Bergen Philharmonic Youth Orchestra Charity Concert in Aid of Families Affected by Poverty in Vienna

Culture meets commitment: Great symphonic masterpieces, outstanding young artists and solidarity in action will take centre stage on Thursday 8 October 2026 during a special concert evening at the MuTh. The Bergen Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, one of Norway’s leading youth orchestras, will be performing in Vienna for the first time under the baton of the internationally renowned conductor Alpesh Chauhan. All proceeds from the concert will go towards Volkshilfe Wien’s projects supporting families affected by poverty in Vienna.

The spirit of charity is just as central to this evening as the music itself. Your attendance at the concert makes all the difference – every contribution counts! Together, we can ensure that families affected by poverty receive help.

The programme features three masterpieces of the Romantic era: Edvard Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suite No. 1 with its famous melodies, Edward Elgar’s Cello Concerto in E minor, performed by the multi-award-winning Norwegian cellist Clara Yuna Friedensburg, and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4, an impressive work that ranges from a dramatic struggle against fate to triumphant hope.

Founded in 2015, the Bergen Philharmonic Youth Orchestra brings together 140 young musicians from across the country and works closely with the long-established Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. Under the baton of Alpesh Chauhan, Principal Guest Conductor of the Düsseldorf Symphony Orchestra and one of the most sought-after conductors of his generation, the orchestra regularly performs both at home and abroad and is regarded as an outstanding ambassador for the next generation of musicians. Together with the multi-award-winning cellist Clara Yuna Friedensburg, the musicians promise a concert evening full of musical intensity and unforgettable moments of sound.

Volkshilfe Wien is one of the largest social organisations in Vienna. It supports, advises and cares for people in all circumstances. With more than 1,800 staff members, Volkshilfe Wien operates as a professional service provider on behalf of the public every day. Its activities range from mobile care and support, housing and homelessness support, securing housing and preventing evictions, and labour market integration, to refugee support, community work and social work with children, young people and families. With more than 500 volunteers and around 3,000 members, it is one of the strongest social organisations in Vienna.