One of the most extraordinary moments is when the counter-tenor, Serge Kakudji starts singing. From dancing with repeated side-steps, undulating body and low centre of gravity – Congolese style, his voice throws out Baroque, operatic arias. It’s a fantastically exciting juxtaposition: the trained and controlled harmonic singing associated with the white European establishment emerging from improvised, Congolese polyrhythmic beats and melodies. Throughout the show Kakudji is a remarkable figure, a hybrid of stylised, operatic conventions and spontaneous, fluid African dance; a high-voiced counter-tenor who performs both femininity and masculinity. A master of versatility.
JOSEPHINE LEASK – FRIDAY 5 JUNE 2015
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