Southbank Centre, London: Sunday 14 September 2014 Kinshasa Symphony: The Kimbanguiste Orchestra and Chorus, Congo, Royal Festival Hall

Southbank Centre, London, U.K.

Kinshasha Symphony

Jean Sibelius: Finlandia

Congolese choral works

George Shearing: Songs and Sonnets of Shakespeare

Congolese orchestral works

Interval

Hector Berlioz: March to the scaffold (4th movement) from Symphonie Fantastique

Hector Berlioz: Dreams of a witches' Sabbath (5th movement) from Symphonie Fantastique

Ludwig Van Beethoven: Presto - Allegro assai (4th movement) from Symphony No.9 (Choral)

The extraordinary orchestra and chorus from Kinshasa perform in London for the first time.

The story of this orchestra and choir (Orchestre Symphonique de Kimbanguiste) from Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo is miraculous and uplifting.

They were formed in one of the world's poorest cities and in a country torn apart by war. However, these talented, self-taught musicians and their conductor, Armand Diangienda, carry a message of peace and hope.

Their inspiring story has been an international sensation and will be celebrated in a specially commissioned BBC documentary later this year.

The orchestra is joined in this concert by members of the BBC Concert Orchestra, National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain and Hallé Youth Choir to perform a programme including movements from Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique, the finale of Beethoven's Symphony No.9 (Choral Symphony) and a selection of Congolese music.

Visit the Africa Utopia festival page for more details on free events, interactive workshops and opportunities to take part as we celebrate the orchestra and chorus' concert.

The Orchestre Symphonique de Kimbanguiste's visit to the UK is a partnership between Bristol Music Trust, the Hallé Orchestra and Southbank Centre and has been made possible with special support from Arts Council England through its Exceptional awards programme.

Southbank Centre would like to thank Rosenblatt recitals for their generous support of this project and Les Aldrich Music and Thwaites Fine Stringed instruments for their gifts to the instrument repair workshops.

Performers

Orchestre Symphonique Kimbanguiste (OSK)

Jamie Phillips conductor

Armand Diangienda conductor

London Philharmonic Choir

Comment by email:
We need a United States tour.  John Malveaux  www.musicuntold.com