Rebeca Omordia

Solo Piano

Sunday Concert

November 26, 2023, 4-5:30 PM

Program

Rebeca Omordia plays “African Pianism”

Ayo Bankole (1935-1976, Nigeria)

Piano Sonata no. 2 in C major (1956-59)

Egun Variations (1970)

J.H. Kwabena Nketia (1921-2019, Ghana)

Volta Fantasy (1960)

Christian Onyeji (b.1967, Nigeria)

Ufie, Igbo dance (2008)

Nabil Benabdeljalil (b. 1973, Morocco)
Nocturnes no. 4, 5 and 6 (2015-2020)

David Earl (b.1951, South Africa)
Scenes from a South African Childhood
Princess Rainbow (2012)

Fred Onovwerosuoke (b. 1960, Ghana)
Selections from 24 Studies in African Rhythms

Akin Euba (1935-2020, Nigeria)
Yoruba Songs Without Words
L'ore Oke ati petele
Ore Meta

Hailed as an “African classical music pioneer” (BBC World Service), London based pianist and scholar Rebeca Omordia has focused her career on championing the music of African composers. Omordia presents African Pianism, a deep exploration into the multifaceted and syncretic musical practices of composers from across the continent.

The performance includes music by Nigerian composer Akin Euba, who coined the term “African Pianism” to describe the emergent musical dialogue between African traditional forms and Western notation in the 20th century, as well as Ghanaian composer Kwabena Nketia, who extended this dialogue by transcribing African rhythms and melodies. Omordia also presents works by a new generation of African composers: Fred Onovwerosuoke from Ghana, who traveled all over Africa gathering musical material; Christian Onyeji from Nigeria, who explores the drumming techniques of the piano inspired by the percussion ensembles from Igboland; Nabil Benabdeljalil from Morocco; and David Earl, who represents the Western classical musical tradition of South Africa.

Presented in conjunction with the exhibition African Modernism in America, 1947-67.

This event will be broadcast live from the Music Room on November 26 at 4 PM. To reserve a ticket, follow the link above to register. All registered ticket holders will receive a link directing them to a livestream webpage where the performance can be accessed. Ticket holders will be able to watch this performance “On Demand” for 48 hours following the broadcast time.

Hailed as an “African classical music pioneer” (BBC World Service) and “a classical music game changer” (Classical Music), London-based award-winning pianist Rebeca Omordia is an exciting virtuoso with a wide-ranging career as soloist, chamber musician and recording artist. She is artistic director and founder of the world’s first ever African Concert Series in London, part of Wigmore Hall’s Family of Partners.

Described by the Guardian as “the pianist who cast a spell on Lagos”, in recent seasons Rebeca has toured Nigeria as a soloist where she has performed solo recitals and with MUSON Symphony Orchestra in Lagos and Abuja. She has worked with an array of international musicians, including a three year- partnership with world renowned British cellist Julian Lloyd Webber, a partnership with South African double bass virtuoso Leon Bosch consisting of several recordings for Meridian Records and collaborations with cellist Raphael Wallfisch and pianist Mark Bebbington.

Rebeca is also a talented arranger, her arrangement for cello and harp of the choral work “Seal Lullaby” by Eric Whitacre was released on Deutsche Grammophon with Julian Lloyd Webber and Catrin Finch.

Rebeca was born in Romania to a Romanian mother and a Nigerian father. Having begun to establish a profile in her native country, after graduating from National Music University in Bucharest, she continued her studies in the UK at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and Trinity College of Music in London. She holds Doctor in Music degree from the National University of Music in Bucharest, Romania.