The Berliner Philharmoniker's 2014 Europakonzert — Berlin

Every year on the 1st of May, the Berliner Philharmoniker celebrates the anniversary of its founding with the Europakonzert, a concert whose location rotates from one European cultural center to the next. In 2014, this beloved musical tradition took place at the Berliner Philharmoniker's home concert hall: the Berliner Philharmonie.

The Berliner Philharmoniker, one of the world's most prestigious orchestras, was founded in 1882. In 2014, the orchestra celebrated its 132nd birthday under the baton of Maestro Daniel Barenboim, who debuted with the orchestra 50 years ago. The concert opened with Otto Nicolai's Overture to Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor (The Merry Wives of Windsor), a work premiered in Berlin in 1849, inspired by William Shakespeare's comedy of the same name. In keeping with the theme of William Shakespeare, Edward Elgar's famous Falstaff follows. The concert closes with Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's most famous symphonic work, the Fifth Symphony.