On December 20, Thomas Hampson joins the Berliner Philharmoniker for a special benefit concert, “Together for Humanity”, to aid the families of the hostages and two peace organizations in Israel and Palestine. With this charity concert, the Berliner Philharmoniker and their guests artists call for the release of all hostages kidnapped from Israel into Gaza and for the protection of the Palestinian and Israeli civilian population.

Chief conductor Kirill Petrenko conducts, with other renowned artists joining the program, including pianist Martha Argerich, cellist Steven Isserlis, soprano Christiane Karg and others. Musicians from Israel, including the singers Noa and Mira Awad, will also be performing.

Proceeds from the concert will benefit three important projects: Israel’s “Abducted and Missing Families Forum” (which is behind the “Bring Them Home Now” campaign), and two peace organisations in Israel and Palestine, “Women Wage Peace” and “Women of the Sun”, which work together for lasting peace between the two peoples.

An appeal by the musicians involved states: “We call for the immediate release of all hostages, and for the aid and protection of all civilians on both sides, including for the expansion of humanitarian aid for Gazan civilians. We call for the intervention and aid of the international community in promoting, expediting, and securing a diplomatic solution that will end the violence and facilitate a shared existence. As an artistic community, we refuse to lose hope in such a future.” Read the complete appeal, here.

The concert will be broadcast live and free of charge via the Berliner Philharmoniker’s Digital Concert Hall, on the websites of rbbKultur (www.rbbkultur.de) and rbb’s radioeins (www.radioeins.de), and on the radio station rbbKultur, hosted by Shelly Kupferberg.