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Mica Levi and Ailie Ormston: mixed ensemble

A programme of works by composer and musician Mica Levi and experimental electronic and chamber composer Ailie Ormston will be presented at LSO St Luke’s this summer.  

Mica Levi is known for their extensive soundtrack work - including The Zone of Interest (2023), Zola (2020), Monos (2019), Jackie (2016), and Under The Skin (2013) - and is a member of groups CURL, Tirzah and Good Sad Happy Bad. Ailie Ormston has received commissions from Counterflows and Tectonics and has released solo and collaborative albums with bison, 33-33, 50% PURE, and Domino. Her solo album frames that lean, pictures that roam will be released later in 2024. 

This performance will feature a programme of new and existing works performed by an ensemble of harp, guitar, saxophone and strings. Additionally, a new untitled solo piano piece by Levi will be performed alongside Ormston’s 2023 piece outside dining inside for mixed ensemble and tape.  

Produced by the Barbican 

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Margareth Menezes & llê Aiyê

Brazilian singer Margareth Menezes and Ilê Aiyê, the first Afro-Bloco movement in Brazil come together for double-bill combining Afro-Brazilian artists from Bahia. 

Margareth Menezes is one of the most powerful voices in Brazilian music, taking AfroPop around the world. Loaded with aesthetic symbols, the AfroPop movement works to rescue its history while adding innovative layers from other genres toform something completely new. Menezes is also Brazil's Minister of Culture, joining Lula’s government on 1 January 2023 and following in the tradition of Brazilian music legend Gilberto Gil, who served as Minister in Lula’s first administration. 

50 years after becoming the first carnival group exclusive to Black people, llêAiyê bring their powerful drum rhythms to the Hall matched only by the fervourof their dancing, singing and beautiful costumes.  

This unique evening at the Barbican celebrates the place of Afro-Brazilian communities in carnival and inviting audiences into its joyous world. 

Produced by the Barbican in association with Como No! 

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Billie Marten & Her Ensemble  

Singer, songwriter, and musician Billie Marten makes her Barbican debut for a special one-off performance with the pioneering Her Ensemble, in a reimagination of songs from across all four of Marten’s albums.   

Working closely with Marten, Her Ensemble Director Ellie Consta has lovingly reimagined and animated the delicate indie-folk music and intricately crafted songs from across Billie’s discography. The songs (four from each album and some of which that have never been performed live by Marten) will be presented in a completely new way, as Marten and the 24-piece ensemble take to the Barbican Hall in October this year.   

Her Ensemble was formed in 2020 by classically trained violinist Consta, with the aim of positively impacting the gender gap and gender stereotypes in the classical music industry. They are a free-form collective born from the discovery that only a small fraction of classical music pieces performed worldwide are written by women. It is the first group of its kind in the UK made up of predominantly women, non-binary, and gender-minority musicians.  

Generously supported by Trevor Fenwick and Jane Hindley. 

Produced by the Barbican  

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