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BBC Diverse Orchestras 2011: The Music of North Africa, The Tabernacle | reviews, news & interviews

BBC Diverse Orchestras 2011: The Music of North Africa, The Tabernacle

BBC Diverse Orchestras 2011: The Music of North Africa, The Tabernacle

Fusion that works: Moroccans teach our classical musicians a thing or two

The Fez Andalusian Orchestra making waves in Notting HillAll images Simon Jay Price

Now I know why the BBC Symphony Orchestra slunk so easily into Piazzolla tango mode last Friday: they'd danced it under Latin American instruction four years ago. It's all part of their education department's annual Diverse Orchestras week, where performers from another culture come to open the players' fantasy and the onlookers get to learn something into the bargain. And learning has never been more fun than it was last night in the Tabernacle, Notting Hill's vibrant arts centre, where the Fez Andalusian Orchestra under one of the world's great string players, Mohamed Briouel, set a zinging example.

Now I know why the BBC Symphony Orchestra slunk so easily into Piazzolla tango mode last Friday: they'd danced it under Latin American instruction four years ago. It's all part of their education department's annual Diverse Orchestras week, where performers from another culture come to open the players' fantasy and the onlookers get to learn something into the bargain. And learning has never been more fun than it was last night in the Tabernacle, Notting Hill's vibrant arts centre, where the Fez Andalusian Orchestra under one of the world's great string players, Mohamed Briouel, set a zinging example.

The second set had upbeat Moroccan songs familiar to many in the audience, whose sharp rhythmic clapping added to the sense that we were in a casbah version of Ronnie Scott's in its heyday

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Comments

Thank you, David. I've been taking part in Family Orchestra projects with my young son for several years. They are always fantastic, but hardly ever reviewed - let alone as thoughtfully and intelligently as this. And yes, the Tabernacle is fab too.

Nice one David I really enjoyed working with The BBC Orchestra and met very interesting and talented Musicians during my drumming workshops and my work with the children in school and at The BBC Studio with the Families and the great Musicians. I hope to see more of these events to show and share The Beautiful Music of Algeria and North Africa insh-Allah in the near future. Peace xx Abdelkader Saadoun www.saadoun.com

hi It was very good show some people who didn't see it would like to know if and when the recording is being shown do let me know thanks timothy

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