Luxembourg’s Philharmonie has announced that it is organising a family-friendly festival dedicated to nature on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 May 2023.
For its 2022/23 season, the Philharmonie launched a series of themed festivals for young audiences. The upcoming festival is dedicated to nature and will include a variety of events such as workshops, interactive concerts, and listening opportunities, tailored to children of different age groups.
The festival features performances by well-known artists such as VOCES8 and the Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg (OPL), as well as contributions from young Luxembourgish musicians. The festival also offers free crafting workshops, make-up stalls, dance performances and an instrument carousel, providing an immersive experience of nature through music and the arts.
The main aim of this thematic weekend is to encourage young audiences and their parents to observe their surroundings with open ears, and to recognise and appreciate nature’s beauty through sound - stormy winds, the patter of rain, the roar of the sea, birdsong, thunder and more. By presenting nature through this musical lens, the Philharmonie hopes to raise awareness to the environment’s importance and the need to treat it respectfully.
Some of the workshops , listening opportunities and interactive concerts and events offered will be: “D'fënnef Elementer” (the five elements), “D'Lotti sicht seng Noss” (Lotti is looking for her nut), “Der Baumgeist” (the tree spirit), “D'Klangwelt vun de butzeg klengen Déierchen”(the sound world of the cute little animals), “Les sons des petits animaux”(the little animals’ noises) and “Musique verte et renouée du Japon”( music workshop creating green instruments). There will be multiple concerts offered, in various languages, tailored to children of various age groups.
VOCES8, a British a cappella ensemble which has been nominated for a Grammy Award, will perform on this occasion. The OPL will also team up with students from the European School in Luxembourg-Kirchberg to present the family concert “D’fënnef Elementer”, performing works ranging from Benjamin Britten’s Four Sea Interludes and Peter Grimes to Arthur Honegger’s Pacific 231 and Wood, a community composition. A mystery rally and walk accompanied by birdsong will take participants towards the Mudam museum, inviting them to explore the surroundings of Place de l’Europe.
Pascal Sticklies, Senior Manager of the Philharmonie’s Education Department, said: “Children and families can experience nature through age-appropriate concerts, workshops and programmes in the Foyer, stories and adventures related to nature during this themed weekend. I am particularly pleased that not only international ensembles, but also many young musicians from Luxembourg are contributing to the success of this festival.”
After this set programme, participants can still take part in free crafting workshops and design their own animals at the Philharmonie, indulge in a little transformation at the make-up stall, take part in the dance performance “Welcome to the Jungle” with Elisabeth Schilling or listen to the saxophone performances of the Esch-sur-Alzette conservatory of music ensemble. The instrument carousel staffed by OPL musicians will allow children to try out instruments and they will also be able to discover a special water exhibition curated by Michael Bradke on the terrace. Little music enthusiasts and their families can find refreshments at the “yumm” festival, where food trucks and various culinary specialties will be on offer outside in Place de l’Europe.
