OREANDA-NEWS. June 27, 2008. The grand total of 25 957 LVL (Latvian Lats) was raised at a charity dinner with the world-famous Spanish tenor Jose Carreras hosted by Parex banka to help cure children suffering from leukemia in Latvia. The charity dinner was attended by clients and partners of Parex banka.

Fund raising for little leukemia patients will continue also tonight in the Dzintari Concert Hall, where Jose Carreras will perform. A number of children suffering from leukemia have been invited to see the show as guests.

Carreras is also well known for his humanitarian work as the president of the Josй Carreras International Leukemia Foundation (La Fundaciу Internacional Josep Carreras per a la Lluita contra la Leucemia), which he established following his own recovery from the disease in 1988. The head office of the foundation is located in Barcelona, Spain, but its branches have been established  in the USA, Switzerland and Germany. During the press conference in Latvia, the director of Martin’s Foundation – the Latvian organization providing support to children suffering leukemia – Elita Keiљa passed a gift to the Spanish tenor – an applique work handmade by little leukemia patients.

Jose Carreras is back with a concert in Latvia after a 10-year intermission. Keeping on the tradition, Parex banka is patronizing the event also this time. The tenor will take the stage floor tonight and perform a programme The Mediterranean Passion, which comprises arias from Italian operas along with the Neapolitan and Spanish songs. Carreras will be accompanied by the New Italian Quartet and his loyal pianist Lorenzo Baveja.

“In art and culture we believe in values that last for years and in the long run they only become brighter and more significant. This is absolutely characteristic of Jose Carreras’s creative work. This is not the artist’s first visit to Latvia – and Parex banka once again supports his tour in our country. I wish unforgettable impressions to all of us – the admirers of the talent of Jose Carreras!” empahiszed Viktor Krasovitsky, Chairman of the Council of Directors of Parex banka.