When: February 18
Where: Holywell Music Room
Maya Youssef is a virtuoso Syrian qanun player. Her unique innovative approach to playing the qanun, originally a traditional instrument, has captivated audiences all over the world. She combines her extraordinary musical gifts with a generosity of outlook, warmth and humour.
Maya is a regular on the BBC and was featured at the BBC Proms at The Royal Albert Hall amongst other prestigious venues and festivals. Supported by extraordinary cello player Barney Morse-Brown
When: April 13
Where: North Wall Arts Centre
To mark the fortieth anniversary of Joni Mitchell’s seminal album Hejira, Sorana Santos recreated the 4200-mile round-trip from Portland, Maine, to LA, on which Hejira was written.
She said: “I couldn’t sing the songs authentically and realised the only way into the album was to do the trip, solo, like she did.”
Alongside presenting her eclectic and soulful reinterpretation of Hejira, Sorana also performs original songs from her own ‘Hejira’ written on this journey, played with some of the cream of the young British jazz scene.
BBC 3’s Max Reinhardt said: “A panoramic epic of an album… Sorana Santos, lady of myriad magical voices.”
When: April 21
Where: SJE Arts
This is a rare opportunity to hear the former members of the world famous Hilliard Ensemble with Swiss violinist and ECM artist Paul Giger with the vOx Chamber choir, Marie-Louise Dähler and Pudi Lehmann.
The Hilliard Ensemble were highly regarded for their traditional repertoire and performances of contemporary music with artists like Arvo Pärt and Jan Garbarek. The Swiss violinist Paul Giger has worked since 1983 as a soloist, with half a dozen albums for ECM. He has also worked with Jan Garbarek and Marie-Louise Dähler.
