‘Impossible Orchestra’ brings together 29 star players from 14 countries

String players including violinists Maxim Vengerov and Aleksey Igudesman, violist Amihai Grosz, cellists Jan Vogler, Alisa Weilerstein and Rolando Fernández, and bassist Edicson Ruiz are among 29 top musicians taking part in an ‘Impossible Orchestra’. The online ensemble was put together by Mexican conductor Alondra de la Parra as part of a charitable project in her home country.

In the video, the musicians performed an arrangement of Márquez’s Danzón no.2 in a video to raise money for Fondo Semillas and Save The Children Mexico, which work to combat violence directed at women and children. The video also includes dancer Elisa Carrillo Cabrera performing choreography by Christopher Wheeldon. A virtual fundraising gala will be held on Friday August 28 on YouTube with contributions from international celebrities. More than €275,000 has already been raised for the project by the main sponsors. 

Read: Viola player raises £16k in charity walk before his 100th birthday

Read: Hilary Hahn donates $25,000 award to music education charity

Read: Fundraising campaign launched for freelance musicians in Germany

Speaking about the project, de la Parra said she was ’deeply touched by everyone’s responses and contributions’. ’The power of music and dance, encapsulated by so many wonderful musicians coming together to create the Impossible Orchestra will send a strong message of solidarity and hope to those in my home country whose already vulnerable position has been exacerbated by Covid-19.’