‘Toumani Diabaté & Orchestre National de Lyon’

Toumani Diabaté is the great ambassador of the kora in the world. Since 1987, the Malian musician has released sublime solo albums and collaborated with Björk, Ali Farka Touré and Damon Albarn. In 2008, he showcased his virtuoso yet sensitive playing with the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Clark Rundell in a concert at the Barbican Centre in London. The recording of this concert was released in 2021 under the title Kôrôlen (‘ancestral’ in Bambara) and received critical acclaim. Toumani Diabaté and the Orchestre National de Lyon, conducted by Clark Rundell, will perform this programme again at Bozar. It’s an opportunity to bring together the Mandingo and European classical traditions and to recall, as Diabaté points out, that “Beethoven's music is only 250 years old, whereas Mandingo classical music has existed since the 13th century.”

We regret to inform you that Toumani Diabaté and the Orchestre national de Lyon are unable to perform at Bozar on Friday 27 April for logistical reasons. This concert as part of the Kora Days is therefore cancelled. Ticket holders will be contacted.