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Romeo & Juliet raised £600K for Gift of Life

On 14 January 2017 Gift of Life hosted its biggest fundraiser – an exclusive concert at the Royal Festival Hall on London’s Southbank; starring celebrated British actors Ralph Fiennes and Vanessa Redgrave CBE, accompanied by world-renowned conductor Teodor Currentzis and his famous orchestra, musicAeterna.

The orchestra captivated the audience with their spell-binding performance of Prokofiev’s Romeo & Juliet, while Ralph Fiennes, Vanessa Redgrave CBE, and highly acclaimed Russian actresses Dina Korzun and Chulpan Khamatova (the founders of Gift of Life’s sister charity Podari Zhizn) performed a series of sonnets and readings from Shakespeare’s plays.

Following the sold-out concert, Gift of Life, Teodor Currentzis and musicAeterna, Ralph Fiennes and Vanessa Redgrave CBE co-hosted a private reception at the hall. An auction also took place with guests bidding for lots kindly donated by Teodor, Chulpan, Evgeny Mironov and the Aksenov Family Foundation.

The evening raised in excess of £600,000. Thanks to the generous support of Phenomen Trust, Roman Abramovich, Aeroflot Russian Airlines, Kaspersky Lab and partnership with Corinthia Hotel London; all money raised on the night went directly to the children supported by Gift of Life. The funds provided seriously ill children in Russia with cutting-edge medicine and medical aid. The medicines, which are otherwise unavailable in Russia, are vital for treating specific forms of cancer, and are therefore the main focus of Gift of Life’s donations.

Celebrity supporters who attended the concert and exclusive reception afterwards included: Ralph Fiennes, Vanessa Redgrave CBE, Bond girl Olga Kurylenko, Russian actresses Dina Korzun and Chulpan Khamatova, Gift of Life patron Princess Catherine Galitzine, Teodor Currentzis, Russian ballet star Natalia Osipova, influencer Diego Bivero Volpe, actress Charlotte Carroll, it-girl Betty Bachz, Jean Bernard Fernandez-Versini, Fidan Bagirova, Jean David Malat.

The press release

Facing the music: Teodor Currentzis

Gift of Love for GIFT OF LIFE video, in Russian