLean. In addition, percussionist Lea Mullen and guitarist Phil Palmer completed the band – along with Michael's long-time background vocalists Shirley Lewis, Lucy Jules, Lincoln Jean-Marie and Jay Henry. Stage has a semi-oval shape with a huge screen projecting different visual effects sometimes with George himself. Some visuals were taken from previous tour.

On 25 November it was announced that all further concerts in 2011 had been cancelled due to ill health.[3] Eventually it took longer time for George to recover thus all concerts postponed and scheduled for April and May would be postponed to October and November 2012.

On 3 May 2012 it was announced that scheduled for early April shows in Australia would be postponed to November 2012. His performance in Perth on 10 November would've been the headline act for the Perth Arena Gala Opening.[4] But later due to recovery restrictions from the illness George forced to cancel all Australian dates.[3]

It was announced on Michael's website that his album Symphonica, released on 17 March 2014, would consist of studio material initially rehearsed for this tour including some live recordings.

Setlist

Set List of the premiere concert which had played on 22 August 2011 at State Opera House – Prague, Czech Republic[5] Set list has a few changes from the first concert – see Additional notes.

  1. Through
  2. My Baby Just Cares For Me
  3. Cowboys & Angels
  4. True Faith
  5. Let Her Down Easy (Terence Trent D'Arby cover)
  6. Kissing A Fool
  7. Going to a Town
  8. Roxanne
  9. It Doesn’t Really Matter
  10. Brother Can You Spare a Dime?
    Intermission
  11. Patience
  12. John And Elvis Are Dead
  13. Russian Roulette
  14. You Have Been Loved
  15. You've Changed
  16. Love Is A Losing Game
  17. Where I Hope You Are (new song)
  18. Praying For Time
  19. Wild Is the Wind
  20. A Different Corner
  21. Feeling Good
  22. You And I
    Encore
  23. Amazing / I'm Your Man / Freedom 90

Support acts
George Michael's Symphonica Orchestra.
  • Wrocław Philharmonic Orchestra – Poland
  • Czech National Symphony Orchestra – Prague

Additional notes
  • Closer to the end of Intermission a mix of different Michael's songs including "Different Corner", "Older" and "John and Elvis Are Dead" is playing with some light effects.
  • From 3 September concert at Forum Copenhagen George includes the song "Understand" in the set-list replacing "You And I".[6]
  • On 17 September, George Michael performed a concert to celebrate the opening of a new stadium in Wrocław. He performed with the Wrocław Philharmonic Orchestra.[7]
  • From 19 September concert at Budapest Sportaréna George perform Elton John' song "Idol" replacing "It Doesn't Really Matter".[8]
  • From 7 October concert at Antwerp SportPaleis George perform "Song To The Siren" replacing "Understand".
  • George Michael performed the song "Safe" on 29 October concert in London's Royal Albert Hall, 1 and 3 November concerts in Dublin's The O2
  • From 14 November concert at Prague O2Arena George perform the song "The Recluse" replacing "Kissing a Fool"[9]
  • During the second leg of the tour in 2012 the songs "Idol", "Song To The Siren", "You and I" and "Where I Hope You Are" was removed, the song "Father Figure" added to the first half of the set-list, the first song after the intermission is changed to "Waiting For That Day" and "Love is a Losing Game" was not performed as well. Additionally, the last song performed live was "White Light".[10]
  • On 16 September concert in Birmingham George finished the concert with the song "I Remember You" instead of "White Light"
  • On 9 October concert in Manchester, George finished the concert with the song "I Remember You" instead of "White Light" and performed "Star People" and "F.E.A.R" by Ian Brown.
  • At concert in Liverpool and final shows in London George would finish the concert with "I Remember You".[10]

