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Carnegie Hall News
Back to Press Release List > 09/03/2008 - Lura, Angelique Kidjo, and Lila Downs in New “Women of Note” Series
Most current program information 
CAPE VERDEAN SINGER LURA, WORLD MUSIC SUPERSTAR ANGELIQUE KIDJO,
AND MEXICAN CHANTEUSE LILA DOWNS
LAUNCH CARNEGIE HALL’S NEW WOMEN OF NOTE SERIES IN ZANKEL HALL
Series Begins on October 11 With Lura, Continues on November 1 With
Angelique Kidjo, and Culminates on March 20 With Lila Downs
Carnegie Hall launches its new three-concert Women of Note series in Zankel Hall on Friday, October 11 at 8:30 p.m. with Cape Verdean singer Lura performing original compositions based on the funana, batuku, and mazurka rhythms of her parents’ homeland. A month later, the series presents world music superstar and Grammy Award-winning Angelique Kidjo, originally from the West African republic of Benin, on Saturday, November 1 at 8:30 p.m. The series, which showcases a wide range of female artists from around the globe, culminates on Friday, March 20 at 10:00 p.m. with Latin Grammy Award winner and beloved Mexican chanteuse Lila Downs.
Born in Portugal to Cape Verdean parents, Lura became a singer at the age of 17 when a dance lesson with Juka, an artist from São Tomé and Príncipe, led to a duet on an album and further collaborations with artists such as Bonga, Tito Paris, Paulo Flores, and Paulinho Vieria. Lura has performed all over Europe and in 2007 sang her composition Morna in the film Fados by Spanish director Carlos Saura. Combining the music and rhythms of funana, batuku, and mazurka of her parents native Santiago and Sao Vicente along with the rhythm and blues, samba, jazz, and flamenco of her own generation, Lura creates a unique sound that can be heard on her recordings Nha Vida (1996), Di Korpu Ku Alma (2005), and most recently M’Bem di Fora (2006).
Grammy Award-winner Angelique Kidjo brings the soul, tradition, and culture of her native Benin to her latest recording, Djin Djin, which features an all-star cast of collaborators including Alicia Keys, Joss Stone, Carlos Santana, Peter Gabriel, and Branford Marsalis as well as Benin’s own Crespin Kpitiki and Benoit Avihoue of the Gangbé Brass Band. The much celebrated singer, composer, and performer began her career at the age of six in the Beninese port village of Cotonou. Political turmoil led her to Paris and subsequently New York, but Kidjo never strayed far from her musical roots and explored the music of Africa in her Grammy-nominated trio of albums, Oremi, Black Ivory Soul, and Oyaya. In 2008 she won a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary World Music Album for Djin Djin. A UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2002, Kidjo founded The Batonga Foundation, which gives girls the chance to obtain secondary school and higher education through granting of scholarships, improving teaching standards, providing school supplies, and advocating for community awareness of the value of education for girls.
Mexican chanteuse Lila Downs performs not only her own compositions but taps into the music of the Mixtec, Zapotec, Maya, and Nahuatl cultures. The daughter of a Mexican singer and an American professor, Downs split her time between Oaxaca, Mexico and the United States where she graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in voice and anthropology. Downs’ intense folkloric style can be heard on her albums La Sandunga, Tree of Life, Border (La Linea), Una Sangre, and La Cantina, in concert performances throughout Mexico, South America, the US, and Europe, and on the silver screen in movies such as Tortilla Soup, Real Women Have Curves, and the Academy-Award winning Frida.
In addition to the Women of Note series, Carnegie Hall presents a wide array of artists performing music from around the world during the 2008–2009 season. Highlights include Zakir Hussain’s Perspectives series as well as a Hungarian music celebration featuring Gypsy violinist Roby Lakatos and Friends and rising star Beáta Palya, who merges folk and Gypsy music with jazz and pop influences. In Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage, concerts include Afro-Peruvian singer Eva Ayllón and Spanish flamenco singer Estrella Morente, as well as a special Klezmer All-Star Bash featuring David Krakauer’s Klezmer Madness!, The Klezmatics, Brave Old World, Mikveh, and other guests. Carnegie Hall also continues its World Views series in partnership with the World Music Institute, with artists including Iranian kamancheh player Kayhan Kalhor, Corsican folk vocal music group I Muvrini, and Argentine chamamé musician and accordionist Chango Spasiuk.
Program Information
Saturday, October 11 at 8:30 p.m.
Zankel Hall
LURA
Tickets: $36, $46
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Saturday, November 1 at 8:30 p.m.
Zankel Hall
ANGELIQUE KIDJO
Tickets: $40, $50
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Friday, March 20, 2009 at 10:00 p.m.
Zankel Hall
LILA DOWNS
Tickets: $36, $46
Bank of America is the Proud Season Sponsor of Carnegie Hall.
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Ticket Information
Tickets are available at the Carnegie Hall Box Office, 154 West 57th Street, or can be charged to major credit cards by calling CarnegieCharge at 212-247-7800 or by visiting the Carnegie Hall website, www.carnegiehall.org.
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