On the evening of Thursday 8 December 2016, the Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg (OPL) took to the stage at the Philharmonie, conducted by Fawzi Haimor and accompanied by soloist Joseph Moog, for the 41st Christmas Concert of SOS Villages d’Enfants Monde.
In her welcoming speech, SOS Villages d’Enfants Monde (SOS) President Marjolijne Frieden reminded the audience of today’s biggest tragedies such as the war in Syria and Hurricane Matthew in Haiti. She also mentioned Cape Verde where visible progress has been made and where SOS has been promoting child rights.
Despite the absence of the Czech pianist Lukáš Vondráček due to illness, which was announced at the beginning of the evening, the audience enjoyed a wonderful performance from the young German soloist Joseph Moog.
Meanwhile, the OPL, conducted by the American Fawzi Haimor, gave a talented performance of Rachmaninov’s ‘Rhapsodie sur un theme de Paganini opus 43’. Joseph Moog covered all of the nuances of this stupendous composition which, through 24 variations, combines lyricism with gravity, vivacity, and depth. The young pianist seduced the public with his bravery in improvising one of the best pianists of the time.
The second part of the evening was more festive, with the OPL offering a dance performance followed by an orchestra of Tchaikovski’s symphonic ballet ‘The Nutcracker’. The evening ended with the OCL performing an extract from the American musical ‘On the Town’ by Leonard Bernstein, ‘Three Dance Episodes’.
The 41st SOS Christmas Concert provided musical entertainment whilst achieving its target of spreading solidarity and raising money for its projects aimed at vulnerable children in the world.
