Their Royal Highnesses the Grand Duke and Princess Alexandra, Viktoria Kinsch, Alain Kinsch (VP SOSVEM), Sophie Glesener (Director), Marjolijne Frieden (President); Credit: Alfonso Salguiero

This year's SOS Villages d'Enfants Monde Gala Concert in Luxembourg raised proceeds for underprivileged children and their families in Senegal.

The 43rd SOS Gala Concert was extra special owing to the presence of Their Royal Highnesses the Grand Duke and Princess Alexandra as well as its location under the magnificent church bell recently acquired by the Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra.

The new bell to which Princess Alexandra gave her name echoed in the second half of the evening for Modeste Moussorgski's play "Tableaux d'un exposition". Indeed, the sounds of the orchestra masterfully led by the passionate and energetic Domingo Hindoyan won over the audience with its colourful performances. 

Meanwhile, the first half of the evening began with the subtle and playful dances of Maurice Ravel's "Rapsodie espagnole". This was followed by the 2018 winner of the Queen Elisabeth Competition, the young baritone Samuel Hasselhorn's masterful interpretation of Gustav Mahler's "Knoben Wunderhorn", taking the audience to a realm where poetry and fantasy come together, where the voice and orchestra meet each other. 

President of SOS Villages d'Enfants Monde Marjolijne Frieden also took this occasion to discuss injustices and violence against children, calling on the audience to "always everywhere [...] defend human rights where they are violated". She similarly evoked the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which this year saw its 70th anniversary and the creation, also 70 years ago, of SOS by Austria's Hermann Gmeiner. 

Images filmed this past autumn in Kaolack, Senegal during a field visit by SOS Villages d'Enfants Monde Director Sophie Glesener were also shown as evidence of the charity's commitment and achievements in this part of the world. This was especially the case for PACOPE, development programmes that focus on the protection and rights of the child by focusing on mobilisation, solidarity and empowering families. 

Proceeds from the concert, organised in collaboration with EY, the OPL and the Philharmonie, will go towards these Senegalese children and their communities.