Barbra Streisand to Launch European Tour This Summer

It was announced today that legendary Funny Girl star Barbra Streisand, who received rave reviews for her US tour, will perform live in Continental Europe this June and July for the very first time in her celebrated career. She will also perform her first concert in London since 1994.

The European tour, which her many fans have been eagerly anticipating for years, visits Austria, France, Ireland and the UK and follows her record-breaking US tour last autumn. More tour dates in additional countries will be announced shortly. This rare opportunity to see Barbra Streisand makes these concerts the most eagerly anticipated of the year.

"What a joy it will be to perform in so many wonderful countries for the first time," said Streisand. "I can't wait to experience these different audiences and different cultures."

A 58-piece orchestra will accompany Ms Streisand as she performs many of the classic songs from her unique repertoire such as "Evergreen", "People", "The Way We Were", "Don't Rain on My Parade" and many more.

Martin Erlichman, Streisand's longtime manager announced the tour, and confirmed that the recent US tour, her first in six years, had broken box office records in a staggering 14 of the 16 venues she played. She already held, and still holds, the record in the remaining 2 venues. Designated proceeds from the tour will support her various philanthropic initiatives and will be distributed through The Streisand Foundation.

The European concert dates are:

June 21 - Vienna Schloss Schonbrun

June 26 - Paris Bercy

July 10 - Nice Nikaia Stadium

July 14 - Dublin Castletown House

July 18 - London

Other cities are in the final stages of negotiation and will be announced shortly.

The tour will be presented by promoter Michael Cohl for Concert Productions International (CPI) and Solo.

"An artist of unparalleled accomplishments in multiple entertainment fields, Streisand has made her mark as an award winning actress of stage and screen, recording artist, concert performer, movie producer, film director, screenwriter and songwriter. Having earned two Oscars (Best Actress and Best Song), four Emmys, ten Golden Globes, eight Grammys, a special Tony Award (in 1970 as "Star of the Decade"), and two Cable Ace awards, she is the only performer to hold honours from all of those institutions. In addition, Streisand is a recipient of the American Film Institute's Life Achievement Award, the National Endowment for the Arts National Medal of Arts, and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award," according to press materials.

This May, Sony BMG will release the two-disc collection Live in Concert 2006, recorded during her record-breaking U.S. tour. The double disc will feature the finest live performances of her best-loved standards, rarely performed catalogue gems, duets with Il Divo and onstage dialogue.

Photo Credit: Barbra Streisand & Il Divo by Kevin Mazur / WireImage

Founded and led by entertainment industry visionary Michael Cohl, CPI is a world leader and innovator in full service global touring, having produced some of the largest grossing tours in history. At present, CPI is the producer of the Rolling Stones' A Bigger Bang record-breaking world tour, Barbra Streisand's record-breaking concert tour, Genesis' 'Turn It On Again' North American Tour, and The Who's world tour.

Barbra Streisand is the music industry's #1 best-selling female artist with 50 Gold, 30 Platinum and 13 Multi-Platinum albums to her credit. She is second in the all-time charts, ahead of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, exceeded only by Elvis. She continues to be the highest-selling female recording artist ever. Streisand remains the only artist to receive Oscar, Tony, Emmy, Grammy, Golden Globe, Cable Ace, and Peabody Awards, and the American Film Institute's Life Achievement Award.