Full House for Red Cross Charity Concert for Ukraine

The Luxembourg Red Cross and the Philharmonie Luxembourg hosted a sold-out benefit concert for Ukraine on Friday 18 March 2022.

This charity event, held in the presence of His Royal Hignhess the Grand Duke of Luxembourg, raised funds through sponsorship, ticketing and on-site donations to help support people affected by the war in Ukraine, both in the country itself and those who have fled the conflict abroad.

In her introduction, Rita Krombach, Vice-President of the Luxembourg Red Cross, said: "For three weeks now, we have been confronted daily with news and images that surpass each other in the violence and distress they convey. It was obvious for the Luxembourg Red Cross to dedicate this charity evening, organised since 1996, to people affected by the conflict in Ukraine".

Since the beginning of the war, the Luxembourg Red Cross has been able to count on the commitment and generosity of its donors in favor of Ukraine. "These donations allow us to continue food distributions, first aid, protection and evacuation of children, their mothers and disabled people. We were also able to rehabilitate two hospitals damaged by the fighting in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions and replace missing medical equipment", explained Rémi Fabbri, Director of Humanitarian Aid at the Luxembourg Red Cross.

In addition to the solidarity expressed through donations, more than a thousand people have already offered to help house refugees. "We welcome families who arrive in about ten reception structures set up by the National Reception Office (ONA)", noted Nadine Conrardy, Director of the Social Action and Health Department of the Luxembourg Red Cross. "Our teams are involved in particular in the first reception".

The concert was given by the Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg (OPL) under the baton of Lionel Bringuier. At their side was pianist Bruce Liu, winner of the last Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw, who played Frédéric Chopin's Piano Concerto No.1. In the second part, the OPL performed Sergei Rachmaninoff's Symphony No.2.