The Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON) will today begin the first of its series called New Horizons. The concert are expected to also hold in March, April and June.
To take place at the Agip Recital Hall of the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos, it is an initiative of the centre’s Artistic Director, Tunde Jegede.
Jegede, who assumed office late last year, said at a briefing at the centre penultimate Friday that “New Horizons embraces jazz, classical opera and African music, and features some of the world’s leading artistes”.
Among the artistes to perform, he stated, are the African-American opera diva, Laverne Williams; Argentine singer and flautist, Diana Baroni; the Samadhi Ensemble and the MUSON Choir.
Today’s edition of the concert will, like the remaining three editions, begin at 6pm. It will explore jazz and its African connections and feature Dike Chukwumerije, one of Nigeria’s earliest spoken word artistes. Also on the bill are singer/multi percussionist, Venus Bushfires; as well as Age Beeka, Imoleayo Balogun and the Art Ensemble of Lagos.
The second edition tagged ‘African Messiah’ – a contemporary opera, written and composed by Jegede – will take place on March 29.
This concert, the Kora virtuoso said, brings African and baroque music together for the very first time.
“It is the story of the Messiah in parallel to the historical trials and tribulations of African people through the millennia told in poetic narrative,” he said.
This edition of the concert will feature the MUSON Choir and the Samadhi Ensemble conducted by Sir Emeka Nwokedi.
On the evening of Sunday, April 19, the ‘After the Dream’ edition of the concert will hold. It is an opera of celebrated arias put together by the soprano soloist, Ranti Ihimoyan, and features American opera diva, Laverne Williams, and some of Nigeria’s finest opera singers including Guchi Egbunine, Fatima Anyekema and Chika Ogbuji.
‘Emidy: He Who Dared to Dream’ is the title of the final leg of the New Horizons concerts. Centred around the life and times of the 19th century composer and violinist, Joseph Antonio Emidy, who traversed the three continents of Africa, South America and Europe, it features Jegede, Baroni and the Indian multi percussionist, Renu Hossain.
Among those at the press conference that also dwelt on the need for the MUSON Centre to reach out to more of the music-loving Nigerian populace were Egbunine and General Manager/Chief Executive of MUSON, Gboyega Banjo.
Jegede is a world renowned composer, cellist and Kora virtuoso with over 20 years’ experience. His work is a unique synthesis of classical, jazz and traditional music, and embodies the legacy of the idiom, African classical music.
New Horizons gives a taste of Jegede’s operatic, jazz and chamber music. He explained that the concert series seeks to harness gifted musicians and singers as well as create a platform for powerful musical expression.