In honor of Black History Month, the Orchestre Classique de Montréal presents “Distant echoes of Africa,” starring soprano Suzanne Taffo.

This concert highlights Cameroonian-Canadian soprano Suzanne Taffot, Haitian-Canadian composer David Bontemps, and Panamanian-American conductor Kalena Bovell, who makes her Montréal debut. The program which focus entirely on the music of Afro-descendant composers will also include works by Black British composer Samuel Coleridge‑Taylor and African-American composers George Walker, William Grant Still, and the world premiere of Bontemps’ “Le Deuil des roses qui s’effeuillent,” a song cycle based on poems by Jacques Roumain. The program concludes with a set of four beloved spirituals, newly orchestrated by Hugo Bégin. Kalena Bovell is the conductor.

The concert’s sponsor, Laurence Levy of TD Canada Trust said in a press release, “Music has the unique power to bring us together, transcend differences and celebrate the rich histories and cultures that unite us. In supporting these kinds of initiatives, we affirm our commitment to highlighting the talent of Black communities and providing spaces where creativity, diversity and inclusion can thrive.”

The “Distant echoes of Africa” concert is scheduled for Feb. 6, starting at 6 p.m. at Pierre‑Mercure Hall.

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