# Symphonica Tour

Symphonica (also promoted as Symphonica: The Orchestral Tour) was an orchestral concert tour by George Michael and his last tour. The singer performed the songs mainly from Songs from the Last Century and Patience albums as well as some cover versions in new arrangements.

## Background

The tour was officially announced on 11 May 2011. Due to high demand for tickets, extra shows were added in Dublin, London, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Cardiff, Rotterdam, Herning and Verona. A Brussels show was later announced on 3 June. Milan and Copenhagen shows were later announced.
Many of the shows had already sold out completely. Prague, Antwerp, Rotterdam, London (Royal Albert Hall and Royal Opera House), Dublin, Cardiff, Sheffield and Newcastle had all sold out.
The show included four new core band members who were selected by producer Phil Ramone and George Michael. These new members included musical director and pianist Henry Hey, guitarist Ben Butler, bassist David Finck, and drummer Mark McLean. In addition, percussionist Lea Mullen and guitarist Phil Palmer completed the band, along with Michael's long-time background vocalists Shirley Lewis, Lucy Jules, Lincoln Jean-Marie and Jay Henry. The stage had a semi-oval shape with a huge screen projecting different visual effects, sometimes featuring Michael himself. Some visuals were taken from the previous tour.
On 25 November, it was announced that all further concerts in 2011 had been cancelled due to Michael's illness. Eventually, it took longer time for Michael to recover, resulting in all concerts postponed and scheduled for April and May being postponed to October and November 2012.
On 3 May 2012, it was announced that shows in Australia scheduled for early April would be postponed to November 2012. His performance in Perth on 10 November would have been the headline act for the Perth Arena Gala Opening. Due to recovery restrictions from the illness, Michael was eventually forced to cancel all Australian dates.
It was announced on Michael's website that his album Symphonica, released on 17 March 2014, would consist of studio material initially rehearsed for this tour including some live recordings.

## Opening acts

* Wrocław Philharmonic Orchestra (Poland)
* Czech National Symphony Orchestra (Prague)

## Setlist

The setlist of the premiere concert on 22 August 2011 at State Opera House – Prague, Czech Republic.
* "Through"
* "My Baby Just Cares for Me"
* "Cowboys and Angels"
* "True Faith"
* "Let Her Down Easy" (Terence Trent D'Arby cover)
* "Kissing a Fool"
* "Going to a Town"
* "Roxanne"
* "It Doesn't Really Matter"
* "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?"

### Intermission

* "Patience"
* "John and Elvis Are Dead"
* "Russian Roulette"
* "You Have Been Loved"
* "You've Changed"
* "Love Is a Losing Game"
* "Where I Hope You Are"
* "Praying for Time"
* "Wild Is the Wind"
* "A Different Corner"
* "Feeling Good"
* "You and I"

### Encore

* "Amazing" / "I'm Your Man" / "Freedom! '90"

### Additional notes

* Closer to the end of the intermission a mix of different Michael's songs including "A Different Corner", "Older" and "John and Elvis Are Dead" was played with some light effects.
* From the 3 September concert at Forum Copenhagen Michael performed the song "Understand" replacing "You and I".
* On 17 September, Michael performed a concert to celebrate the opening of a new stadium in Wrocław. He performed with the Wrocław Philharmonic Orchestra.
* From the 19 September concert at Budapest Sportaréna Michael performed Elton John's song "Idol" replacing "It Doesn't Really Matter".
* From the 7 October concert at Antwerp SportPaleis Michael performed "Song to the Siren" replacing "Understand".
* Michael performed the song "Safe" at the 29 October concert in London's Royal Albert Hall and the 1 and 3 November concerts in Dublin's The O$_2$.
* From the 14 November concert at Prague O$_2$Arena Michael performed the song "The Recluse" replacing "Kissing a Fool".
* During the second leg of the tour in 2012 the songs "Idol", "Song to the Siren", "You and I" and "Where I Hope You Are" were removed, the song "Father Figure" added to the first half of the setlist, the first song after the intermission was changed to "Waiting for that Day" and "Love Is a Losing Game" was not performed as well. Additionally, the last song performed live was "White Light".
* On 16 September in Birmingham, Michael finished the concert with the song "I Remember You" instead of "White Light".
* On 9 October in Manchester, Michael finished the concert with the song "I Remember You" instead of "White Light" and performed "Star People" and "F.E.A.R." by Ian Brown.
* At the concert in Liverpool and final shows in London Michael would finish the concert with "I Remember You".

