The Educational Work of the Philharmonie Luxembourg

Our aim is to foster individual delight in the perception of music in every single young listener. This means that no compromises can be made in quality when the requirements of various young groups are taken into consideration. A structured, multi-level programme for young audiences is thus a central element in the artistic planning of the Philharmonie. The 2011/12 season will offer some 150 tailor-made concert productions for various age groups between 0 and 17 years – half of the institution’s own events. With growing demand, the programme area now represents about a quarter of all subscribers. Concert cycles like “Loopino” (3-5 years), “Philou” (5-9 years), “Miouzik” (9-12 years) and “iPhil” (13-17 years) invite youngsters to a personal, lasting contact with live music. The seamless progression of subscription series fosters continuity so that children often belong to the Philharmonie’s audiences for years. Coherent productions, attractive staging and stimulating lighting provide a further positive support for active listening.

 

Regional, national and international co-operation play an important role, with, for example numerous school concerts in partnership with the Luxembourg Ministry of Education and the City of Luxembourg or again with a multi-discipline children’s series organised with the Grand Théâtre and CarréRotondes. With partners like the OrchestrePhilharmonique du Luxembourg, the MierscherKulturhaus, the Centre des Arts PlurielsEttelbrück, the Tanzzentrum TROIS C-L, the municipal conservatories and „Luxembourg et Grande Région, European Capital of Culture 2007“ concerts have been and will continue to be participative projects too, involving amateur musicians etc. Luxembourg artists and ensembles are supported with concert commissions and involved in an artistic dialogue with international partners. Series like “Loopino” and “Musekerzielt” are wholly Philharmonie productions, which leads to ongoing stimulation of the cultural scene and to lasting, fruitful co-operation.

 

The international partners in this field include the Lucerne Festival, the Kölner Philharmonie (KölnMusik), MusikTriennale Köln, YEAH! Festival – Young EARopean Award, BregenzerFestspiele, JeunesseÖsterreich, Konzerthaus Wien, Grazer Spielstätten, BludenzKultur, Arsenal Metz, Cité de la Musique Paris, Manchester International Festival and the Moscow Philharmonie. It is our concern to expand and intensify European collaboration in the “Young Audience” sector. For its efforts to create a culture of reception for youngsters the Philharmonie was given the “encouragement award” by the Ernst von Siemens Foundation for Music 2005-2007.

 

The “Loopino” Concert Cycle for children from 3 to 5 years of age

The “Flagship Children’s Series” for the Philharmonie is the “Loopino” subscription cycle for children from 3 to 5 years of age and their parents. A creative team of four members in Luxembourg arranges six concerts per season. The figure of “Loopino”, the dancer-actress Luisa Bevilacqua, accompanies the audience through the concerts as a character that children identify with and a link between the musical events on stage and the world of children’s experience. She is accompanied by a music teacher (Max Fischbach), who produces a hands-on music workshop, an art teacher (Martine Daniels-Marson), who designs and leads craft activities, as well as a stage designer (Edmond Oliveira).

 

This group makes it possible to integrate renowned performers (Ian Bostridge/Julius Drake, Pierre-Laurent Aimard, Tabea Zimmermann, Vittorio Ghielmi/Luca Pianca, the Fauré Quartetand many others) regardless of their previous experience of working with children. A very young audience can thus be offered the very best artistic quality, creating, at the same time, links and synergies with the programme for adult audiences.

Individual experience of a wide variety of artistic sensory impressions stands at the heart of the “Loopino” concerts in close relation with the music. The concerts follow a flexible pattern in which the receptive phases of listening and watching are complemented by active participation in musical and artistic performance workshops. Each concert has a three-part structure: an initial concert element (“Listening to Music”) is followed by creative participation (“Making music”) in the music workshop and “craft activities” referring directly to the musical event. The conclusion is formed by a brief concert section. With its contrasting, varied sections the concept reflects children’s receptive capacities, enabling them to be involved actively and attentively in an event lasting between 70 and 80 minutes.