Located on Place de l’Europe in the Kirchberg district of Luxembourg City, the Philharmonie Luxembourg is widely regarded as one of Europe’s most esteemed concert halls. Since opening in 2005, the venue has hosted more than 3,500 events and welcomed roughly 1.5 million visitors. On May 5, the inventive Vegetable Orchestra will return to the hall with instruments carved entirely from fresh vegetables. Founded in Vienna in 1998, this internationally known ensemble consists of 11 musicians, a video artist and a sound technician. Their repertoire spans free jazz and experimental electronic music to contemporary pieces and rhythm-driven house tracks — all performed on instruments made from raw produce.
The concerts offer a uniquely multisensory experience: at the end of the performance, the vegetables used to make the instruments are turned into soup and served to the audience. In addition to this unusual act, the Philharmonie’s May program includes more traditional offerings. The Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg, led by Valery Gergiev, will present a gala concert in support of the Luxembourg Red Cross, while Ensemble Masques will perform works by Telemann. These varied events illustrate the Philharmonie’s commitment to presenting a broad spectrum of music, from experimental and theatrical projects to grand orchestral programs.