Passion Congo

Description

On April 3, 2026, the Studio de l'Ermitage hosts Passion Congo, an exceptional musical event that celebrates both the release of the eponymous album and the 80th birthday of Ray Lema, an iconic figure in world music.An internationally renowned composer and pianist, Ray Lema has forged over the decades a unique musical language, nourished since childhood by the European classical repertoire and by the musical traditions of the more than two hundred ethnic groups of the Democratic Republic of Congo.His art lies in this remarkable ability to fuse seemingly distant worlds, thus creating sonic bridges between Africa and Europe.For this major creation, Ray Lema surrounds himself with an ensemble of six highly skilled Italian musicians: a string quartet, a soprano saxophone, and percussion. This ensemble, both classical and bold, offers an ideal framework to explore the riches of a singular writing style where African and European traditions meet in captivating harmony.