The vita Foundation organised a Christmas concert at the Kunsthaus K22 featuring works of Caix d´Hervelois, Villa-Lobos, Piazolla, Ginastera as well as Catalan Christmas carols on classic instruments by Gagliano and Stradivarius on December 15th 2009 to support the work of a world-leading human rights organisation. The following musicians performed: Petra Luise Kämpfer (piano), Josep Bassal and Wolfgang Lehner (violoncello).

After the introductory speech on the key work issues of Human Rights Watch by Lynn Schweisfurth (Head of Development & Outreach Germany), Juliane Kippenberger (Senior Researcher for children’s rights in Africa) informed the participants with a film about human rights violations in the Democratic Republic of Congo; in particular through sexual abuse committed by governmental and rebel troops in the armed conflict against young girls and women. The event’s objective was to encourage the public in the Rhine/Main area to provide financial support, as this non-governmental, non-profit organisation is funded through private donations only. Human Rights Watch raises international public awareness in particular for human rights violations, giving victims a voice and making responsible parties accountable. Independent investigations and targeted lobby work force political decision makers to act and contribute to the prevention of human rights infringements. Human Rights Watch has been fighting for more justice and safety for all humans around the world for 30 years; with a successful track record: Human Rights Watch was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace for its campaign on banning land mines, it critically accompanied the work of the UN war crimes tribunals for former Yugoslavia and Ruanda, fought for the prosecution of dictators, like Charles Taylor from Liberia or Hissène Habré from the Chad, while also assuming major responsibility for the establishment of the International Criminal Division.

Petra Luise Kämpfer studied piano under Prof. R. Keller and Prof. R. Zack at the Lübeck Conservatory. The diploma examination in 1988 was followed by a creative arts study at the College of Music and Performing Arts in Frankfurt/Main under Hiroko Maruko, extensive chamber music activities and the Bad Homburger Förderpreis für Kammermusik (Sponsorship Award for Chamber Music of the City of Bad Homburg) in 1993.

Josep Bassal was born in Barcelona. He studied under his father and Sants Sagrera. Further studies followed under Ricard Boadella, Lluis Claret and Radu Aldulescu. He is a solo artist and chamber musician in international demand, while also performing CD, TV and broadcasting recordings. He is a professor for cello and chamber music at the conservatory in Girona and the Academia Granados-Marshall in Barcelona.

Wolfgang Lehner is a highly active solo and chamber musician (Duo ClaviCell, Tritton-Ensemble). He performed at the World Cello Congress in St. Petersburg and Baltimore, festivals in Kronberg and Evian, the Seoul Arts-Festival, the Vendrell Concert with Rostropovich, Istomin and Montserrat Caballé at the Pau Casals Museum. He teaches at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst (State Conservatory of Music and Performing Arts) in Mannheim and performs master classes at the Fullerton State University in Los Angeles.