Manchester Collective: The Oracle

Music makes time-travellers of us all. It connects us to the past, to the land, to ancestors and to forgotten songs. Long before we ever knew we were listening, our mothers, fathers, carers comforted us through song. In the beginning, music is family.

Abel Selaocoe is a sensation. His work has a way of cutting through what we think and tapping directly into how we feel. Through Sirocco, Abel’s ongoing collaboration with Manchester Collective, he has reached millions of listeners all over the world. Now, for this brand-new show he and his band Chesaba join forces once again with the string orchestra of the Collective.

Backed by the drum beat of African percussion, this exhilarating ensemble of musicians will explore a litany of music from South Africa, Mali, the Ivory Coast, and take in some of the best loved classical work of the 20th century. The Oracle is about connection, stories, and about music that spans continents and generations. It is music at its most joyful – and shouldn’t be missed.