The Musical Olympus Foundation continues to reveal new names for the Russian audience. Russian music lovers could only get to know the work of these talented and extraordinary musicians on the internet before. On September 16 the St. Petersburg Music Hall hosted a concert of the inimitable Spanish singer Buika and the unique Senegalese musician Cheikh Lo.

The concert started with Cheikh Lo’s performance. His music is a fusion of traditional African music, soul, jazz, and reggae. From the very first piece the audience could feel the charisma and powerful energy of Lo and his band. Cheikh and his musicians are not just colleagues on stage - they are friends committing to a common cause they love in a colourful, emotional and relaxed way. Both original performance and inspiring African music contributed to the unique atmosphere of the concert and made the audience feel that that evening they became a little closer to the musicians’ homeland – mysterious Africa.

The evening continued with the performance of a striking and extraordinary Spanish singer Buika performing in the genres of flamenco, jazz, and blues. The Western media unanimously recognize her extraordinary talent and call her the ‘Queen of Flamenco. Her low ardent voice is heard in one of the latest movies by Pedro Almodovar ‘The skin I live in’.

The audience didn’t know what songs Buika will perform in Music Hall, as she never announces her programme in advance. “…I just give in to the magic force of music, says Buika. – I never know what is going to happen on stage. I just feel that my audience is my only concert director. I go on stage and trust them – and give a great show”.

Buika communicated with the audience in a free natural way. It seemed she did not establish any barriers between herself and the listeners; she associated herself with them. Usually there is some unperceivable wall between the artist and the audience that breaks the concert hall in two worlds – that of the musician and that of a simple listener. Buika does not separate herself from the audience; she shares her life with the listeners during the concert.

“Buika doesn’t spare herself, gives every bit of her to the stage so sincerely that the audience witness a real drama at her concerts, - comments Irina Nikitina President, of the Musical Olympus Foundation. – Cheikh Lo is a unique musician with a versatile personality; he is not only a superb singer and composer, but also a distinctive guitarist, a percussionist and a drummer in one person.

Cheikh Lo and Buika also gave a concert in Moscow on September 17 at the Moscow International House of Music.