An inspiring performance combining elements of jazz, poetry, and classical soundscapes, alongside a chorus of South African voices, made for a special evening at the Casino Theatre in Newport Saturday, November 2. The show was the U.S. premiere of Oratorio of a Forgotten Youth, a multidisciplinary collaborative performance commemorating the 1976 youth resistance movement in South Africa.
The oratorio was created by award-winning South African jazz musician Mandla Mlangeni. A Johannesburg-based trumpeter, composer, and bandleader, Mlangeni is a member of the Amandla Freedom Ensemble and the Cape Town Opera. Mlangeni led a group of a dozen other artists, including Afrika Mkhize, Lesego Rampolokeng, and Mark Fransman.
Behind the top-notch musicians, the chorus of seven brought the show’s sound to another dimension. Throughout the live performance, a multimedia presentation was displayed behind the stage, built around a video of sand art with constantly shifting images of pain, struggle, and liberation. It was an inspiring element of the performance.
Saturday’s show was sponsored by Newport Live, a leading arts provider that celebrates diverse music traditions through vibrant performances. Lifestyle Editor Ken Abrams was there and shares a few photos of the evening below.
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