October 5 2005
Anne-Sophie Mutter concert for SOS Children's Villages
05/10/2005 - On 30 September, SOS Villages d'Enfants Monde a.s.b.l. Luxembourg, the Luxembourg association supporting the international work of SOS Children's Villages, organized an exceptional top-class tribute concert: the world-famous violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter together with Lambert Orkis (piano) performed in the newly opened Philharmonie in Luxembourg-Kirchberg. The revenues of the concert will be donated to an emergency relief project in South-East Asia.
Anne-Sophie Mutter started her outstanding international career at the age of thirteen when she gave her first solo performance together with Herbert Karajan and the "Berliner Philharmoniker" at the Salzburg Pentecostal concerts in 1977. Equally appreciated as a soloist and a chamber musician, she has since then been welcomed in every important concert hall in Europe, U.S.A and Asia.
The commitment for medical as well as social problems of our time has always been of high importance to Anne-Sophie Mutter. The first concert she gave for the benefit of SOS Children's Villages was in 1999 in Salzburg on the occasion of the organisation's 50th anniversary. Now, in her typically generous manner, the artist offered SOS Children's Villages her unique talent for a second time.
Together with Lambert Orkis, Anne-Sophie Mutter fascinated the audience in the sold-out Philharmonie with a virtuoso performance of several Mozart sonatas for piano and violin. Among the numerous guests of honour were His Royal Highness Grand-Duke Henri of Luxembourg, the Luxembourg Ministers of Justice, of Cooperation and of Public Works as well as Barbara François, Vice President of SOS-Kinderdorf International.
According to the wish of Anne Sophie Mutter and Lambert Orkis, the proceeds of the concert have been earmarked for a relief project for the Tsunami victims in South-East Asia. SOS Villages d'Enfants Monde a.s.b.l. Luxembourg will finance the construction of an SOS Social Centre in Lambada Lhok, a village situated about 10 miles from Banda Aceh (Indonesia), which was massively affected by the Tsunami disaster.
This new SOS Social Centre is going to support 100 affected families - especially single mothers - by offering them a professional training programme und thus giving them the opportunity to live together with their families under more humane conditions. The children of these women are cared for by child day-care centres and other institutions of the kind. Furthermore, a new kindergarten, a primary school and a medical centre are being set up for the local families and SOS Children's Villages provides advice as regards to professional orientation, hygiene, diet and child education.