Last night’s concert featured the Chineke! Orchestra alongside (for the first work in the programme) the amazing percussionist Evelyn Glennie… and was also attended by lovely friends Linda, Ian, Sarah, Dave, Mary and Tom (among others!).
The Chineka! Foundation is a pretty remarkable organisation that was created in 2015 by double-bass player Chi-chi Nwanoka (who also featured in last night’s concert) to provide outstanding career opportunities to established and up-and-coming Black and ethnically diverse classical musicians in the UK and Europe. The Chineke! Orchestra is its ‘flagship ensemble’… and the musicians are hugely talented (and young!)… and very impressive.The evening featured four pieces of work from composers Jill Jarman (“Across the Divide” – concerto for double bass and percussion), Dvořák (“Serenade for Strings”), James B Wilson (“Free-man”) and Fela Sowande (“African Suite”).
Although I’ve
always felt a little uneasy by Glennie’s somewhat over-dramatic style of
performance (just my personal view, obviously), she’s undoubtedly an amazing,
mesmerising musician. She featured in just the Jill Jarman piece at the
beginning of the programme last night – in which she played SIX instruments!
For me, the
highlight of the evening was Sowande’s “African Suite”, written in 1955. Joyful
and uplifting.
There’s something about listening to an
orchestra in ‘full voice’ (some 30 hugely-gifted musicians). I loved the orchestra’s
energy and enthusiasm (and youthfulness!).
A brilliant evening.
Photo: Chineke! Orchestra with Evelyn Glennie,
from last night’s performance.
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