Classical Music All-Female Aboard MS Europa
On March 8, 2024, in celebration of International Women’s Day, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises announced that its renowned Ocean Sun Festival classical music event aboard the MS Europa will feature exclusively female artists.
During its week-long Baltic Sea cruise from September 5 to September 14, 2024, the small but luxurious MS Europa will depart from Stockholm’s old town, with the finest classical music taking center stage on this musical journey, performed by exceptional classical artists.
Leading the lineup will be the outstanding cellist Raphaela Gromes, who will kick off the exclusive onshore concert at the Queen Silvia Concert Hall, accompanied by the Swedish Chamber Orchestra.
Queen Silvia Concert Hall
Throughout the cruise, artists such as Raphaela Gromes, soprano Juliane Banse, and pianist Alexandra Dariescu will be aboard for the classical music festival, delighting fortunate guests with their performances. The program notably includes works by female composers or traditionally male-performed pieces interpreted from a female perspective.
For years now, the MS Europa has been an integral part of classical music festival calendars, and the Ocean Sun Festival hosted aboard is considered a must for genre enthusiasts. Onboard, amidst a unique and intimate atmosphere, the crème de la crème of classical music talent converges.
Musicians
This year, the Ocean Sun Festival celebrates its 15th anniversary, honoring the virtuosity and elegance of exceptional female talents in classical music, both in composition and performance. The MS Europa transforms into a floating concert hall, and amid the intimate onboard atmosphere, its 400 passengers will have the privilege of getting to know the artists.
Gabi Haupt, Senior Advisor Luxury Cruises at Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, describes what the ship represents: “For decades, the MS Europa has proudly been considered a pioneering ocean liner. It is now the sixth generation representing the ability to boldly break traditions and establish new ones, traveling the world exploring distant shores and connecting people. Our Europa is an icon with a strong soul.”
Europa Hapag Lloyd
The Artists and Their Musical Journey Aboard Europa
Guests will embark in Stockholm at the beginning of August, and exclusively for them, the Ocean Sun Festival will commence with an opening concert at the Queen Silvia Concert Hall in the city, an innovative space for musical encounters designed by architect Giorgio Palù and opened only in 2022.
Featuring works by composers like Marie Jaell, Raphaela Gromes, who discovered the cello at the age of four and took to the stage for the first time at seven, will perform here alongside the Swedish Chamber Orchestra. The artist has received numerous awards, including the Opus Klassic in 2020. Raphaela Gromes will also make another appearance onboard, in a trio concert with Julian Riem and Ye-Eun Choi.
Raphaela Gromes Hapag Lloyd
The MS Europa will begin its journey and head towards Tallinn in Estonia, followed by Visby and Kalmar in Sweden, with stops also in Gdansk in Poland and Copenhagen in Denmark, offering a direct view of the city’s famous symbol, the Little Mermaid, before continuing through the Kiel Canal to conclude the journey in Hamburg.
During this voyage, soprano Juliane Banse will present her interpretation of Schubert’s “Winter Journey,” a piece traditionally performed by male artists. Through her ballet training, Juliane Banse merges dance and singing into a unique performance. The ensemble is complemented by dancer István Simon and pianist Alexander Krichel.
Juliane Banse’s extensive operatic repertoire is complemented by her experience in concerts, song evenings, and classical music. Her internationally recognized career has recently taken her to the United States, where she performed at the MET in New York, interpreting Zdenka in Strauss’s “Arabella.” Many of her musical recordings have been awarded, including the prestigious Echo Klassik award.
Juliane Banse
Pianist Alexandra Dariescu will enchant guests onboard with an evening of piano, where the artist will rediscover and reinterpret works by various female composers, as well as pieces like those by Chopin. Her commitment to the recognition and rights of women is a common thread through her artistic creation, giving voice to previously forgotten female composers.
She recently premiered piano concertos by artists such as Nadia Boulanger, Florence Price, and Dora Pejačević in the United States and the United Kingdom, as well as in Norway and Finland, alongside renowned orchestras such as the Oslo Philharmonic, the Houston Symphony, and the BBC Symphony Orchestra. Her global career has brought her to concert stages with major ensembles, including the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, and the Orchestre National de France.
Alexandra Dariescu
A Female Heart Beats Aboard the MS Europa
The challenging program of the Ocean Sun Festival has been curated this year, as in previous years, by Susanna Kitzl, artistic director of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. “My heart belongs to classical music. I myself have my professional roots in opera, so I am interested in promoting women’s creativity in the field of classical music. It is very moving for me to see that this year, together with these wonderful artists, we will set an example and have a strong bond with the MS Europa.”
Traditionally, seafaring is a male profession, but women consistently and confidently affirm their place in the world’s oceans: it’s no wonder a ship is attributed a female name representing strength and protection.
Hapag Lloyd Europa
Strong women have long shaped Europe, both onboard and ashore. For almost 20 years, Gabi Haupt has led the management of the brand with feminine sensitivity and thus the skill and development of Europa. Numerous strong colleagues work with experience and passion in crucial roles onboard, and among the guests, there are also numerous energetic female companions who bring the MS Europa to life.
This year, Gabi Haupt passes the scepter into the hands of the next female generation and, as Senior Advisor Luxury, passes on her knowledge to Lisa Wilken, Head of Luxury Cruises. Together with well-established colleagues both on land and at sea, each team member plays a crucial role in carrying the strong soul of Europa across the oceans of the world.
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