NEWS RELEASES
TORONTO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA GOES AHEADWITH SCALED-DOWN EUROPEAN TOUR
September 20, 1999 ( 12:10 p.m. EDT) No. 208
TORONTO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA GOES AHEAD
WITH SCALED-DOWN EUROPEAN TOUR
Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today announced the Department's full support of a scaled-down
version of the European tour of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO), following the cancellation of its
original tour two weeks ago. The new European tour will begin on February 25, 2000, under the baton of Music
Director Jukka-Pekka Saraste, with concerts in Stuttgart, Berlin, Frankfurt, Cologne, Budapest and Vienna.
"The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) believes strongly in this project. It was not
only the Toronto Symphony Orchestra's credibility that was at stake abroad, but the image of Canada as a
whole," said Mr. Axworthy. "Culture influences the way people see Canada and it is therefore an important
element of Canadian foreign policy."
Following the cancellation of the original tour due to a significant shortfall in funding, DFAIT received entreaties
for its reinstatement from the European presenters and Canadian embassies abroad. As a result, the TSO
management, in co-operation with the Orchestra's European agent, DFAIT and committed corporate sponsors,
explored a number of options.
"Obviously we were desperately disappointed when we were forced to cancel the original tour," said George
Tiviluk, Chairman of the Board of the TSO. "But we simply could not countenance the economic loss we faced
with the tour in its original form. Although we looked far and wide for cost cuts prior to the cancellation, they
came nowhere near to solving the problem. Ironically, the cancellation gave us a clean sheet to consider a new
blueprint."
"In putting together the new plan, which will no longer lose money, we have had significant encouragement and
help from the Department of Foreign Affairs and International trade, as well as several private sponsors," added
Tiviluk.
The original tour was to have consisted of 15 concerts in six countries in 18 days. In this new configuration the
Orchestra will play eight concerts in three countries in 10 days.
DFAIT will provide $220 000 in funding under its International Cultural Relations Program to support the new
TSO tour. The International Cultural Relations Program supports initiatives undertaken abroad in the area of
the arts and higher education.
Funding for this initiative was provided for in the February 1999 federal budget and is therefore built into the
existing fiscal framework.
- 30 -
For further information, media representatives may contact:
Debora Brown
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
| 
