A Chord of Hope

The Rotary Club’s Cannes Appassionata Fundraising Concert on 22 and 24 April raised €3,000 for the children’s home CASLAS to help with renovations.

Two fundraising concerts were held in Lagos and Portimão with a collaborative exchange between musicians from the Conservatoire of Cannes Appassionata from France, Professor Bruna Mélia’s pupils, and former pupils of the Academia de Música de Lagos.

The performance was memorable, and the musicians received great applause. In Lagos, the concert took place in the Cultural Centre, while in Portimão, it was held in the TEMPO theatre. A Rotary Club representative said, “We would like to express our deepest gratitude to the municipal authorities of Lagos and Portimão for the generous grant of the facilities. It is an honour and a privilege to receive the support of these institutions, which are so essential to our community.”

The musicians played pieces by Vivaldi, Jules Massenet, Johann Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, George Friedrich Haendel, Georg Philipp Telemann, Scott Joplin, Edvard Grieg, Johann Strauss and Dmitri Shostakovich. It was an extraordinary symphony of cultural exchange, where talented musicians from France and Portugal brought their art to the community. The international collaboration also fulfils an essential role for the city’s musical students, providing valuable experience and benefitting them personally and culturally.

“Through the magic of music, we united hearts and minds in the pursuit of benefitting a worthy cause. Each chord, each note, was an expression of solidarity and generosity. The artists and the public united in a moment of harmony, not just to appreciate the music but also to make an important contribution to the lives of the young people in the home. Each ticket sold and each donation received is a small step to a brighter future for these youngsters. We thank everyone who participated and contributed to the success of this project, which followed our mantra of creating hope in the world.”