Playing for London comes to the UK

24/02/2017

Unique collaboration with Les Siecles symphony orchestra scheduled for Royal Festival Hall

Societe Generale has announced it will host the concert, Playing for London, which will feature staff and professional musicians coming together to perform on London's South Bank.

In the year that sees the 30th anniversary of the bank’s support of classical music and musicians, the project will culminate in the performance on April 22 at the iconic Royal Festival Hall. 

The initiative – unique in the corporate world – brings together a choir of Societe Generale staff from around the world to perform with symphony orchestra, Les Siècles. The 250-strong choir will see UK employees join colleagues from Cameroon, France and Morocco. 

The concert will be conducted by Les Siecles’ founder, Francois-Xavier Roth, widely regarded as one of the most charismatic conductors of his generation, who has led a number of celebrated orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmoniker, the Boston Symphony, the Tonhalle-Orchestra in Zurich, and the London Symphony Orchestra.

Playing for London embodies Societe Generale’s principles of commitment and team spirit. Chief Executive, Frédéric Oudéa said, “It shows what Societe Generale represents and the talent and diversity of our staff around the world. I am thrilled to take this extraordinary adventure to the UK.”

The concert promises to be a special event. Leo Warynski,a long-time collaborator of Francois-Xavier Roth’s who is overseeing the rehearsal process said, "As a professional musician you can fall into a routine. When you work on this project, you can feel people's excitement to be part of it. Each concert we have done with Societe Generale has made me remember why I wanted to be a musician."