Tonga’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, will sponsor a special concert featuring the Environmental Symphony: The Movement, to be held in the General Assembly Hall at UN Headquarters in New York, to commemorate United Nations Day on 24 October [Tonga time 11:30am, 25 October].
The concert, on the theme of "The Frontlines of Climate Action", will feature a special performance from world-renowned cellist, Michael Flitzpatrick and a brief Tongan cultural performance. Narrators for the performance include Haloti Ngata, an American former professional football player (NFL), who founded a charity, the Haloti Ngata Family Foundation and Auli'i Cravalho (Disney's Moana) from Hawaii.
This year’s UN Day Concert theme reinforces the Secretary-General, António Guterres's call for a faster and bolder climate action.
The event intends to galvanize world leaders ahead of the COP28 climate conference in Dubai later in the year, and the 2024 International Conference on Small Island Developing States in Antigua and Barbuda.
"People of all backgrounds and nationalities are brought together around music, which reflects the profound diversity and unique contributions of cultures around the world. Music is a universal language that bridges divides, helping to lay the foundations for a culture of peace," said Guterres. “I thank the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Tonga for sponsoring this year’s UN Day concert.”
The performances may be watched live, at Tonga time at 11:30am 25 October: webtv.un.org
The Environmental Symphony: The Movement, is a multi-media symphonic experience featuring a live orchestral performance, thought provoking narration, and mesmerizing synchronized visuals, described as “a creative vehicle designed to inspire global action”
The Conductor Julien Benichou is the Artistic Director of the Washington Opera Society (WOS), and Music Director Designate of the Accord Symphony in Washington, DC.
The Tongan cultural performance will be presented by the Mana Academy Scholars, from an accredited non-profit college preparatory public charter school in West Valley City, Utah.
UN Day Concert 2023
Date: Tuesday, 24 October, 6:30 - 8 p.m. (ET)
How to watch: Watch the UN Day concert LIVE on UN Web TV
and on the official UN YouTube Channel.
Concert programme (PDF)
UN Day History
The United Nations came into existence on 24 October 1945, and after three years, the first UN Day was celebrated on Sunday, 24 October 1948.
Today celebrates and commemorates the UN's inception in October 1945, known as United Nations Day. The day also highlights the UN's successes while also raising awareness of its aims and aspirations.
However in 1971, the UN General assembly recommended that the day be observed by Member States as a public holiday.
Later in 1999, Tonga was admitted to the UN and since then became a member of state.
