In collaboration with Damon Albarn, the orchestra’s creative partner, Pierre Audi, and conductor André de Ridder, the Concertgebouworkest is presenting a programme showcasing a whole range of aspects characterising Albarn’s eclectic musical universe.
Guest musicians including the singer and guitarist Afel Bocoum and kora player Mamadou Diabaté from Mali and Mélissa and Ophélia Hié from Burkina Faso will be joining Albarn on hypnotic pieces from his extensive catalogue.
Damon Albarn came to fame as the frontman of the nonconformist band Blur, going on to make his mark as a broad-based innovator with the virtual band Gorillaz and in wide-ranging music and theatre projects, incorporating collaborations with musicians from around the world across many differenct disciplines.
Here for the very first time, Albarn’s creativity is heard in juxtaposition with a large symphony orchestra in the imposing space of the Gashouder. Bird sounds link movements of his Baroque-inspired
Dr Dee, An English Opera
with the awe-inspiring orchestral music of Olivier Messiaen, while mesmerising pieces from the album
Mali Music
and the show
Le vol du Boli
showcase different aspects of Alban’s musical world.
The concert starts at 8.00 p.m. and will last about an hour and a half (there is no interval).
The doors of the Gashouder will open at 7:15 p.m. Due to the corona check, we ask you to be on time.
Damon Albarn: Symphonic Loops is supported by
Ammodo
.
Guest musicians
Afel Bocoum (vocal, guitar), Cubain Kabeya (percussion), Mamadou Diabaté (kora), Papy Kalula Mbongo (djembe, percussion), Mélissa Hié (djembe, percussion), Ophélia Hié (balafon), Lansiné Kouyaté (balafon), Baba Sissoko (tama, n’goni) and Christopher Robson (countertenor).
