Romanian-Nigerian Piano Sensation Rebeca Omordia, in New York and Washington, D.C.

Hailed as a mesmerizing performer, with unforgettable presence and brilliant technique, the Romanian-Nigerian pianist REBECA OMORDIA will grace our “Enescu Soirees” program in June with a recital full of color, virtuosity, and flair.

The event at RCINY is preceded by a recital at the Romanian Embassy in Washington, D.C., and an appearance, alongside dashing soprano Alexandra Coman, at the United Nations Headquarters in a recital co-organized with the Permanent Mission of Romania to the United Nations.

The program features works by Clara and Robert Schumann, John Ireland and Maurice Ravel, alongside Romanian composers George Enescu and Paul Constantinescu and Nigerian composers Ayo Bankole and Fred Onovwerosuoke.

"Rebeca Omordia is half Romanian, half Nigerian – and it’s a powerful combination! Rebeca’s technique knows no bounds but, more importantly, she plays with a depth of insight and understanding which is all too rare today." (Julian Lloyd Webber, London Magazine)

Program:

Clara Schumann – Scherzo no. 2

Robert Schumann – “Carnaval” op. 9

John Ireland – Decorations

Maurice Ravel – “Scarbo” from “Gaspard de la nuit”

George Enescu – “Pavane” from Suite op. 10 in D major

Paul Constantinescu – “Joc dobrogean” (Toccata)

Ayo Bankole – “Ya Orule”

Fred Onovwerosuoke – “24 Studies in African Rhythms”: “Aye dance 1”, “Pende”, “Sanze”, “Raging River dance 2”

London based award-winning pianist Rebeca Omordia was born in Romania to a Romanian mother and a Nigerian father. Having begun to establish a profile in her native country, after studies at the National University of Music in Bucharest she moved to the UK to study at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and later at Trinity College of Music in London. Recently featured on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, and as Artist of the Month in the Classical Music Magazine, May 2019, Rebeca is known as a vibrant, exciting virtuoso throughout the UK and overseas. She has toured widely as a soloist and chamber musician. In recent seasons she has performed as a soloist with Romanian National Radio Orchestra in Bucharest, MUSON Symphony Orchestra in Lagos and with Chineke! Orchestra at Queen Elizabeth Hall in London. She has worked with an array of international musicians, including a three year- partnership with the British cellist Julian Lloyd Webber. They performed in venues such as the Wigmore Hall and Kings Place in London, at Highgrove, the residence of the Prince of Wales, as well as in live broadcasts for BBC Radio 3. Further musical partners have included cellist Raphael Wallfisch, double bass virtuoso Leon Bosch, and the Chineke! Chamber Ensemble; her CD with piano duo - partner Mark Bebbington, “The Piano Music of Ralph Vaughan Williams” reached no. 3 in the UK’s Specialist Classical Music Chart. A great enthusiast of Nigerian classical music, Rebeca’s CD Ekele released in 2018 was described as a “fascinating programme” by the Gramophone Magazine, “appealing album” by the BBC Music Magazine, and “beautifully delivered recital” by The Sunday Times. In 2019 she launched, in partnership with the Institute of Art and Music, the world's first ever African Concert Series, at the October Gallery in London, described by the BBC World Service as “the African Art Music makes a comeback”. In 2018 Rebeca was a jury member in the 13th HRH Princess Lalla Meryem International Piano Competition in Rabat, Morocco. In 2016 she was awarded the Honorary Membership Award from Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. She is currently writing her PhD thesis.

Alexandra Coman is one of the most talented and well-known Romanian sopranos. She has attended master classes held by Luciano Pavarotti and Katia Riciarelli, has performed in prestigious concert halls both in Romania and in Europe, and has shared the stage with illustrious artists such as Jose Carerras, Placido Domingo, Alex Vicenes and Carry Persson. Alexandra has an impressive repertoire as well as a versatile use of vocal registers. Jose Carreras said about her: “Alexandra Coman is a very talented artist with a great career before her’, while Luciano Pavarotti described her as having ‘a beautiful voice of interesting colour and brilliant quality.”

“The Enescu Soirees” is a permanent program of the Romanian Cultural Institute designed to showcase, cultivate and promote Romanian music in New York and other major cultural centers of the United States through chamber music concerts of highest quality featuring Romanian, American and international performers and a wide array of styles and genres. The namesake of the series honors Romania’s most prolific and revered musician, George Enescu (1881-1955), a genius composer, violinist, pianist, and conductor. “The Enescu Soirees” aims to present the integrale of Enescu’s chamber works (many of them recently discovered and completed), an endeavor never attempted before, together with other major creations of the Romanian and international classical music repertoire. Music advisor: Irina Muresanu.

Where & when:

Washington, The Romanian Embassy, June 4 at 7 p.m. (by invitation);

New York, The United Nations Headquarters, June 6 at 6 p.m. (by invitation);

New York, Romanian Cultural Institute, June 7 at 7 p.m., as part of the “Enescu Soirees” (free entry). In order to book, please go to Eventbrite. Our events are free and seating is available on a first-come-first-served basis. We generally overbook to ensure a full house.