Equator’s Women of the World 2016 returns for its 5th year with an eclectic, international and unique series of performances lead by female composers and musicians.
The series happens over 2 nights in autumn, at Kings Place, with the first on October 1st. The first weekend of music is a journey from Charlotte Bronté to award-winning flamenco with specially commissioned pieces by 7 women composers
Equator Festival launched the Women of the World series in 2012, with the simple aim of promoting female performers from all music genres, from all over the world. Each year Equator showcases the best in female performers, musicians and songwriters.
The performances on Saturday October 1st are:
Jane Eyre Re-imagined (2pm)
To celebrate the bicentenary of Charlotte Brontë’s birth, Shion Duo are joined by actress Rebecca Kenny for this special concert. Shion Duo have re-imagined Jane Eyre through music and words written by and for women from around the world. The programme will include new commissions by students of the Royal Northern College of Music – Melissa Douglas and Charlotte Marlow, as well as music by Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel, Marina Dranishnikova and Clara Schumann.
Invicta Upper Voices (4pm)
Performing for the first time the Invicta Upper Voices choir will sing works by female choral composers from the 20th century, with complimentary pieces from their male counterparts. Invicta Upper Voices will be joined by Invicta Voices in an exciting and colourful programme with works from Ivette Harryman, Charlotte Bray and Alice Parker alongside the world premieres of five specially-commissioned pieces by women composers: Marguerite Abbott, Barbara De Biasi, Litha Efthymiou, Kirsten Parry and Rhiannon Randle. The concert will also feature works from Eric Whitacre, Paul Patterson, Priti Paintal and Ola Gjeilo. invictalondon.co.uk | invictavoices.co.uk | equatorfestival.com
Roots Revolution (6pm)
Deepa Nair Rasiya takes her audience on a voyage exploring poetry and music within the realm of the mystic traditions of the subcontinent. Seeking to unravel, through music, the profound meaning in the poetic lyrics of the Saints and Philosophers over the centuries, this journey embraces a comprehensive spectrum of musical styles – from traditional hindustani classical vocal music to semi classical, folk and cross-genre fusion, to best communicate the emotion and the messages presented; Deepa’s vocals are complemented by instrumental accompaniment from some of the UK’s finest musicians, all from a diverse range of musical and cultural backgrounds.The project endeavours to provide glimpses into the Sufi and Bhakti movements and also to explore some of the lighter styles of North Indian music, mainly Thumri, Bhajan and Folk, employing instrumental arrangement styles to make it contemporary, current and accessible musically. Spiritual love and the search for meaning in human existence remain the enduring themes throughout.
Juan Martin and Amparo Heredia (8pm)
Juan Martín and Amparo Heredia ‘La Repompilla’ started their collaboration with a concert in the Spanish city of Ronda six years ago and followed up to great acclaim with a recital in flamenco’s epicentre, Morón de la Frontera, Seville, in the Teatro Oriente. They have since toured in the UK, Belgium and Canada in Juan Martín’s dance company.Last year Amparo Heredia won two first prizes in the prestigous Festival de la Minas de la Union and now this pure gypsy singer from Málaga is, with Juan Martín’s guitar, making the world sit up and take note of her explosive yet soulful expression.
Performances on Oct 22nd include: Award winning folk group Furrow Collective with support group from Holloway Girls School, classical pianist Ke-Ma, and classical/jazz ensemble Ethereal World
Tickets for each performance are available online from https://goo.gl/wW1A6Z