Symphonica Tour
Concert tour nameSymphonica: The Orchestral Tour
ArtistGeorge Michael
LocationEurope
Start date22 August 2011
End date17 October 2012
Number of legs2
Number of shows67 (75 scheduled)
Last tourGeorge Michael Live in Australia
(2010)
This tourSymphonica
(2011–12)

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.

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 and Verona. A Brussels show was later announced on 3 June.[2] Milan and Copenhagen shows were later announced.

Many of the shows had already sold out completely. Prague, Antwerp, Rotterdam, London (Royal Albert Hall and 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. The stage had a semi-oval shape with a huge screen projecting different visual effects, sometimes featuring Michael himself. Some visuals were taken from the previous tour.

On 25 November, it was announced that all further concerts in 2011 had been cancelled due to Michael's illness.[3] Eventually, it took longer time for Michael to recover, resulting in all concerts postponed and scheduled for April and May being postponed to October and November 2012.

On 3 May 2012, it was announced that shows in Australia scheduled for early April would be postponed to November 2012.[4] His performance in Perth on 10 November would have been the headline act for the Perth Arena Gala Opening.[5] Due to recovery restrictions from the illness, Michael was eventually 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.

Opening acts

Setlist

The setlist of the premiere concert on 22 August 2011 at State Opera House – Prague, Czech Republic.[6]

  1. "Through"
  2. "My Baby Just Cares for Me"
  3. "Cowboys and 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"
  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"

Additional notes

  • Closer to the end of the intermission a mix of different Michael's songs including "A Different Corner", "Older" and "John and Elvis Are Dead" was played with some light effects.
  • From the 3 September concert at Forum Copenhagen Michael performed the song "Understand" replacing "You and I".[7]
  • On 17 September, Michael performed a concert to celebrate the opening of a new stadium in Wrocław. He performed with the Wrocław Philharmonic Orchestra.[8]
  • From the 19 September concert at Budapest Sportaréna Michael performed Elton John's song "Idol" replacing "It Doesn't Really Matter".[9]
  • From the 7 October concert at Antwerp SportPaleis Michael performed "Song to the Siren" replacing "Understand".
  • Michael performed the song "Safe" at the 29 October concert in London's Royal Albert Hall and the 1 and 3 November concerts in Dublin's The O2.
  • From the 14 November concert at Prague O2Arena Michael performed the song "The Recluse" replacing "Kissing a Fool".[10]
  • 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" were removed, the song "Father Figure" added to the first half of the setlist, the first song after the intermission was 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".
  • On 16 September in Birmingham, Michael finished the concert with the song "I Remember You" instead of "White Light".
  • On 9 October in Manchester, Michael 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 the concert in Liverpool and final shows in London Michael would finish the concert with "I Remember You".

Shows

List of 2011 concerts[11][12][13][14]
DateCityCountryVenueAttendance
(Tickets sold / available)		Revenue
22 AugustPragueCzech RepublicState Opera House
29 AugustHerningDenmarkJyske Bank Boxen
31 August
2 September
3 SeptemberCopenhagenForum Copenhagen
5 SeptemberBerlinGermanyMercedes-Benz Arena
7 SeptemberCologneLanxess Arena
8 SeptemberMannheimSAP Arena
10 SeptemberFlorenceItalyPiazza Santa Croce
11 SeptemberNaplesArena Italsider
13 SeptemberVeronaVerona Arena
14 September
17 SeptemberWrocławPolandStadion Miejski
19 SeptemberBudapestHungaryLászló Papp Budapest Sports Arena
20 SeptemberZagrebCroatiaArena Zagreb
22 SeptemberNiceFrancePalais Nikaïa
24 SeptemberBilbaoSpainBizkaia Arena
25 SeptemberMadridBarclaycard Center Madrid
27 SeptemberBarcelonaPalau Sant Jordi
28 SeptemberMarseilleFranceLe Silo
30 SeptemberToulouseZénith de Toulouse
1 OctoberMontpellierPark&Suites Arena
3 OctoberParisAccorHotels Arena
4 October
7 OctoberAntwerpBelgiumSportpaleis13,052 / 13,437$1,457,370
8 OctoberBrusselsForest National
10 OctoberRotterdamNetherlandsRotterdam Ahoy
12 OctoberStuttgartGermanyHanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle
14 OctoberZürichSwitzerlandHallenstadion
15 OctoberGenevaSEG Geneva Arena
18 OctoberHamburgGermanyBarclaycard Arena Hamburg11,099 / 11,897$921,594
19 OctoberHanoverTUI Arena
21 OctoberRotterdamNetherlandsRotterdam Ahoy
22 October
25 OctoberLondonEnglandRoyal Albert Hall
28 October
29 October
1 NovemberDublinIreland3Arena
3 November
6 NovemberLondonEnglandRoyal Opera House
9 NovemberOberhausenGermanyKönig Pilsener Arena
11 NovemberMilanItalyMediolanum Forum
12 November
14 NovemberPragueCzech RepublicO2 Arena
15 NovemberBerlinGermanyMercedes-Benz Arena7,341 / 7,341$382,960
17 NovemberMunichOlympiahalle
19 NovemberFrankfurtFesthalle Frankfurt
List of 2012 concerts
DateCityCountryVenueAttendance
(Tickets sold / available)		Revenue
4 SeptemberViennaAustriaWiener Stadthalle
6 September
9 SeptemberParisFrancePalais Garnier
11 SeptemberBrusselsBelgiumForest National
14 SeptemberAmsterdamNetherlandsZiggo Dome
16 SeptemberBirminghamEnglandLG Arena
17 September
21 SeptemberManchesterManchester Arena11,356 / 12,876$1,535,440
23 SeptemberGlasgowScotlandScottish Exhibition and Conference Centre
24 September
29 SeptemberLondonEnglandRoyal Albert Hall
1 OctoberSheffieldSheffield Arena
3 OctoberNewcastleMetro Radio Arena
5 OctoberCardiffWalesMotorpoint Arena Cardiff
6 October
9 OctoberManchesterEnglandManchester Arena8,756 / 9,544$1,181,680
10 OctoberLiverpoolEcho Arena Liverpool
13 OctoberLondonEarls Court
14 October
17 October

