Interview
Christian Schneider (UNICEF) in conversation with Andreas Wittmann UNICEF concert for Japan with Simon Rattle and Daniel Barenboim
Both the Berliner Philharmoniker and the Staatskapelle Berlin have been regular guests in Japan for many years. Following the devastating earthquake and the nuclear disaster at Fukushima in March 2011, the two orchestras gave a joint UNICEF benefit concert for the victims a few weeks later, with Sir Simon Rattle and Daniel Barenboim conducting a programme of Tchaikovsky’s Pathétique and Brahms’s Fourth Symphony.
To open the concert, the Staatskapelle Berlin and Daniel Barenboim performed Tchaikovsky’s Sixth Symphony, the Pathétique. In addition to its concert activities, the Staatskapelle, whose history dates back to 1570, is also the orchestra of the Staatsoper Berlin. In the second half of the concert, the Berliner Philharmoniker and chief conductor Sir Simon Rattle performed Brahms’s Fourth Symphony. The Berliner Philharmoniker have been an international UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2007.
All proceeds from the concert and from the live webcast in the Digital Concert Hall went to the UNICEF emergency fund in Japan. As Ken Hayami from the Japan Committee for UNICEF said, following the earthquake, the tsunami and the nuclear power plant disaster, UNICEF’s top priority was to help traumatised children in the affected areas as quickly and effectively as possible. With this concert, the musicians wanted to help them in their efforts.
Daniel Barenboim
Staatskapelle Berlin
Berliner Philharmoniker
Sir Simon Rattle
© 2011 Berlin Phil Media GmbH
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