On the picture Akua Naru. Photography by Daniel Ziegert.
American hip hop sensation Akua Naru, Namibian-Belgian-Dutch singer-songwriter Shishani and rising star from the Baroque scene; French soprano Elodie Fonnard are added to the line-up.
On Saturday September 3rd 2016, the freely accessible Embassy Festival will take place at Lange Voorhout in The Hague. The Embassy Festival offers visitors a cultural, culinary and musical journey. Over thirty embassies have confirmed their participation. Added to the line-up are Akua Naru, Shishani and Sindicato Sonico, performing alongside the previously announced Lachy Doley and Hudson Taylor on the contemporary stage. On the classical stage, the French soprano Elodie Fonnard and the award-winning Polish soprano Aldona Bartnik will enchant alongside the German Viola da Gamba virtuoso Susanne Herre.
Akua Naru
Tony Allen once referenced Akua Naru as ‘The keeper of the cool flow’. The African-American Naru grew up in New Haven, Connecticut, a racially divided city where rising unemployment and crime were a day-to-day reality. The experiences Naru had growing up would initiate a path of critical inquiry regarding the urban social conditions and the vulnerability of black women, eventually shaping her music and writings. Akua Naru mixes classical hip hop with sharp lyrics. Critics compared her to some of the greats, such as Lauryn Hill and Erykah Badu. Her new album is called ‘The Miner’s Canary’ and addresses the political situation of the United States over the past few years. On her latest album she collaborated with, amongst others, Chris Scott, Cody Chesnutt and Ben L’Oncle Soul.
Shishani
Shishani & The Afro Namibian Tales are an acoustic quartet. Their music merges traditional African music traditions with Cuban, African-American and European sounds. Shishani’s powerful voice and songs, inspired by the Namibian culture, are being complemented by unique arrangements on the cello, kora, mbira (thumb piano) and percussion. After her move to Belgium and the Netherlands, leaving her home country Namibia, the singer songwriter Shishani received several awards for her songs. In 2014, she was a finalist in the prestigious Radio France International Discovery contest.
Classical Stage
Every year, the programme on the classical stage surprises the audience with breath-taking performances. Opera, flamenco, piano recitals, baroque music, it’s all there. This year, the French soprano Elodie Fonnard will enchant the audiences. Discovered by William Christie’s ‘Jardin des Voix’, Fonnard is one of the most prominent sopranos of the new Baroque scene. She has recently performed at some of the world’s renowned stages, such as the Opéra Comique in Paris, the Royal Opera of Versailles, Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, the Lincoln Center in New York and the Bolshoi in Moscow. German-born Viola da Gamba virtuoso Susanne Heere will bring international repertoire to the festival, based on the compositions of the legendary 17th-century French composer and Viola da Gamba player Marin Marais. Award-winning Polish soprano Aldona Bartnik performs a colorful, hand-selected pallet of Polish compositions, including compositions by Szymanowski, Chopin, Paderewski and Lutoslawski. In addition, the Hungarian pianist Éva Szalai and Spanish Flamenco singer Maria Marin have also been added to the line-up on the classical stage.
Creative Arena, Kids Compound & Country Pavillions
In addition to its musical programme, the Embassy Festival aims to broaden our knowledge of different cultures and their traditions with the activities programmed in the Creative Arena. There will also be a special programme for children at the Kids Compound. The country pavilions will offer visitors the opportunity to taste and experience lots of different flavours and smells from all around the world, showing them an array of cultures. All this can be experienced along the picturesque and stately decor of the Festival’s location; the Lange Voorhout.
Haags UIT Festival
This year the Embassy Festival coincides with the Haags UIT Festival, starting on Saturday evening the 3rd of September until Sunday, September 4th. So, after your visit to the Embassy festival, you can experience even more culture! Visit some of the performances and activities, of which there are more than 150. They showcase what theatres and venues have lined up for the upcoming cultural season. And it’s free of charge! More information can be found at www.haagsuitfestival.nl.
The Hague, an international city
The Hague is an international city in every sense of the word. With the presence of the embassies, NGO’s and multinational corporations, the city is continuously connected to the world. The fourth edition of the Embassy Festival showcases a beautiful collection of international cultures that can be seen, heard and tasted. The Embassy Festival is organised by PROOOST, the agency that is also the driving force behind the successful THE LIFE I LIVE festival. The festival is financially supported by the municipality of The Hague Economic Department and Office for International Affairs and receives the support of the official Representation of the European Commission in the Netherlands.
EMBASSY FESTIVAL | SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 3rd 2016 | 12 – 8 PM LANGE VOORHOUT, THE HAGUE | FREE ADMISSION MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FESTIVAL: WWW.EMBASSYFESTIVAL.COM