## Shows

List of concerts, showing date, city, country, venue, tickets sold, number of available tickets and amount of gross revenue :
| Date | City | Country | Venue | Attendance | Revenue |
| Europe ||||||
| 22 August 2011 | Prague | Czech Republic | State Opera House | | |
| 29 August 2011 | Herning | Denmark | Jyske Bank Boxen | | |
| 31 August 2011 | Herning | Denmark | Jyske Bank Boxen | | |
| 2 September 2011 | Herning | Denmark | Jyske Bank Boxen | | |
| 3 September 2011 | Copenhagen | Denmark | Forum Copenhagen | | |
| 5 September 2011 | Berlin | Germany | Mercedes-Benz Arena | | |
| 7 September 2011 | Cologne | Germany | Lanxess Arena | | |
| 8 September 2011 | Mannheim | Germany | SAP Arena | | |
| 10 September 2011 | Florence | Italy | Piazza Santa Croce | | |
| 11 September 2011 | Naples | Italy | Arena Italsider | | |
| 13 September 2011 | Verona | Italy | Verona Arena | | |
| 14 September 2011 | Verona | Italy | Verona Arena | | |
| 17 September 2011 | Wrocław | Poland | Stadion Miejski | | |
| 19 September 2011 | Budapest | Hungary | László Papp Budapest Sports Arena | | |
| 20 September 2011 | Zagreb | Croatia | Arena Zagreb | | |
| 22 September 2011 | Nice | France | Palais Nikaïa | | |
| 24 September 2011 | Bilbao | Spain | Bizkaia Arena | | |
| 25 September 2011 | Madrid | Spain | Barclaycard Center Madrid | | |
| 27 September 2011 | Barcelona | Spain | Palau Sant Jordi | | |
| 28 September 2011 | Marseille | France | Le Silo | | |
| 30 September 2011 | Toulouse | France | Zénith de Toulouse | | |
| 1 October 2011 | Montpellier | France | Park&Suites Arena | | |
| 3 October 2011 | Paris | France | AccorHotels Arena | | |
| 4 October 2011 | Paris | France | AccorHotels Arena | | |
| 7 October 2011 | Antwerp | Belgium | Sportpaleis | 13,052 / 13,437 | $1,457,370 |
| 8 October 2011 | Brussels | Belgium | Forest National | | |
| 10 October 2011 | Rotterdam | Netherlands | Rotterdam Ahoy | | |
| 12 October 2011 | Stuttgart | Germany | Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle | | |
| 14 October 2011 | Zürich | Switzerland | Hallenstadion | | |
| 15 October 2011 | Geneva | Switzerland | SEG Geneva Arena | | |
| 18 October 2011 | Hamburg | Germany | Barclaycard Arena Hamburg | 11,099 / 11,897 | $921,594 |
| 19 October 2011 | Hanover | Germany | TUI Arena | | |
| 21 October 2011 | Rotterdam | Netherlands | Rotterdam Ahoy | | |
| 22 October 2011 | Rotterdam | Netherlands | Rotterdam Ahoy | | |
| 25 October 2011 | London | England | Royal Albert Hall | | |
| 28 October 2011 | London | England | Royal Albert Hall | | |
| 29 October 2011 | London | England | Royal Albert Hall | | |
| 1 November 2011 | Dublin | Ireland | 3Arena | | |
| 3 November 2011 | Dublin | Ireland | 3Arena | | |
| 6 November 2011 | London | England | Royal Opera House | | |
| 9 November 2011 | Oberhausen | Germany | König Pilsener Arena | | |
| 11 November 2011 | Milan | Italy | Mediolanum Forum | | |
| 12 November 2011 | Milan | Italy | Mediolanum Forum | | |
| 14 November 2011 | Prague | Czech Republic | O$_2$ Arena | | |
| 15 November 2011 | Berlin | Germany | Mercedes-Benz Arena | 7,341 / 7,341 | $382,960 |
| 17 November 2011 | Munich | Germany | Olympiahalle | | |
| 19 November 2011 | Frankfurt | Germany | Festhalle Frankfurt | | |
| 4 September 2012 | Vienna | Austria | Wiener Stadthalle | | |
| 6 September 2012 | Vienna | Austria | Wiener Stadthalle | | |
| 9 September 2012 | Paris | France | Palais Garnier | | |
| 11 September 2012 | Brussels | Belgium | Forest National | | |
| 14 September 2012 | Amsterdam | Netherlands | Ziggo Dome | | |
| 16 September 2012 | Birmingham | England | LG Arena | | |
| 17 September 2012 | Birmingham | England | LG Arena | | |
| 21 September 2012 | Manchester | England | Manchester Arena | 11,356 / 12,876 | $1,535,440 |
| 23 September 2012 | Glasgow | Scotland | Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre | | |
| 24 September 2012 | Glasgow | Scotland | Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre | | |
| 29 September 2012 | London | England | Royal Albert Hall | | |
| 1 October 2012 | Sheffield | England | Sheffield Arena | | |
| 3 October 2012 | Newcastle | England | Metro Radio Arena | | |
| 5 October 2012 | Cardiff | Wales | Motorpoint Arena Cardiff | | |
| 6 October 2012 | Cardiff | Wales | Motorpoint Arena Cardiff | | |
| 9 October 2012 | Manchester | England | Manchester Arena | 8,756 / 9,544 | $1,181,680 |
| 10 October 2012 | Liverpool | England | Echo Arena Liverpool | | |
| 13 October 2012 | London | England | Earls Court | | |
| 14 October 2012 | London | England | Earls Court | | |
| 17 October 2012 | London | England | Earls Court | | |

