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Eve Risser’s Red Desert Orchestra - Green Pilot Tour
The Red Desert Orchestra, a 12-piece ensemble with musicians from France, Burkina Faso, and Germany, completed a Green Pilot Tour in Finland and Estonia from 19 to 23 April 2024. Despite the challenges of coordinating sustainable logistics for a large touring party, the tour was a success, featuring four concerts and one workshop.
Tour Schedule
- 19/04/2024: April Jazz, Espoo, Finland
- 20/04/2024: Salo Jazz, Salo, Finland
- 21/04/2024: African Rhythm Workshop by Ophélia and Mélissa Hié (bara, djembe), April Jazz, Espoo, Finland
- 22/04/2024: Jazzkaar, Tallinn, Estonia
- 23/04/2024: G Livelab, Tampere, Finland
Sustainability in Practice
The touring party consisted of 14 people, including the 12-piece orchestra. Travel logistics were carefully planned to minimise environmental impact:
- Flights: The group flew only once, from Paris to Helsinki, and returned from Helsinki-Vantaa to Oslo after the final concert.
- Public Transport: Trains were used extensively for travel between Espoo, Salo, and Tampere, as well as from Helsinki to the airport.
- Ferry: The group travelled to Tallinn by ferry and returned to Helsinki the same way.
- Electric vehicles: Where public transport was unavailable, electric cars were used to transport the group.
- Van: A van was required to transport the orchestra’s large instruments, which included several percussive and orchestral pieces.
This complex mix of transportation methods highlighted the feasibility of sustainable touring, even for a group of this size, though it demanded detailed planning and coordination among partners.
Artistic and Gender Representation
The tour featured a diverse and gender-balanced lineup, with 7 of the 12 musicians being women.
The concerts and workshop were well-received, with the African rhythm workshop led by Ophélia and Mélissa Hié in Espoo offering a unique opportunity for audience engagement and cultural exchange.
Feedback and Reflections
The Red Desert Orchestra Green Pilot Tour demonstrated that sustainable touring is achievable, even for a large ensemble with complex logistics. However, it requires strong commitment from all partners, meticulous planning, and additional funding to cover the costs of greener transport options.
The experience underscored that sustainability in music touring is not just about reducing environmental impact—it is also about fostering collaboration and shared responsibility. Despite the challenges, the tour proved that with the right mindset and support, sustainable practices can be integrated successfully, even for large groups.
The Red Desert Orchestra Green Pilot Tour was a testament to the potential of sustainable touring as a meaningful and achievable goal. By leveraging a mix of public transport, electric vehicles, and thoughtful scheduling, the tour set an example for how even large-scale musical projects can reduce their carbon footprint without compromising artistic excellence. In the end, it all comes down to a matter of will.
Tour Schedule
- 19/04/2024: April Jazz, Espoo, Finland
- 20/04/2024: Salo Jazz, Salo, Finland
- 21/04/2024: African Rhythm Workshop by Ophélia and Mélissa Hié (bara, djembe), April Jazz, Espoo, Finland
- 22/04/2024: Jazzkaar, Tallinn, Estonia
- 23/04/2024: G Livelab, Tampere, Finland
Sustainability in Practice
The touring party consisted of 14 people, including the 12-piece orchestra. Travel logistics were carefully planned to minimise environmental impact:
- Flights: The group flew only once, from Paris to Helsinki, and returned from Helsinki-Vantaa to Oslo after the final concert.
- Public Transport: Trains were used extensively for travel between Espoo, Salo, and Tampere, as well as from Helsinki to the airport.
- Ferry: The group travelled to Tallinn by ferry and returned to Helsinki the same way.
- Electric vehicles: Where public transport was unavailable, electric cars were used to transport the group.
- Van: A van was required to transport the orchestra’s large instruments, which included several percussive and orchestral pieces.
This complex mix of transportation methods highlighted the feasibility of sustainable touring, even for a group of this size, though it demanded detailed planning and coordination among partners.
Artistic and Gender Representation
The tour featured a diverse and gender-balanced lineup, with 7 of the 12 musicians being women.
The concerts and workshop were well-received, with the African rhythm workshop led by Ophélia and Mélissa Hié in Espoo offering a unique opportunity for audience engagement and cultural exchange.
Feedback and Reflections
The Red Desert Orchestra Green Pilot Tour demonstrated that sustainable touring is achievable, even for a large ensemble with complex logistics. However, it requires strong commitment from all partners, meticulous planning, and additional funding to cover the costs of greener transport options.
The experience underscored that sustainability in music touring is not just about reducing environmental impact—it is also about fostering collaboration and shared responsibility. Despite the challenges, the tour proved that with the right mindset and support, sustainable practices can be integrated successfully, even for large groups.
The Red Desert Orchestra Green Pilot Tour was a testament to the potential of sustainable touring as a meaningful and achievable goal. By leveraging a mix of public transport, electric vehicles, and thoughtful scheduling, the tour set an example for how even large-scale musical projects can reduce their carbon footprint without compromising artistic excellence. In the end, it all comes down to a matter of will.
