Max Richter, an accomplished musician, will mark Earth Day with a concert featuring BBC on Saturday 2^nd of April 2023 at the Ecology Pavilion in London's Mile End Park. Richter is one of the most prestigious contemporary artists, an innovative composer who also works as a pianist and producer. Ranging from synthesizers and computers to a symphony orchestra, Richter's work includes solo albums, ballet performances, productions for concert halls, film series, television series, visual art installations and theatre music.

Organized as part of the global celebrations dedicated to Earth Day and inspired by Sir David Attenborough's BBC-produced "Wild Isles", the "Max Richter Live: Earth Day 2023" concert will demonstrate how we can celebrate our natural surroundings through music and raise awareness of the need to protect our planet.

The concert is part of the BBC's East Bank (London) community programme as part of the BBC's expansion; in 2025, the BBC will open its new music studios in Stratford's Queen Elizabeth II Olympic Park, moving from Maida Vale (West London). So Saturday's concert reinforces the close relationship that already exists between the BBC and the area's residents in the run-up to the event in two years' time.

The concert will take place at The Ecology Pavilion at lunchtimeand is especially dedicated at local residents. BBC Radio 3 will record and broadcast it live in the evening. Thus, along with listeners from all over the UK, this concert will be watched simultaneously by members of the European Broadcasting Union, who have chosen to join this event thanks to the partnership between BBC Radio 3 and the EBU. Radio România Muzical has joined this unique initiative.

The programme includes three works by Max Richter- "Infra", "Four seasons - recomposed" (after Vivaldi) and "Nature of daylight".

Max Richter(singer and pianist, harpsichord player and electronics player) will be joined by the "Chineke!" Orchestra. Orchestra (which he will also conduct), violinist Elena Urioste- amusician that raises awareness on environment and Linton Stephens (British-Jamaican bassoonist), a collaborator of the Chineke! Orchestra and now presenter of the concert for BBC Radio 3.

The "Chineke!" orchestra was founded in 2015 by double bass player Chi-chi Nwanoku, a professor at the Royal Academy of Music in London. It is the first ensemble in Europe where members are mostly black, as well as from different ethnic communities. The orchestra's repertoire includes works of cult creation, as well as works by black and ethnic composers of all time. The orchestra's mottoand therefore its purpose, is "Supporting change and celebrating diversity in classical music".

Pascale Labrie, Head of Music EBU, stated about this event : "Public broadcasters can play an important role in raising awareness of environmental issues and inspiring their listeners to take action. Significant musical events involving artists of a high professional standard have the greatest impact on audiences. The EBU Music Department is proud of the team it is putting together with Universal, the BBC and EBU member broadcasters as it has the effect of increasing, on a large scale, the attendance at this event, amplifying these important messages and convincing us all to take great care of our precious planet."

I invite you to participate at this event on 22^nd April at 20.30 on the European Stage TV series.

Earth Day was created by the US Senator Gaylord Nelson in 1970 in order to raise political interest in environmental issues. In 1990, more than 200 million people in 141 countries turned Earth Day into a global event, campaigning for a better future for our planet. In 2009, the United Nations (UN) declared the 22^nd of April as an official Earth Day, supporting the common desire to build a stable society for a cleaner and greener future.