Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel and Secretary of State for Culture, Guy Arendt, came forward Tuesday to congratulate Gast Waltzing, Angélique Kidjo and the Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg (OPL) for their recent success at the Grammy Awards 2016 in Los Angeles.
The African singer won the award for 'Best World Music Album' for 'Angélique Kidjo sings with the Orchestre philharmonique du Luxembourg', which was arranged by renowned Luxembourg trumpeter and composer, Gast Waltzing. Waltzing and the OPL have been collaborating for decades, a partnership which has culminated in the release of a project combining classical and African musical styles.
"I want to thank the Luxembourg Philharmonique Orchestra and his conductor/arranger, Gast Waltzing, he had a vision that African music can meet classical music," commented Angélique Kidjo upon receiving the award. "This is what music is about: to bring doors walls and bridges down."
Gast Waltzing in turn said: "Allow me just to say: we did this all in Luxembourg...Thank you the Orchestra from Luxembourg and thank you the Philharmonie."
Xavier Bettel welcomed the news of the award, stating "The Luxembourg contribution to this success fills us with pride".
Photo by GRAMMYS 2016