Cancelled and rescheduled concerts

List of cancelled and rescheduled concerts[15]
DateCityCountryVenueReason
26 October 2011LondonEnglandRoyal Albert HallPostponed to 2 May 2012[16]
2 May 2012Postponed to 29 September[17]
21 November 2011ViennaAustriaStadthallePostponed to 6 September 2012
23 November 2011StrasbourgFranceZénithCancelled
26 November 2011CardiffWalesMotorpoint ArenaPostponed to 5 October 2012[18]
27 November 2011Postponed to 6 October 2012[18]
30 November 2011LiverpoolEnglandEcho ArenaPostponed to 10 October 2012
2 December 2011SheffieldMotorpoint ArenaPostponed to 1 October 2012
3 December 2011NewcastleMetro Radio ArenaPostponed to 3 October 2012
6–7 December 2011GlasgowScotlandSECCPostponed to 23–24 September 2012
9–10 December 2011BirminghamEnglandGenting ArenaPostponed to 16–17 September 2012
12–13 December 2011ManchesterManchester ArenaPostponed to 21 September and 9 October 2012
16–19 December 2011LondonEarls CourtPostponed to 13, 14 and 17 October 2012
10 November 2012PerthAustraliaPerth ArenaCancelled
13–14 November 2012AdelaideAdelaide Entertainment Centre
17–18 November 2012SydneyQudos Bank Arena
21–22 November 2012MelbourneRod Laver Arena
27 November 2012BrisbaneBrisbane Entertainment Centre
1 December 2012Hunter ValleyHope Estate Winery

References

  1. ^ "George Michael announces Symphoninca: The Orchestral Tour". The Official Community of George Michael. 11 May 2011. Archived from the original on 15 May 2011. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
  2. ^ "Symphonica performance added in Brussels". The Official Community of George Michael. 3 June 2011. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
  3. ^ Goodwyn, Tom (25 November 2011). "George Michael shelves all 2011 tour dates due to illness". NME. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
  4. ^ "Symphonica: Australia!". The Official Community of George Michael. 2 May 2012. Archived from the original on 8 May 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
  5. ^ "George Michael's Symphonica tour to open Perth Arena". Perth Arena. Archived from the original on 13 May 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
  6. ^ "Prague Set List!". The Official Community of George Michael. 22 August 2011. Archived from the original on 25 September 2011. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
  7. ^ "Tour". The Official Community of George Michael. Archived from the original on 2012-04-06.
  8. ^ "George Michael will sing with the Wrocław Philharmonic Orchestra". Poland.pl. 16 May 2011. Archived from the original on 26 September 2011. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
  9. ^ "Tour". The Official Community of George Michael. Archived from the original on 2012-04-06.
  10. ^ "Tour". The Official Community of George Michael. Archived from the original on 2012-04-06.
  11. ^ "More Symphonica Performances, Confirmed!". The Official Community of George Michael. 16 May 2011. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
  12. ^ "Symphonica dates added in London". The Official Community of George Michael. 17 May 2011. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
  13. ^ "Symphonica dates added in Rotterdam". The Official Community of George Michael. 20 May 2011. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
  14. ^ "Brussels show added". The Official Community of George Michael. Retrieved 28 March 2012.[dead link]
  15. ^ "Tour". The Official Community of George Michael. Archived from the original on 6 April 2012. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
  16. ^ "George Michael Reschedules Royal Albert Hall Concert For May 2012". The Official Community of George Michael. 23 November 2011. Archived from the original on 27 November 2011. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
  17. ^ "George Michael Announces Rescheduled + Newly Added Symphonica Dates!". The Official Community of George Michael. 20 March 2012. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 20 March 2012.
  18. ^ "Motorpoint Arena Cardiff on Facebook". Facebook. Archived 2022-04-30 at the Wayback Machine.