December 2008 Cello Recital
Healthprom Hosts Highly Successful Fundraising Event - Cello Recital In Memory of Mstislav Rostropovich, 3rd December 2008
Healthprom would like to thank all those who took part in the event for making it a most enjoyable and memorable occasion, raising valuable funds for the the charity.
HealthProm held a fundraising event at the Reform Club on 3rd December in honour of Mstislav Rostropovich. Gary Hoffman, one of the world’s most respected cellists, and celebrated pianist David Selig, travelled to London from Paris to perform at this tribute to the late Rostropovich, one of the best-loved conductors and cellists the world has seen.
The event was held in the beautiful library of the Reform Club and guests were treated to Sergei Prokofiev’s Cello sonata in C major Op 119, Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Andante from Cello Sonata in G minor Op 19 and Dmitri Shostakovich’s Cello sonata in D Minor Op 40. The performers were welcomed back to the stage for an encore from Ernst Bloch’s ‘Jewish Life’.
After the performance, some short speeches were given. HRH Prince Michael of Kent, guest of honour for the evening, summed up the thoughts of everyone when he said that the evening had provided “a fitting link between a good cause and a tribute to a great man”.
Guests were generous in their purchase of raffle tickets and adventurous in their bidding at the auction later in the evening and the evening netted over £5,000 for HealthProm.
Speaking after the event, HealthProm Chairman Elena Tkachenko-Schmidt said: “It was a very special evening, a combination of beautiful performances from the musicians, wonderful surroundings and a tribute to a great human being. All of us at HealthProm are also very grateful that so many people turned out to support the event and donated so generously to HealthProm.”
Gary Hoffman introduces one of the evening's excellent pieces
HRH Prince Michael of Kent talks with HE Fahraddin Gurbanov, the Azerbaijani Ambassador
HRH Prince Michael of Kent talks with Healthprom founder Dr. Stewart Britten
Soloists Gary Hoffman and David Selig are applauded by a thoroughly entertained and enraptured audience, following their excellent recital
