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Music in Afghanistan, The Song Project, Manchester Collective

Dr Ahmad Sarmast, founder and director of the Afghanistan National Institute of Music. The Song Project at the Royal Court Theatre. Adam Szabo from the Manchester Collective.

Dr Ahmad Sarmast, founder and director of the Afghanistan National Institute of Music tells John Wilson of his fears and hopes for music-making as his country falls under the control of the Taliban.

Some things can only be expressed in song. That鈥檚 the idea behind The Song Project at the Royal Court Theatre where five of our foremost female playwrights - E.V. Crowe, Sabrina Mahfouz, Somalia Nony茅 Seaton, Stef Smith and Debris Stevenson - collaborate with composer Isobel Waller-Bridge, choreographer Imogen Knight, designer Chloe Lamford and the Dutch singer Wende, who will be performing the songs. These explore the hopes and anxieties women face, diving into the messiness of birth, death, rage, grace, friendship, motherhood, mothers, loss and ageing. So, the whole of life and its end, then. Chloe Lamford and Wende talk to John Wilson about the project and Wende, accompanied by Nils Davidse sings, live, one of the songs.

The Manchester Collective are making their debut at the Proms tomorrow. Founder Adam Szabo explains the ethos behind the group, why music genre shouldn鈥檛 get in the way of programming, and bringing little-known composers to light.

Presenter: John Wilson
Producer: Julian May
Studio Manager: Sue Maillot
Production Co-ordinator: Hilary Buchanan

Available now

29 minutes

Afghanistan National Institute of Music

Afghanistan National Institute of Music
Images: Main image above: the Afghanistan National Institute of Music performingImage to the left: Dr Sarmast, the Founder and Director of聽Afghanistan National Institute of Music.聽 Image credit: ANIM

Manchester Collecitve

Manchester Collecitve
The Manchester Collective聽 performs at the 大象传媒 Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, London on 17 August 2021. The concert is live on 大象传媒 R3 at 7.30pm, and can be heard later on 大象传媒 Sounds.聽 聽 聽Image: the at the South Bank.聽 聽 聽 聽 聽聽Image credit: Vic Frankowski

The Song Project

The Song Project
T is at the Royal Court Theatre, London from 17 - 28 August 2021.聽 聽 聽 聽Image: Dutch singer Wende in rehearsal for The Song Project.聽 聽Image credit: Ali Wright.

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  • Mon 16 Aug 2021 19:15

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