06.02.2012 70 top physicians from over thirty nations exchange their white coats for evening attire in a benefit concert at the Baxter for charity.

The talented and philanthropic World Doctors Orchestra (WDO) will kick-start their South African tour at the Baxter Concert Hall, with one performance only on Thursday, February 9, 2012, at 8.00 pm. They will perform Franz Schubert’s Symphony No. 8, in C major, as well as works by respected South African composers Peter Klatzow and Allan Stephenson, with Maria du Toit as soloist.

The WDO combines the pleasure of fine music with charity. Two to three times a year, some hundred physicians from over thirty countries exchange their white coats for evening attire and perform a benefit concert for people in need of healthcare. The proceeds from each of these concerts go to selected non-profit medical aid organisations.

The founder and conductor of the WDO is Stefan Willich, a professor at Charité University Medical Centre in Berlin, Germany. Following their successful appearances in Berlin, Cleveland, Taipei, Yerevan, Washington, Beijing and Shanghai, the WDO’s ninth concert tour will be the orchestra’s first visit to South Africa. The proceeds from the concert will go to the Hugo Tempelman Foundation that supports medical and social care for people suffering from AIDS/HIV in Elandsdoorn, near Johannesburg.

Since 2008 the WDO, which was founded in 2007, has been supporting the Hugo Tempelman Foundation to encourage the Ndlovu Care Group, which not only advance the public health sector and the structuring of all-round medical care, but also focus on the holistic and sustainable development of people’s living environment in South Africa.

On their South African tour the music-making doctors will give three concerts, performing Franz Schubert’s Symphony No. 8, in C major, Allan Stephenson’s Pastorale for clarinet played by Maria du Toit, widely regarded as one of this country’s foremost clarinetist. As principal clarinetist of the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra, and as a soloist, her playing is of the highest calibre. Peter Klatzow’s commissioned work The Healing Melody will also be performed.

The combined talents of the doctors will come together when they arrive in Cape Town in February for two days of rehearsal culminating in the concert on February 9 at the Baxter Concert Hall, at 8.00pm. Ticket prices range from R50 for students and R75 for senior citizen to R90 full price. Block bookings are available. All proceeds of the concert will be donated to the Hugo Tempelman Foundation. Booking for the Worlds Doctors Orchestra is through Computicket on 0861 915 8000, at any Shoprite Checkers outlet and on-line at http://www.computicket.co.za.

The other two concerts of the tour are scheduled for Elandsdoorn and Johannesburg, on February 11 and 12, 2012 respectively. For the orchestra members, an important part of the musical journey will be to get a picture of the work of colleague Hugo Tempelman.

Programme:
Peter Klatzow, Overture The Healing Melody Allan Stephenson, Concertino Pastorale for Clarinet and Orchestra Franz Schubert, Symphony No. 8, in C major

World Doctors Orchestra
Conductor: Stefan Willich
Soloist: Maria du Toit, clarinet

For more information visit:
World Doctors Orchestra: http://www.world-doctors-orchestra.org Hugo Tempelman Foundation: http://www.hugo-tempelman-stiftung.de Ndlovu Care Group: http://www.ndlovucaregroup.co.za
Baxter: http://www.baxter.co.za