Virlanie Choir Performs at Historic “La Madeleine” in Paris

Left photo: First part of “Virlanie Voices” evening concert at the Madeleine Church on 26 April 2018. Right photo: The Virlanie choir donning tradition Ifugao traditional clothing for the second part.

PARIS 04 May 2018 — The Philippine Embassy and the Filipinos of Paris lent their support to the Philippine choir Virlanie by attending its concert at the historic Madeleine Church in the eighth arrondissement (district) on 26 April 2018. On its fourth European concert tour entitled, “Virlanie Voices,” the choir had performed as part of their usual fundraising activities for the Virlanie Foundation.

Established 26 years ago by French national Dominique Lemay, Virlanie is a charitable nonprofit organization whose mission is “to take care of children in need of special protection towards independence-enabling, and to advocate and lobby for the rights of a child. Virlanie has various programs to respond to the needs of the children living in the Foundation, in the streets, and those living in the Virlanie-supported communities.”

One of the strongest supporters of the foundation is Mrs. Brigitte Ayrault, who delivered the opening remarks for the evening. She and her husband, former French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, were both present at the concert.

The event, attended by a mixed Filipino and French audience estimated at 170 persons, had not only been an opportunity for Virlanie to showcase Filipino traditional songs and costumes but also to share its beautiful rendition of classic French songs. One of the highlights of the event was the joint performance of the choir with French singer/songwriter guitaris Hugues Aufray.

Virlanie choir’s European tour started in Geneva, Switzerland on April 4 and will end with its participation in the Festival International de Chant Choral de Nancy. END

For more information, visit  www.parispe.dfa.gov.ph or http://www.facebook.com/PHinFrance/ https://twitter.com/PHinFrance

Left photo: Virlanie Founder Dominique Lemay welcomes the audience and shares the foundation’s recent accomplishments and ongoing projects. Right photo: Choir sings with French singer Hugues Aufray