The highlight of the tour is a series of three performances next week at the Frauenkirche, an 18th-century Dresden cathedral that was destroyed by the Allied firebombing of the city during World War II, and which has recently been restored. The performances include the world premiere on November 17 of Colin Matthews' Berceuse for Dresden, a work commissioned by the Philharmonic for the visit.

There are also stops in Amsterdam, D‹sseldorf, Luxembourg, and Munich. The repertoire includes Weber's Euryanthe Overture, Strauss's Death and Transfiguration, Beethoven's Egmont Overture, Mahler's Kindertotenlieder, Schumann's Symphony No. 2 and Cello Concerto, and Dvoršk's Symphony No. 9 ("From the New World").

Philharmonic music director Lorin Maazel conducts all of the concerts; soloists include contralto Anna Larsson, pianist Margarita H‹henrieder, and cellist Jan Vogler.

The Philharmonic returns to New York on November 25 to give the American premiere of Berceuse for Dresden.