A Celebration of Opera
In 2022, Baraka Opera Trust held three successful Concerts entitled A Celebration of Opera featuring 20 local singers with 2 overseas professional singers, all performing Operatic Solos & Ensembles and accompanied by an Orchestra.
In A Celebration of Opera (2025) Baraka Opera Kenya has once again assembled some of Kenya’s most talented operatic voices as well as instrumentalists to give you an unforgettable experience of how opera is about life in all it’s facets.
Being held on World Opera Day 2025, guests came to celebrate the day with unforgettable music, powerful voices, and a uniquely Kenyan story brought to life on the operatic stage. It was a vibrant afternoon of music featuring an exciting selection of solo and ensemble pieces, culminating in the magic of Kenya's own opera with a semi-staged performance of excerpts from Nyanga: Runaway Grandmother.
The concert was conducted by James Laight and narrated by Rhoda Ondeng Wilhelmsen. It included among many songs, Humming Chorus by Puccini, La Ci Darem La Mano, Voi Che Sapete, Sull’Aria and O Isis und Osiris by Mozart, Je Crois Entendre Encore by Bizet, Ne Cor Più Mi Sento by Paisiello, Largo Al Factotum by Rossini, Libiamo by Verdi and the eight excerpts from the Kenyan original opera Nyanga: Runaway Grandmother by Chandler. The excerpts from Nyanga were:
Ne En Kende sang by Muringo
Before the First Dawning sang by Essie & Jared
God so Loved the World sang by Caitline, Agufa, Dedeten, Desmond
Evening Prayer sang by Renila & Caleb
Daily we go to work Shambani sang by Female Villagers
Peace be with You sang by Essie, Caitline, Desmond, Dedeten
I Love a Land sang by Essie, Agufa, Dedeten
So that’s all Settled sang by Caleb, Renila, Essie, Joyce, Jared, Agufa ,Muringo.
BARAKA OPERA KENYA SINGERS
Sopranos - Essie Murimi, Joyce Kayima, Ogeya Nanchah and Renila Khitieyi
Altos - Caitline Shibo, Diana Muvoka Amunya, Juliet Ogayo and Muringo Mware
Tenors - Bradlee Sumba, Abach Jared, Nyanjom Simon Peter and Samwel Agufa
Basses - Caleb Wachira, Christian Bimuala, Dedeten Lucien Gnakou and Desmond Amaje
The performances were accompanied by the BARAKA OPERA KENYA ENSEMBLE:
Ellen Macpherson - Flute/ Piccolo
Cher-Won Kim - Clarinet
David Richmond - Bassoon
Jenny Wafula - Trombone/ Tuba
Ken Mwiti - Violin
Bernadette Muthoni - Violin
Dennis Imani Ngigi - Viola
Claudia Wanjiru - Cello
Julius Okello - Double Bass
George Waihenya - Piano
Get your tickets now at https://kenyabuzz.com/events/event/a-celebration-of-opera
