Our Learning & Participation department is committed to making music and its myriad benefits accessible and appealing to all, the latest manifestation of this mission two days of inspiring performances, workshops and interactive concerts taking place at the Hall between Friday 7 and Saturday 8 June. Presented in partnership with Streetwise Opera – an organisation supporting those who’ve experienced homelessness to find empowerment through creativity – the weekend makes up the Manchester leg of the larger Re:Discover Festival: a series of two-day events taking place in London, Manchester and Nottingham “to celebrate and honour the impact of African and Caribbean heritage on contemporary British culture”.
Friday’s performances are focused on and inspired by the story of Ignatius Sancho, an extraordinary figure who, born on a slave ship on the Atlantic in 1729, overcame his difficult beginnings to become a writer, composer and storied ‘man of letters’ in 18th Century London, as well as the first black person to vote within the UK. Following a pre-concert talk detailing the inspirations behind Re:Discover, the evening begins with The Rescue: Escape The Dream – a short opera co-created by participants in Streetwise’s weekly workshops at Whitworth Art Gallery – before actor, author and librettist Paterson Joseph – familiar for his parts in Peep Show, Timeless and recent prequel Wonka – performs his monologue, Sancho & Me – For One Night Only, accompanied by musicians led by Ben Park.
Part improvised and part built around Joseph’s recent novel The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho, the piece explores ideas of belonging, language, education, slavery, commerce, violence, threat, politics, music and love, as well as where these themes intersect with Joseph’s own story of being Black and British. The excavation of identity continues with an after-show performance by afro-futuristic artist Lavender Rodriguez, bringing day one to a captivating close.
Saturday begins with A Family Adventure in Opera, featuring performances by Streetwise participants, Festival Director Abigail Kelly, and a ‘write your own opera’ workshop in the main auditorium, alongside foyer sessions in which award-winning charity Afrocats focus on ‘Storytelling, song and dance for children’. On Saturday evening, Streetwise performers and participants will lead a singalong of pieces by composers of African and Caribbean heritage, putting on pop-up performances with special ‘guest artists’ prior to the two-dayer’s grand finale, Jazz Jamaica All Stars taking to the main stage, digging into the archives of the iconic Trojan Records to celebrate its unique sounds and legacy.
Formed in 1991 by Gary Crosby OBE – bassist, band leader and nephew of Jamaica’s legendary guitarist Ernest Ranglin – Jazz Jamaica have earned their reputation as “one of the UK’s leading good-time bands” thanks to their exuberant live performances, Crosby’s concept to create a fusion of mento, ska, reggae and jazz, playing classic and modern jazz standards alongside Jamaican folksongs. For this concert, they’ll be joined by a specially-assembled community choir, who’ll perform with them on classics such as You Can Get It If You Really Want, Wonderful World, Beautiful People and Lively Up Yourself.
An exhibition will also run throughout the festival exploring the lives of seven extraordinary figures who transformed adversity into creative genius, including Joseph Bologne, Florence Beatrice Price and Dr Shirley J. Thompson OBE. Martin Constantine, Artistic Director of Streetwise Opera, says: “Re:Discover recognises the extraordinary impact that artists of African and Caribbean heritage have had on the culture of Britain and Europe. These remarkable composers endured and triumphed over profound adversities to build a fairer and more beautiful world through their music. Their resilience and courage have been a source of inspiration to all of us at Streetwise Opera.”