Angélique Kidjo and the Metropole Orkest: African Symphony

One of the great voices of Africa meets one of the great orchestras of the Netherlands. On Thursday 11 March 2027, singer Angélique Kidjo and the Metropole Orkest, conducted by Jules Buckley, present African Symphony in the Hertog Jan Zaal of the Muziekgebouw Eindhoven.

Who is Angélique Kidjo?

Angélique Kidjo is a singer from Benin in West Africa and one of the most celebrated artists in world music. She has won five Grammy Awards, and her music, a mix of West African traditions with funk, jazz, pop and Latin music, has inspired a whole new generation of African artists. She is known for her powerful voice, her boundless energy on stage and her commitment to education and to girls' rights in Africa.

African Symphony

African Symphony is a tribute to the great voices of the African continent. Kidjo and the orchestra perform music by Miriam Makeba, Fela Kuti, Youssou N'Dour and the new generation of stars such as Rema and Burna Boy, alongside Kidjo's own songs. The project combines African musical traditions with the symphonic sound of a full orchestra.

Kidjo created the project together with Derrick Hodge, an American bassist, composer and arranger known for his work with Robert Glasper, Common and Jill Scott.

The Metropole Orkest and Jules Buckley

The Metropole Orkest is a Dutch orchestra that specialises in pop, jazz and world music, and is known internationally for its collaborations with artists from very different genres. British conductor Jules Buckley is famous for orchestral projects with pop and jazz artists. Together they know how to make an orchestra groove.

Practical information

• Date: Thursday 11 March 2027.
• Doors: 19:15.
• Start: 20:15.
• Hall: Hertog Jan Zaal, Muziekgebouw Eindhoven.
• Tickets: Premium €49, rank 1 €46, rank 2 €43, rank 3 €39.

Prices and availability can change; check the Muziekgebouw website before you go.

For whom?

This concert is for anyone who loves great singers, African music, or the sound of a full orchestra. You don't need to know the songs: the energy of Kidjo and the orchestra does the work. It is also a good evening to bring friends or colleagues who don't often go to concerts.

For internationals

Eindhoven's international community includes many people with roots in Africa, and music like this connects cultures. Kidjo sings in several languages, including English, French and Fon and Yoruba from West Africa. The Muziekgebouw's information is available in English.

Tips for the evening

• Book early for the best seats. Orchestral concerts with big names are popular, and the premium seats go first.
• Arrive on time. With a full orchestra on stage, latecomers may have to wait for a suitable moment to enter.
• No dress code. Smart-casual is fine.

Getting there

The Muziekgebouw Eindhoven is on the Heuvel in the city centre, about a ten-minute walk from Eindhoven Centraal. The public entrance is at Heuvel 140. Car parks, including the one under the Heuvel shopping centre, and guarded bike parking are nearby. The restaurants around the Markt, the Kleine Berg and the 18 Septemberplein are a few minutes' walk away.

See all music in Eindhoven and the calendar for March 2027.