Do you remember the first time you saw the majestic expanse of water? The very first time you heard the magical rustle and roar of the breakers? If you want to experience this feeling again, check out the City Festival from September 8-18 in Rotterdam, The Netherlands at the largest and most beautiful port in the world.

The Gergiev Festival is a cross-border symphonic festival featuring the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra. This internationally renowned event offers broad programming in a different theme each year, under the artistic direction of world-class conductor Valery Gergiev.

17 years ago, when Valery Gergiev became Principal Conductor, he and the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra decided to hold an ambitious multi-day musical event. One year later, they presented the Rotterdam Philharmonic Gergiev Festival for the first time.

This festival not only delivers a themed concert series but also tells the story of daily life. This was pursued in the editions Night of Love (2007), Heaven and Earth (2008), and Eternal Youth (2009). With Resurrection – a Story of Rotterdam (2010) the festival attained the next level: rooted in the city itself, a cosmopolitan programming with artistes of international standing.

This year, the 16^th edition, will be themed in “Sea & the City”. With its theme, the festival will take place on the boundary between land and water in Rotterdam. The theme conjures up thoughts of ones first memories, upon seeing the great expanse of the seas, and the infinite power it possesses that instills both the love of water as well as the fear of it. You will come to find that the city of Rotterdam itself has a tide of its own and that under the cobblestones and pavement, lies the sand that created the beach. The two are never apart.

During the 11 days of Gergiev Festival, performances will happen in many unexpected places, many in venues close to the banks of the River Maas which leads to the North Sea.

The series of performances include symphony, opera, a children’s program, happenings featuring the city, and several musical pearls by world renown artists.

For further information about programs, you can find in the official website: http://gergievfestival.nl/. Let’s enjoy the rhythm of the sea and Rotterdam city!

Image Courtesy of  http://www.flickr.com/photos/rotterdamsphilharmonischorkest/

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About the author

My Nguyen
I was a little girl alone in my little world. I asked God who I’m supposed to be. The stars smiled down on me, God answered in silent reverie. I said a prayer and fell asleep. I had a dream that I could fly from the highest tree.