SYMPHONIC ROCK FOR EUROPE is the name of a concept Uli created for a one-off TV concert within the framework of a Classical Guitar festival in Liege, Belgium.The event took place on April 23, 1993 and comprised of nearly 100 participants.
The musicians onstage consisted of the Brussels Symphony Orchestra conducted by Bernard Dekaise, leader of the renowned Conservatoire Royale de Liege, the Choir de Namur, a band, and four rock tenors.

The three hour show featured many of U.J.R.’s new compositions including his first symphony, EUROPA EX FAVILLA, which had especially been commissioned for the event. Apart from this Uli had arranged several classical masterpieces to be performed by a rock-band, including works by Beethoven, Mozart, Mendelssohn and Vivaldi.

This completely unique concert was a resounding success and was broadcast several times in Europe. It was a milestone and a watershed in U.J.R.’s musical career in which he proved that it was still possible to look at classical music in a completely new and different way and to achieve and exciting sound in the process.
In the years that followed, S.R.F.E. served as a forerunner to several other artist’s forays into the orchestra genre, who took their cues from Uli’s pioneering spirit.

It is intended to stage Symphonic Rock For Europe again in 2004.

Concerts to date: 1 - 23. April 1993 in Liege, Belgium - venue: The Forum
Albums to date: None
Television: WDR Rocklife/Rockpalast

DVD/ Video: bootlegs exist, but are not recommended, because of extremely poor repro-quality.

Outstanding tracks: Europa Ex Favilla - Uli Jon Roth - Symphony No 1
Destiny Calls - U.J.R. vocal adaptation of Beethoven’s 5th Symphony
3 pieces from Mozart’s Requiem arranged for Orchestra and Rock band

PARTICIPANTS:

Singers: Tommy Heart (Fair Warning/ Zeno)
             Michael Flexig (Zeno, Electric Sun)
             John Parr (St. Elmo’s Fire)
             Peter Goalby (Uriah Heep)

Players: Uli Jon Roth - guitar
             Don Airey - keyboards
             Alan Park - keyboards
             Francois Garny - bass
             Franco Zuccaroli - drums
             Helge Engelke - guitar
             Anthony Kornarens - guitar

Choir de Namur

Conductor: Bernhard Dekaise
Brussels Symphony Orchestra
Leader: Vicky Mangon

Projectionist and film production - John Kornarens
Live Sound - Georg Feltes and John Oram
TV director for WDR Germany (Rockpalast) - Peter Ruechel
TV producer - Christian Wagner
Live Sound Recording - Werner Roth
Guitar Technician - John Smatlak
Tour Management - Mathias Dittner
Assistants - Rob Sillitoe, Ralf Winter, John Boswell, Stephen Claps

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