Passion of Shishani

Whilst all of the Netherlands is captivated by Bach’s St. Matthew Passion during Easter, Pynarello and the multi-talented Shishani—singer-songwriter, anthropologist, musicologist, and activist—present a modern take on the Passion. This unique musical collision merges the stunning sounds of Florence Price (1887–1953) and Shishani (1988). Price, the first African American woman to be recognized as a composer of symphonic works, fought racism and unequal opportunities. Her impressive body of work, consisting of more than 300 compositions, was rediscovered in 2009 in an abandoned holiday home. Today, her work resonates in dialogue with Shishani, a socially engaged artist with roots in Namibia, Belgium, and the Netherlands, known for their hit Minority. Rebel collective Pynarello brings this encounter to life with a compact ensemble, where vocals, percussion, and classical strings create a thrilling tension between Shishani’s rhythmically driven sound world—inspired by soul, pop, and African music—and Price’s romantic, captivating compositions.