Performance

When Monday, 10 March 2008
Where National Concert Hall, Dublin, Main Auditorium
Presented by Waltons New School of Music
Supported by RTÉ lyric fm, The Irish Times, Brooks Hotel

Soweto Gospel Choir

The Grammy Award winning Soweto Gospel Choir is an awe-inspiring vocal ensemble, singing in eight different languages – including Zulu, Swazi and Xhosa – as well as English. Their performances are an inspirational mixture of tribal, traditional and popular African and Western gospel. Earthy rhythms, rich harmonies, charismatic a capella performances and energetic choreography combine to uplift the soul and express South Africa’s great hopes for the future.

Critics agree that the Soweto Gospel Choir is not just for followers of gospel music. Scotland’s Sunday Herald proclaims, ‘You don’t have to be a believer to be inspired.’ The Atlanta Journal Constitution writes, ‘Hearing the full choir harmonize sounded less like a couple dozen people singing together and more like a pipe organ roaring to life.’ Of their concert at Carnegie Hall, The New York Times hailed their ‘cornucopia of remarkable voices: sharp, sweet, kindly, raspy and incantatory leads above a magnificently velvety blend.’

The Soweto Gospel Choir draws on the best talent from the many churches and communities in and around Soweto. Since they began touring internationally in early 2003 they have performed around the world to nightly standing ovations, sold-out houses and rave reviews. Their mission is to celebrate the unique power of African music and to share the joy of faith through that music with audiences around the world, and they succeed magnificently.

Soweto Gospel Choir – A Concert for Primary Schools

When Tuesday, 11 March 2008
Where National Concert Hall, Main Auditorium
Presented by
Waltons New School of Music
in association with National Concert Hall Education & Outreach

A photo gallery of that spectacular concert.
(All photos by Hugh O’Reilly.)