"With this concert in the U.S., we want to demonstrate the solidarity of all Saxons with the victims of Hurricane Katrina," said Georg Milbradt, minister-president of Saxony. "We want to tell the people in the disaster areas in the Gulf region of the United States: Do not let hope die; take courage and rebuild your home. How could this possibly be said better than in the language of music?"

In 2002, fooding killed scores of people in Saxony and other parts of central Europe and damaged Dresden's historic Semperoper.

The Dresden State Orchestra's trip is sponsored by Volkswagen, Porsche, DHL, and other German businesses. According to the Houston Chronicle, the German air force will fly the orchestra's musicians to Texas for the event.

The program for the concert will include Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man, Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet Overture-Fantasy, and Brahms' Symphony No. 1. Hans Graf, the Houston Symphony's music director, and Daniel Harding will conduct.