Sergio Mims: Chineke! Orchestra Returns to St. George's in Bristol Friday May 17

Michael Rakotoarivony

(Tim Thumb)

Sergio A. Mims writes:

The Chineke! Orchestra which is the resident orchestra of St. George's in Bristol return to the venue this Friday May 17 for a concert including works by Britten, Mendelssohn and a new work by composer James Wilson.

The concert will be conducted by conductor and baritone Michael Rakotoarivony.

https://www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk/event/chineke-orchestra-2/

Mendelssohn String Symphony No 10 in B minor

Ligeti Six Bagatelles for Wind Quintet

James Wilson New Work

Holst St Paul’s Suite

Britten Simple Symphony

Chineke! is St George’s resident orchestra, and is also Europe’s first professional orchestra comprising a majority of black and minority ethnic musicians, founded by the pioneering double bass player Chi-chi Nwanoku OBE.

Chineke! returns to St George’s with a delightful program of music for string orchestra, plus a brand new work by talented young composer James Wilson. Commissioned by St George’s in collaboration with Chineke! Orchestra, this new piece will celebrate the incredible life and work of one of Bristol’s most iconic civil rights leaders, Dr Paul Stephenson OBE.

Michael Rakotoarivony is a young baritone and condcutor from Madagascar. He studies at the Royal Academy of Music, where he has won several singing awards. As a conductor, he has given many concerts in Madagascar and London. On the opera stage he sang the roles of Masetto, Malatesta, Baron Duphol, Poliphemus (Acis and Galetea, Handel) and Dan Caïre. He has a penchant for music, especially for French melodies and German songs by composers such as Ravel, Debussy, Poulenc, Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann and Loewe. Michael sang swan song, Winterreise, To the distant beloved, Songs of a traveling journeyman, Histoires naturelles, Le Bestiaire and Les nuits d'été at concerts. Singing is his passion and he is always happy to deepen and expand his knowledge.