This evening at 9 PM – Apollon Hall of the Palais Acropolis, one of the flagship events of C’est pas classique will take place: “Queen of Sheba”, a symphonic work composed by Ibrahim Maalouf with a text by Angélique Kidjo, inspired by the legend of the Queen of Sheba.
With her striking voice, stage presence, and multicultural influences, Angélique Kidjo, three-time Grammy Award winner, is today one of the greatest artists in international music. She has successfully blended traditional African sounds with American RnB, funk, and jazz tones, as well as influences from Europe and Latin America. Alongside her international music career, which has earned her prestigious accolades, Angélique Kidjo continues her humanitarian engagement for children, serving as a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF and OXFAM.
Ibrahim Maalouf, recognized worldwide, is the most popular instrumentalist on the French music scene. At 20, he was a winner of the greatest international classical competitions and began a career as a classical musician. From the 2000s, he became a pivotal musician in pop, jazz, and world music. Sting, Salif Keita, Amadou & Mariam, Tryo, Matthieu Chédid, and many artists of very diverse styles have called upon him. Between 2007 and 2017, he produced, composed, arranged and realized more than 15 albums, composed more than 10 classical symphonic works as well as the music for numerous films. Awarded 4 “Victoires de la Musique” and a “César for Best Film Music” in 2016, he has sold out concerts at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC and Paris Bercy.
