February is all about strings at the Philharmonie. Whether electric or acoustic, plucked or strummed, played solo or with a band, the instruments featured in this month’s programme will show you their family’s incredible breadth and diversity, and remind you that the violin isn’t the only one capable of playing your heartstrings!
Gambian composer Sona Jobarteh belongs to the griots, a caste of musician-storytellers who have been keeping and passing on West Africa’s memory for thousands of years. Together with her kora, an instrument boasting no less than 21 strings and infinite narrative possibilities, she invites you to the wondrous world she has inherited.
Béla Fleck pays homage to his musical roots in a concert which might easily be subtitled «String Madness»! On 09.02., you can look forward to veritable fireworks, launched by five mandolin and fiddle virtuosos joining the banjo player Fleck, who calls no less than fifteen Grammy Awards his own.
Enjoy a spiritual odyssey exploring more than 900 years of music, performed by multi-award-winning guitarist Sean Shibe. His repertoire ranges from medieval nun Hildegard of Bingen’s mystical O choruscans lux stellarum to 20th-century composer Steve Reich’s mesmerising Electric Counterpoint.
Experience enlivening melodies woven together by two gifted multi-instrumentalists: Bill Laurance and Michael League from the Grammy-winning fusion band, Snarky Puppy. This intimate and welcoming music-making session will see the piano, the oud and the bass guitar share the stage.
Sona Jobarteh
kora, vocals
Eric Appapoulay
guitar
Andi McLean
bass
Mamadou Sarr
percussion
Sidiki Jobarteh
balafon, percussion
She was educated at Britain’s most prestigious conservatories, but her creative spark could never be content with only six centuries of European music history… In fact, Gambian composer Sona Jobarteh belongs to the griots, a caste of musicianstorytellers who have been keeping and passing on West Africa’s memory for thousands of years. Together with her kora, an instrument boasting no less than 21 strings and infinite narrative possibilities, she returns to the Philharmonie for the second time in her career, inviting her listeners to the wondrous world she has inherited, with flair and style.
NOTE: Please note that the concert initially scheduled for Saturday 20.01.24 has been moved to Sunday 04.02.24 at 19:30 due to a change in the artist’s touring schedule. The Philharmonie's Information & Billetterie is at your disposal for any further information you may require. We thank you for your understanding!
Béla Fleck
banjo
Sierra Hull
mandoline
Michael Cleveland
fiddle
Bryan Sutton
acoustic guitar
Justin Moses
Dobro, fiddle, banjo
Béla Fleck pays homage to his musical roots in a concert entitled «My Bluegrass Heart» – which might easily be subtitled «String Madness». On 09.02., the audience can look forward to veritable fireworks, launched by five mandolin and fiddle virtuosos joining the banjo player Fleck, who calls no less than fifteen Grammy Awards his own. After several musical excursions into jazz and in a duo with Chick Corea in recent years, he now returns to his stylistic roots. Bluegrass is also the subject of an introductory talk in German which Nico Thom will give at the Salle de Musique de Chambre at 18:45.
Sean Shibe guitare acoustique, guitare électrique
Enjoy a spiritual odyssey exploring more than 900 years of music, performed by multi-award-winning guitarist Sean Shibe. His repertoire will range from medieval nun Hildegard of Bingen’s mystical O choruscans lux stellarum to 20th-century composer Steve Reich’s mesmerising Electric Counterpoint. Other composers featured include baroque genius Johann Sebastian Bach, boundary-breaker Olivier Messiaen, and minimalist performance artist Julius Eastman.
«Rising stars» - ECHO European Concert Hall Organisation
Nominated by The Barbican Centre
This concert is recorded by radio 100,7 and will be broadcast on 7 April 2024.
Michael League
bass, oud
Bill Laurance
piano