Twenty-five public service orchestras came together to produce a unique pan-European virtual recording of Charpentier’s Te Deum in order to celebrate Fête de la Musique, or World Music Day on 21st June. 

The Te Deum piece was selected as it is inextricably linked to the EBU / Eurovision and has been popularised since its introduction over 60 years ago when Eurovision, the world’s most popular song contest, was first held in the town of Lugano, Switzerland, on 24 May 1956.

On this occasion no less that 188 players from across the EBU member orchestras took part and the film showcases players from Ireland to Ukraine, united in music.

The Te Deum film forms part of a wider EBU campaign, “Keep Media Good”. During the COVID-19 crisis three films have already been produced within the campaign: Essential News, Educational Services and World Press Freedom Day: www.keepmediagood.com.

In the spirit of the pandemic emergency, on this occasion the broadcaster orchestras produced remote recordings which were then carefully curated into the finished film. 
The EBU promoted the film on its social accounts and members also promoted it across their TV and social platforms giving wide-spread media exposure across Europe.

Pascale Labrie is the EBU’s Head of Music: “The speed at which the orchestras responded was incredible. As a result of their time and the quality of their recordings we have been able to make this impressive recording and to make it available to wider audiences. Our sincere thanks to our colleagues in music for their solidarity in these unprecedented times.”

Noel Curran EBU Director General said “Music and musicians have continued to play an important role in peoples’ lives during the pandemic, with people regularly turning to online performances as a source of comfort and hope. This unique recording garnered incredible support across our membership, and I would like to thank all those involved. In bringing together the broadcaster orchestras of Europe in this the 70th years of the EBU we look forward to brighter times ahead.”

The participating broadcaster orchestras are: BBC Concert Orchestra(UK); BBC National Orchestra of Wales (Wales); BBC Philharmonic(UK); BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra(Scotland); Symphony Orchestra of Belteleradiocompany (Belarus); HR: Frankfurt Radio Symphony (Germany); HRT: Symphony Orchestra of the Croatian Radiotelevision(Croatia); MTVA: Hungarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (Hungary); NDR: Radiophilharmonie Hannover (Germany); NPO: Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra (Netherlands); NRK: Norwegian Radio Orchestra (Norway); ORF: Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra (Austria); Polskie Radio: Polish Radio Orchestra in Warsaw (Poland); Radio France: L’Orchestre National de France (France); Radio France: Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France (France); Radio Romania Orchestra (Romania); Rai: Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale (Italy); RTÉ Concert Orchestra (Ireland); RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra (Ireland); RTSH: Symphonic Orchestra of RTSH – Albanian Radio Television (Albania); RTVE Symphony Orchestra (Spain); RTVS: Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra (Slovakia); SR: Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra (Sweden); UA:PBC: Ukrainian Radio Symphony Orchestra (Ukraine); WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne (Germany).