For the first time ever, the San Diego Symphony is going on tour in Europe. The tour spans nine days and five cities, bringing the Orchestra to some of Europe’s most prestigious venues and introducing international audiences to the “San Diego Sound.”  Music and Artistic Director Rafael Payare leads the Orchestra's landmark international debut. 

This is a significant moment of artistic arrival for the Symphony, reflecting years of growth, investment, and deep community connection. Since Payare’s appointment in 2019, the organization has expanded its national and international profile, bolstered by the transformation of the Jacobs Music Center and the opening of The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, which have helped redefine the region’s cultural landscape. The Orchestra’s artistic reputation has also been strengthened by international acclaim for Payare’s artistry and his evident connection with orchestras and audiences, both in the concert hall and on recordings. 

This is a full-circle moment for the Symphony, which has historically brought the world’s music to San Diego. Now, the Symphony is being introduced to the global stage and sharing the energy, diversity, and cultural vitality of the San Diego region with audiences abroad. The milestone marks the beginning of a broader international presence for the San Diego Symphony in the years ahead.

Joining the orchestra are Spanish pianist Javier Perianes and Greek violinist Leonidas Kavakos. At the April 28, 2027 open at Barcelona’s Palau de la Música Catalana, Perianes will perform Robert Schumann’s Piano Concerto in A Minor. The program also includes Kauyumari by Grammy-winning composer Gabriela Ortiz, Symphonic Dances from West Side Story by Leonard Bernstein, and the Suite from The Miraculous Mandarin Suite by Béla Bartók. 

The Symphony then continues to Toulouse, Hamburg, Paris, and Dublin where Kavakos will perform Dmitri Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto No. 1. Additional repertoire heard in these cities includes The Firebird Suite (1919) by Igor Stravinsky, highlighting the orchestra’s programmatic versatility.  

This inaugural European tour is made possible in part through the support of Jean and Gary Shekhter, whose title sponsorship reflects their longstanding commitment to advancing San Diego’s cultural, educational, and civic institutions. 

Additional essential support for this tour is provided by Una Davis, Ross Caleca and Hayley Janecek, Dorothea Laub, Jaqueline and Jean-Luc Robert, and Laurie Sefton Henson. 

2027 European Tour Performance Schedule   

• April 28 – Barcelona | Palau de la Música Catalana   

• April 30 – Toulouse | La Halle aux Grains   

• May 3 – Hamburg | Elbphilharmonie   

• May 4 – Paris | La Seine Musicale, Patrick Devedjian Auditorium   

• May 6 – Dublin | National Concert Hall 

Click here for more on the tour.