This year's benefit concert in favor of the Malteser Foundation Aide & Assistance was able to take place on November 23rd as planned thanks to a comprehensive protection concept.
The baroque ambience of the Heiliggeistkirche in Bern provided a worthy and acoustically unique backdrop for the Bern concert orchestra under the direction of Ingo Becker.
Under the motto of the Foundation "Share Health", the President of the Swiss Maltese, Martin von Walterskirchen, welcomed the almost 100 invited guests.
Musically, the concert orchestra took them on a journey through the young Franz Schubert (Symphony No. 5 in B flat major) to a work by Mozart that was also young. The oboe concerto in C major was staged first-class by the solo oboist Doris Mende, who was dressed to match the colors of the Maltese. After a very exhausting time for musicians, the joy of playing in front of the audience was evident in the entire orchestra.
In total, the benefit concert brought in the impressive sum of CHF 21,000, which will flow directly into the foundation's projects. With the motto "Share Health", Aide & Assistance enables thousands of children and adults around the world better access to health by sharing health. This is based on a very simple principle: the foundation «recycles» medical goods that are no longer needed but in good condition, and transports them to needy regions around the world. A unique and extremely sustainable concept with which the Foundation has organized over 1,350 aid transports from Switzerland since 1994.
The event ended with an aperitif in good company in the Burgerspittel next door. There the guests were able to obtain extensive information about the foundation's projects.
Special thanks go to the Bern Concert Orchestra and the sponsors Blankart & Cie Aktiengesellschaft, EMEA Recruitment GmbH, as well as the Johanniter Aid Association Switzerland and the Malteser Hospital Service Switzerland.
Picture: Malteser Stiftung Aide & Assistance