The inimitable Spanish singer Buika and the unique Senegalese musician Cheikh Lo will give concerts arranged by the Musical Olympus Foundation on September 16 at the St. Petersburg Music Hall and on September 17 at the Moscow International House of Music.

Concha Buika is one of the most extraordinary, striking and original performers in the genres of flamenco, jazz, soul, blues and rumba. She has been repeatedly nominated for a Latin Grammy Award. Her ‘Niña de Fuego’ album released in 2008 was represented in two nominations: ‘Album of the Year’ and ‘Best Orchestral Performance’. The 2009 album ‘El Ultimo Trago’ which pays homage to the legendary Mexican singer Chavela Vargas was no less successful and also scored two Latin Grammy Award nominations: ‘Song of the Year’ (for the ‘Se Me Hizo Facil’ song) and the ‘Best Traditional Tropical Album’. Buika released hits together with Seal and Nelly Furtado, and her low, ardent voice is heard in ‘The skin I live in’ film by a famous Spanish director Pedro Almodovar.

‘Buika’s songs transport us to a place where we are left face to face with our own romantic history, one in which our failures stand out the most,’ – Pedro Almodovar shares his impressions. – ‘And, what’s more, after listening to her sing, one is determined to keep making the same mistakes because there are no rules, no common sense, no caution and no regret in passion’.

Buika is one of the most exciting and spontaneous performers on the Spanish stage. She never thinks her performance through and prefers to surprise her audience keeping in a special touch with it. Buika has got a brilliant gift to express at her concerts various states of mind: sadness, love, hatred, passion. She compares her performance with staying in different Universes at the same time. ‘Each time I return to the stage, I tell you it's like I return to my tribe, to my people, to myself, to my other self’ – says Buika.

President of the Musical Olympus Foundation Irina Nikitina remarks that Concha Buika’s concerts will take place in Russia for the first time. ‘Bright, natural, convincing, personality on the stage,’ – Irina Nikitina characterizes Buika. – ‘She captivates you from the first second of her performance and keeps your attention until the curtain goes down, and you want to listen to her over again’.

The Western media unanimously recognize peculiarity of the Spanish singer. ‘Her music is a unique blend of copla, an old-fashioned Spanish song style, flamenco, jazz, Cuban music, soul and blues, brought to searing life by Buika's capacity to channel emotion and music’ – writes Jordan Levin, the Miami Herald reporter. The New York Times music critic John Peyrles characterizes Buika's debut in the American metropolis as ‘magic’, and the New York Post reporter Javier L. Orellana named this Spanish singer the ‘Queen of Flamenco’.

Cheikh Lo is a Senegalese singer, widely known throughout the French-speaking music world. He is not only a superb singer and composer but also a distinctive guitarist, a percussionist and a drummer in one person. He is perceived as one of the most renowned Rastafari musicians, taking after legendary Bob Marley. Cheikh Lo has distilled a variety of influences from Western and Central Africa, to create a sound all his own. His music is a fusion of traditional African music, soul, jazz, reggae with outstanding positive attitude of the artist.

At the age of 21 Cheikh Lo started his career playing drums with Orchestra Volta Jazz in Bobo Dioulasso (Burkina Faso). In 1981 a 26-year old singer moved to Senegal, where he met Ouza, a progressive mbalax singer. They started working together.

In 1984 he moves to Paris, where he plays with many African musicians for several years. Back in Dakar in 1990 he released his first album Doxamdeme (‘Immigrants’), which was selling well. The album brought him Nouveau Talent award (Senegal).

In the next years Lo has been creating his new album. Calm mbalax, a special feel of the Latin and Congolese music, strong voice and faith blended in ‘Ne La Thiass’, one of the most notable albums of African music in 90s. The album was released internationally on World Circuit in 1996 followed by his debut tour in Europe with his own band. His early performances prompted rave reviews - ‘A rare talent destined to become one of world music’s biggest stars’, The Times - ‘a compelling performer with energy and personality to match that of the early Bob Marley’, The Guardian. A famous African singer and Lo’s friend Youssou N'Dour (duet with Neneh Cherry '7 seconds'), said after listening to his music: ‘I was overwhelmed by his voice, I found something in his voice that’s like a voyage through Burkina, Niger, Mali’.

In 1997 he scored Best Newcomer nomination at the Kora All-African Awards in South Africa, and the following year he toured the U.S. as a participant of the Africa-Fête festival with such artists as Salif Keita and Papa Wemba. In 1999 the President of Senegal awarded him with the prestigious Ordre National du Merite de Leon from. The next album ‘Bombay Gueej’ also gained recognition for its beauty and originality of performance. Youssou N'Dour and Nick Gold acted as co-producers.

Cheikh Lo stepped in the new millennium being one of the brightest stars of African music.

The Musical Olympus Foundation continues to reveal new names for the Russian audience. Previously the Foundation arranged the first Russian performances of such stars as Roberto Fonseca and Lizz Wright, unknown to our audience. Now these musicians gather full houses, and Russian music fans look forward to every new performance.