Juan Diego Flórez & Friends

The second benefit gala concert given by Juan Diego Flórez in aid of Sinfonía por el Perú took place on 23 April 2016 at the Vienna Musikverein. Performing alongside KS Juan Diego Flórez were sopranos María Katzarava and Nadine Sierra, mezzo sopranos Elisabeth Kulman, Elena Maximova and Silvia Tro Santafé, baritones Adrian Eröd and Erwin Schrott, and bass Simón Orfila, as well as the Balearic Symphony Orchestra conducted by Pablo Mielgo.

The revenue from the benefit gala concert will all go to support the organisation Sinfonía por el Perú. This social project, initiated by KS Juan Diego Flórez in his home country, is inspired by the music education network El Sistema in Venezuela. Through the setting up and organisation of orchestras and choirs, socially disadvantaged children and young people gain huge benefit from music.

ORF III is broadcasting the “Gala Latina” from the Vienna Musikverein on Sunday 22 May 2016 at 20.15 in “Erlebnis Bühne”. Before the concert, the Austrian cultural services broadcaster will be repeating the interview between Juan Diego Flórez and Barbara Rett on the “KulturWerk” programme.

This project and the benefit gala concert in Vienna are very close to Juan Diego Flórez’s heart. “This concert is in aid of Sinfonía por el Perú, an organisation created by us in 2011. Through the power of music we give thousands of children and young people hope for the future. At each small centre, the participants organise themselves into choirs and orchestras which each represent a “mini society”. Through a demanding approach and a mixture of great commitment and participation on an equal entitlement basis, children and young people learn a sense of self-worth, and also values, habits and attitudes that will guide them in their lives. The children gain confidence that they will be able to turn their dreams into reality. My heartfelt thanks are due to my colleagues, the orchestra and the conductor and to all those who have made this concert possible. I want to share with everyone my tremendous enthusiasm and joy that by our art we are able to help to create a better and more just world.”