Rija Ramanantoanina's new album 'FY' will take center stage at the third edition of Live Stage at La Balançoire, accompanied by his musicians and the Bandy Baraka Big Band. A work spanning nearly 40 years will be revisited in the intimate setting of a cabaret. On Friday, August 28 at 7 p.m., Rija Ramanantoanina will perform at La Balançoire for the third edition of Live Stage, a concept of intimate concerts and artistic gatherings created by Lagence, La Balançoire, and NYR Image. Surrounded by his musicians and the Bandy Baraka Big Band, the artist will showcase his new album 'FY', available for purchase at the venue.
Following Fanja Andriamanantena in the first edition and then Denise and Jaojoby, Live Stage continues exploring major figures in Malagasy music. This new encounter will trace the different stages of Rija Ramanantoanina's career, featuring iconic songs, recent creations, and tracks from 'FY', reimagined with arrangements designed for the large ensemble.
About twenty songs are planned for the evening, featuring pieces from different periods of the artist's career and his new album. The cabaret format of Live Stage also allows for expanding the program throughout the night.
The presence of the Bandy Baraka Big Band will give this reinterpretation a distinctive character. The formation will bring a new dimension to the repertoire through arrangement work designed to highlight the richness of the artist's compositions. This collaboration follows an initial experience in May at the International Conference Center, after six months of arrangement preparation.
For Rija Ramanantoanina, this formation particularly suits his musical universe, notably through the richness of its sounds and an international Big Band style that harmonizes with Malagasy songs. Behind this collaboration lies also a work of transmission. Seta, who has accompanied Rija Ramanantoanina for 20 years, has been training young musicians for about a dozen years. The Bandy Baraka Big Band now has approximately 25 members.
This approach aims to develop Malagasy talent and enable them to reach recognized musical levels. Some are thus sought after by foreign universities. Throughout his career, Rija Ramanantoanina has also enriched his universe through numerous encounters, particularly with jazz musicians, who have contributed to evolving his interpretations and arrangements.
Following his symphonic performance at Palais des sports Mahamasina in 2018 and his Big Band experience last May, the artist continues exploring new forms for his repertoire. On August 28, 'FY' will take its place alongside his greatest hits on the intimate stage of La Balançoire.