February 9, 2026
Athens, GR 14 C
Expand search form
Blog

US orchestra plays in South Africa as Trump attacks its president

US orchestra plays in South Africa as Trump attacks its president

Joseph Horowitz reports:

At the precise moment that US President Donald Trump was accusing South African President Cyril Ramaphosa of denying acts of racial persecution, the University of Michigan Orchestra began a five-concert tour of South Africa with a smashing two and half hour program at the University of Pretoria. 

The concert’s peak impact occurred near the close, when the 100 musicians abandoned their instruments and stood to sing the beloved Xhosa song “Bawo Thixo Somandla.” Halfway through, they began to sway and gesture. They ambushed the sold-out audience into a condition of incredulous delight…

The University of Michigan orchestra next proceeds to Soweto and Cape Town — in counterpoint with exacerbated relations between the US and South Africa…

Read on here.

The post US orchestra plays in South Africa as Trump attacks its president appeared first on Slippedisc.

Previous Article

Musicians accuse Jaap van Zweden of ‘a pattern of fear’

Next Article

Bruce Springsteen releases record with anti-Trump rant

You might be interested in …

New concertmaster for Bach Society

New concertmaster for Bach Society

The Netherlands Bach Society has named Cecilia Bernardini as its new concermaster, starting next season. Bernardini, 41, is Dutch-Italian and a frequent guest with the high-octane Bach outfit. She is also co-artistic director of the Freiburger […]

Daniel Barenboim, 82 today

Daniel Barenboim, 82 today

The indefatigable musician is resting at home in Berlin after an exhausting West-East Diwan tour. He cannot live without making music. Here, he discusses music as stimulus, or oblivion. We wish Daniel many happy returns. […]

Mischa Maisky: Health update

Mischa Maisky: Health update

Message from Mischa: As some of you might have heard, I recently suffered a severe infection of the spinal cord, leaving me almost paralysed. A week ago I underwent successful surgery, and now must go […]