Tour dates
Date City Country Venue Tickets sold / available Gross revenue
Europe[11][12][13][14][15]
22 August 2011 Prague Czech Republic State Opera House
29 August 2011 Herning Denmark Jyske Bank Boxen
31 August 2011
2 September 2011
3 September 2011 Copenhagen Forum Copenhagen
5 September 2011 Berlin Germany Mercedes-Benz Arena
7 September 2011 Cologne Lanxess Arena
8 September 2011 Mannheim SAP Arena
10 September 2011 Florence Italy Piazza Santa Croce
11 September 2011 Naples Arena Italsider
13 September 2011 Verona Verona Arena
14 September 2011
17 September 2011 Wrocław Poland Stadion Miejski
19 September 2011 Budapest Hungary László Papp Budapest Sports Arena
20 September 2011 Zagreb Croatia Arena Zagreb
22 September 2011 Nice France Palais Nikaia
24 September 2011 Bilbao Spain Bizkaia Arena
25 September 2011 Madrid Barclaycard Center Madrid
27 September 2011 Barcelona Palau Sant Jordi
28 September 2011 Marseille France Le Silo
30 September 2011 Toulouse Zénith de Toulouse
1 October 2011 Montpellier Park&Suites Arena
3 October 2011 Paris AccorHotels Arena
4 October 2011
7 October 2011 Antwerp Belgium Sportpaleis 13,052 / 13,437 $1,457,370
8 October 2011 Brussels Forest National
10 October 2011 Rotterdam Netherlands Rotterdam Ahoy
12 October 2011 Stuttgart Germany Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle
14 October 2011 Zürich Switzerland Hallenstadion
15 October 2011 Geneva SEG Geneva Arena
18 October 2011 Hamburg Germany Barclaycard Arena Hamburg 11,099 / 11,897 $921,594
19 October 2011 Hanover TUI Arena
21 October 2011 Rotterdam Netherlands Rotterdam Ahoy
22 October 2011
25 October 2011 London England Royal Albert Hall
28 October 2011
29 October 2011
1 November 2011 Dublin Ireland 3Arena
3 November 2011
6 November 2011 London England Royal Opera House
9 November 2011 Oberhausen Germany König Pilsener Arena
11 November 2011 Milan Italy Mediolanum Forum
12 November 2011
14 November 2011 Prague Czech Republic O2 Arena
15 November 2011 Berlin Germany Mercedes-Benz Arena
17 November 2011 Munich Olympiahalle
19 November 2011 Frankfurt Festhalle Frankfurt
4 September 2012 Vienna Austria Wiener Stadthalle
6 September 2012
9 September 2012 Paris France Palais Garnier
11 September 2012 Brussels Belgium Forest National
14 September 2012 Amsterdam Netherlands Ziggo Dome
16 September 2012 Birmingham England LG Arena
17 September 2012
21 September 2012 Manchester Manchester Arena 11,356 / 12,876 $1,535,440
23 September 2012 Glasgow Scotland Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre
24 September 2012
29 September 2012 London England Royal Albert Hall
1 October 2012 Sheffield Sheffield Arena
3 October 2012 Newcastle Metro Radio Arena
5 October 2012 Cardiff Wales Motorpoint Arena Cardiff
6 October 2012
9 October 2012 Manchester England Manchester Arena 8,756 / 9,544 $1,181,680
10 October 2012 Liverpool Echo Arena Liverpool
13 October 2012 London Earls Court
14 October 2012
17 October 2012
Cancellations and rescheduled shows
26 October 2011 London, England Royal Albert Hall Postponed to 2 May 2012[16]
2 May 2012 London, England Royal Albert Hall Postponed to 29 September[17]
21 November 2011 Vienna, Austria Stadthalle Postponed to 6 September[18]
23 November 2011 Strasbourg, France Zénith Cancelled
26 November 2011 Cardiff, Wales Motorpoint Arena Postponed to 5 October 2012[19]
27 November 2011 Cardiff, Wales Motorpoint Arena Postponed to 6 October 2012[19]
30 November 2011 Liverpool, England Echo Arena Postponed to 10 October 2012
2 December 2011 Sheffield, England Motorpoint Arena Postponed to 10 October 2012
3 December 2011 Newcastle, England Metro Radio Arena Postponed to 3 October 2012
6–7 December 2011 Glasgow, Scotland SECC Postponed to 23–24 September 2012
9–10 December 2011 Birmingham, England Genting Arena Postponed to 16–17 September 2012
12–13 December 2011 Manchester, England Manchester Arena Postponed to 21 September and 9 October 2012
16–19 December 2011 London, England Earls Court Postponed to 13, 14 and 17 October 2012.
10 November 2012 Perth, Australia Perth Arena Cancelled[20]
13–14 November 2012 Adelaide, Australia Adelaide Entertainment Centre Cancelled
17–18 November 2012 Sydney, Australia Qudos Bank Arena Cancelled
21–22 November 2012 Melbourne, Australia Rod Laver Arena Cancelled
27 November 2012 Brisbane, Australia Brisbane Entertainment Centre Cancelled
1 December 2012 Hunter Valley, Australia Hope Estate Winery Cancelled

References
  1. "George Michael announces Symphoninca: The Orchestral Tour". georgemichael.com. 11 May 2011. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
  2. "Symphonica performance added in Brussels". George Michael's Official Website. 3 June 2011. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
  3. "George Michael shelves all 2011 tour dates due to illness | News". NME. 15 September 2011. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
  4. "GEORGE MICHAEL'S SYMPHONICA TOUR TO OPEN PERTH ARENA". Perth Arena. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
  5. "Symphonica Tour Prague Setlist announced". George Michael's Official Website. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
  7. "George Michael will sing with the Wrocław Philharmonic Orchestra". 16 May 2011. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
  10. "www".
  11. "More Symphonica Performances, Confirmed". George Michael's Official Website. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
  12. "Symphonica dates added in London". George Michael's Official Website. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
  13. "Symphonica dates added in Rotterdam". George Michael's Official Website. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
  14. "Announced new dates". George Michael's Official Website. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 20 March 2012.
  15. "Brussels show added". George Michael's Official Website. Retrieved 28 March 2012.
  16. "Concert at Royal Albert Hall on 26 October has postponed to 2 May 2012". George Michael's Official Website. Retrieved 25 October 2011.
  17. "Concert at Royal Albert Hall on 2 May has postponed again to 29 September 2012". George Michael's Official Website. Retrieved 20 March 2012.
  18. "George Michael Announces new dates ot Symphonica Tour". George Michael's Official Website. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  19. https://www.facebook.com/CardiffInternationalArena/posts/10150686200864725
  20. "SYMPHONICA: AUSTRALIA!". George Michael's Official Website. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
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