See below for discount ticket information.
From the press release:
Hungarian Gypsy and Black American musicians will share the stage for Fire + Fire, an innovative production exploring the synergies between the Black diaspora and Hungarian Gypsies. Part of the yearlong Extremely Hungary festival, Fire + Fire is a collaborative performance that delves into the dual experiences of political oppression and musical expression of Black and Roma peoples in the U.S. and Hungary. Ensembles of performers from both cultures will meld their musical traditions—infused with jazz, rock, rap and folk influences—to create an experimental fusion incorporating dance, jam sessions, and spoken word.
Produced by the Hungarian Cultural Center in collaboration with noted essayist and cultural critic Greg Tate, Fire + Fire will feature an historic meeting of cultures and music, as nine Hungarian musicians and singers take the stage on traditional Gypsy instruments including cimbalom and violin, alongside seven Black American performers on instruments ranging from banjo to blues guitar to African drums.
In addition to music, the performance will also include contemporary and traditional Gypsy and Black dance. The end result is an unprecedented collaboration that explores experimental music and dance traditions rooted in each culture’s vernacular, contesting racism by revealing the commonality of seemingly disparate communities and genres.
“There are compelling parallels between the Gypsy and Black American experience,” said Tate, curator of Fire + Fire. “That energy and struggle is reflected in Black and Gypsy musical traditions—both are intense, explosive, individual and raw.”
Jakab Orsos, the director of the Hungarian Cultural Center, added, “Now is a crucial moment for Gypsies in Europe, as wide-spread discrimination and racism proliferates in Hungary. The synergy between the Gypsy and Black American musicians is electric. Both have mined musical strength from experiences of racism and political oppression.”
“They journey, we journey. They struggle, we struggle. They dance, we dance. We’re overcoming, they’ll overcome,” added Musical Director Melvin Gibbs, a New York composer, producer and bandleader celebrated for his work with a diverse range of artists.
Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door. However, use promo code RAC102, and can get tickets for $15.
November 19 and 21 (8pm both nights)
Symphony Space
2357 Broadway @ 95th Street in NYC
212 864 5400 (boxoffice)
Additional link:
- Info on Extremely Hungary
