Carlos V: Music of the Emperor with The African Renaissance Ensemble (Pretoria)

We are delighted to return to the stage with one of our most exciting programmes!

Carlos V, Lord of the Netherlands (1506 - 1555), Duke of Burgundy (1506 - 1555), King of Spain (1516 - 1556), Archduke of Austria (1519 - 1556), Holy Roman Emperor (1519 - 1556), Ruler of the Kingdom of Naples, The Kingdom of Sicily, The Kingdom of Sardinia, The Dutchy of Milan, Conqueror of the Incas, the Aztecs and Peru, Defender of the Christian Faith, 

First Emperor of the Empire on which the sun never sets

Carlos V (1506 – 1555) was a titan of history whose empire bathed in endless sunlight, from the grand halls of Europe to the mystical lands of the Americas.

Whilst we think of Renaissance music as being purely European, the conquest of South America resulted in a cross-pollination of cultures with Spanish composers being influenced by the real and imagined rhythms, sounds, and languages of South America and West Africa.

Our programme presents some of the weird and wonderful music of his time, which took instruments and voices to new and previously unexplored territory.

The African Renaissance Ensemble under the direction of Adam H. Golding