### Cancellations and rescheduled shows

| 26 October 2011 | London, England | Royal Albert Hall | Postponed to 2 May 2012 |
| 2 May 2012 | London, England | Royal Albert Hall | Postponed to 29 September |
| 21 November 2011 | Vienna, Austria | Stadthalle | Postponed to 6 September |
| 23 November 2011 | Strasbourg, France | Zénith | Cancelled |
| 26 November 2011 | Cardiff, Wales | Motorpoint Arena | Postponed to 5 October 2012 |
| 27 November 2011 | Cardiff, Wales | Motorpoint Arena | Postponed to 6 October 2012 |
| 30 November 2011 | Liverpool, England | Echo Arena | Postponed to 10 October 2012 |
| 2 December 2011 | Sheffield, England | Motorpoint Arena | Postponed to 1 October 2012 |
| 3 December 2011 | Newcastle, England | Metro Radio Arena | Postponed to 3 October 2012 |
| 6–7 December 2011 | Glasgow, Scotland | SECC | Postponed to 23–24 September 2012 |
| 9–10 December 2011 | Birmingham, England | Genting Arena | Postponed to 16–17 September 2012 |
| 12–13 December 2011 | Manchester, England | Manchester Arena | Postponed to 21 September and 9 October 2012 |
| 16–19 December 2011 | London, England | Earls Court | Postponed to 13, 14 and 17 October 2012. |
| 10 November 2012 | Perth, Australia | Perth Arena | Cancelled |
| 13–14 November 2012 | Adelaide, Australia | Adelaide Entertainment Centre | Cancelled |
| 17–18 November 2012 | Sydney, Australia | Qudos Bank Arena | Cancelled |
| 21–22 November 2012 | Melbourne, Australia | Rod Laver Arena | Cancelled |
| 27 November 2012 | Brisbane, Australia | Brisbane Entertainment Centre | Cancelled |
| 1 December 2012 | Hunter Valley, Australia | Hope Estate Winery | Cancelled |