Vienna, “Sounds for Peace” Charity Concert

The "Sounds for Peace" charity concert, sponsored by the Italian Embassy in Vienna, the Permanent Mission of Italy to the International Organizations, the Permanent Mission to the OSCE, and the Italian Cultural Institute, in collaboration with the University of Vienna, took place at the Vienna Musikverein.

The event featured the Vienna University Orchestra and Choir, conducted by Maestro Vijay Upadhyaya, who performed Giuseppe Verdi's Requiem Mass for free. The event paid tribute to the 125th anniversary of the composer's death and coincided with the start of the Olympic Truce, sanctioned by a United Nations General Assembly Resolution facilitated by Italy, for the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, starting on February 6.

The strong sense of solidarity is at the heart of the initiative. As emphasized by Ambassador Giovanni Pugliese and the Rector of the University of Vienna, Sebastian Schütze, the proceeds from the concert and related charitable contributions, which can still be provided, will be donated to the World Food Programme (WFP) "ShareTheMeal" initiative, in support of the United Nations agency's commitment to the global fight against hunger.

Heartfelt thanks to the organizers and the audience were also expressed by Richard Wilcox, Director of the Private Partnerships Division of the WFP, who highlighted that this kind of initiatives concretely strengthen the Organization's work for the most vulnerable populations, particularly in regions affected by humanitarian crises and conflicts.

In an international context marked by rising levels of food insecurity, the initiative demonstrated that cultural diplomacy can turn into tangible support through the involvement of institutions and civil society. This result was made possible thanks to the generosity of over 1,400 participants and the momentum and coordination of the Italian diplomatic missions in Vienna that promoted the concert as a joint initiative of cooperation and shared responsibility.