Metropole Orkest back at BBC Proms

This week, Metropole Orkest will play at the BBC Proms in Londen. The orchestra, conducted by Marcus Wyatt, was invited for the seventh year to perform during the prestigious concertseries at the Royal Albert Hall.

On August 28, the orchestra will provide an evening-filling program with ‘The South African Jazz Songbook’. Celebrated South African trumpeter, conductor and SAMA Award-winner Marcus Wyatt leads the Metropole Orkest in a showcase of the best of outh African jazz – a cross-section of a vibrant and strikingly diverse scene. There will be music by artists including ‘father of South African Jazz’ Hugh Masekele, Cry Freedom’s Jonas Gwangwa, Genre-crossing composer Abdullah Ibrahim, the Blue Notes’ Dudu Pukwama and Johnny Dyani, and saxophonist Winston Mankunku. Vocalist Siyabonga Mthembu – lead singer of Shabaka and the Ancestors and performance art band The Brother Move On- makes a special appearance, together with Mercury Prize – nominated singer ESKA, star saxophonist Soweto Kinch and up and coming tuba player Theon Cross.

In previous years, Metropole Orkest played concerts with and around Ledisi & Lisa Fischer (2019), Jacob Collier (2018), Charles Mingus (2017), Quincy Jones (2016), the London based rap- and grime scene (2015) and Laura Mvula (2014).

This Prom is broadcasted live on Sunday on BBC Radio 3 at 7.30 PM GMT (8.30 PM CET).