Soweto Gospel Choir
Reflektor André Heller
Freedom and spreading joy
The Soweto Gospel Choir is one of the world’s most famous gospel choirs. It has won three Grammys and performed with U2, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Beyoncé and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. But when the South African singers step onto the stage and unleash their powerful voices, all that becomes trivial. Because in those moments, the choir is focused only on its mission, one that has remained constant ever since its founding in 2003: »Spreading joy«. And it usually takes only a few bars for the audience to feel the effect.
The choir was formed 20 years ago in Soweto, the South West Townships of Johannesburg in which Nelson Mandela lived, and from which he inspired the South African freedom movement. Since 2003, the Soweto Gospel Choir has performed at historic ceremonies in democratic South Africa, including Nelson Mandela’s state funeral in 2013. Today, the choir tours the world giving concerts and as ambassadors of Mandela’s foundation.
As part of the »André Heller Reflektor«, the choir is now coming to the Elbphilharmonie Grand Hall to perform familiar hits by Curtis Mayfield, Marvin Gaye and Otis Redding, as well as gospel songs written by pop legends such as Bob Dylan, Whitney Houston and Prince. One of the things that make the choir’s concerts so special is their translations of songs into some of South Africa’s twelve official languages. Leonard Cohen’s famous »Hallelujah« is just as powerful when sung in Sotho and Zulu – as anyone who has heard the Soweto Gospel Choir’s version will attest.
Performers
Soweto Gospel Choir
Programme
The concert takes place without an intermission.
Festival
Reflektor André Heller