The tree under which we gather

During this impressive performance, the music of the South African composer Neo Muyanga is central. This composer, musician, philosopher and artist has a special bond with Utrecht because he is artist in residence at Residenties in Utrecht this year. The South African soprano Ashley Stapelfeldt – together with a specially selected string quartet – will perform, among other things, his new work The tree under which we gather , which tells about democracy and South Africa over the past 30 years.

This ties in beautifully with the starting point of this concert series. Muyanga finds the most interesting aspect of his work to be creating partnerships and cross-pollinations and removing mutual ‘borders’. An important theme for Muyanga is also the way in which colonialism has continued to have an effect on our society for generations. He sees his art as the ideal way to start a conversation about this. And he will do that personally this afternoon: he will provide the introduction to the concert.