Kings Place announces 2021 series 'London Unwrapped'

Performances by Cassie Kinoshi and Iestyn Davies, London Unwrapped’s two artists in residence, lead a year of music and spoken words events that illustrate the diversity of the capital and chart its history of enlightenment and exploitation.

The first concert will be performed by principal players from Aurora Orchestra and streamed live from Kings Place on Friday 26 February. It features music by Vaughan Williams, Thea Musgrave, Anna Meredith and Mendelssohn, one of many immigrant musicians who shaped the capital’s musical trajectory.

Later concerts will include music by Purcell, Dowland, Tippett, Birtwhistle and Muhly.

The series will also explore the contribution made by black artists, who, from gospel to blues, calypso to bangra, have shaped and continue to shape the city's musical life. Composers including Joseph Emidy and George Bridgetower, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor will be explored by Chineke!, and the new jazz generation will be represented by Sarathy Korwar, Theon Cross, Ayanna Witter-Johnson and Cassie Kinoshi.

London’s alternative and underground scene is reflected in the contemporary programme which embraces new work from the 2020 and 2021 lockdowns. Confirmed events include new collaborations with sound artist Pouya Ehsaei (Parasang); Alabaster deplume & Danalogue; London Topophobia; new London-inspired music from Anglo-French Hermes Experiment (26 September); Belle Chen; Jasmin Kent Rodgman; Riot Ensemble and the Ligeti Quartet (5 December).

Kings Place's artistic director Helen Wallace said: 'London’s music scene rings with a multiplicity of voices from all over the world. In this series we want to recognise the galvanising contribution of immigrant musicians, who have provoked creativity, planted fresh ideas and set new standards over four centuries of music-making.'

Performances will be livestreamed on Kings Place's 'K-Player' until further notice.

kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on