It is no coincidence that the street is being named after Majoie Hajary. In 2021, streets and courtyards in Zuidas were given the names of the female composers Hildegard von Bingen, Jaddanbai, Florence Price, Margaret Bonds and Fanny Mendelssohn. A key advocate for diversity in street-naming policy (12 percent of the Amsterdam streets are named after a woman) is Orville Breeveld, adviser at Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw. For public broadcaster NTR, he created the podcast series entitled Gemiste Sterren (Missing Stars), showcasing black composers within classical music who have been unjustly forgotten. Breeveld calls them ‘important composers, people who have fought for freedom and written some beautiful music. These composers deserve our attention. They are the big names in black musical history.’ His warm tribute is now set to have a follow-up. Amsterdam’s City Executive recently approved the name of Majoie Hajarystraat for the street around the new courthouse. It is hoped that the street signs will be put in place this spring.
Concertgebouw, 21 March
On Friday, 21 March, Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw is staging a concert that will not only feature music by Hajary, but also Florence Price and Margaret Bonds (whose names will be used for courtyards in the Kenniskwartier innovation district in Zuidas). According to Breeveld, Florence Prince was the first African-American woman to have her symphonies taken seriously. During her lifetime, composer and pianist Margaret Bonds enjoyed successes in both classic and popular music but later fell into obscurity. Finally, Majoie Hajary was born in Suriname, and her eventful life took the pianist/composer across the world. Soprano Imara Thomas will be joined by pianist Tony Roe as they perform these composers’ works.
The Concertgebouw programme
- Nieuwe Blik Terug: Florence Price, Margaret Bonds & Majoie Hajary
- 21 March 2025
- 20.15 uur
- Concertgebouw, Kleine Zaal
- Tickets available at the Concertgebouw
About Majoie Hajary
Majoie Hajary (1921-2017) carried Suriname in her heart and soul throughout her lifetime. When she died, Hajary was referred to as ‘a lost daughter of Suriname’. Although she left her native country at the age of just 15, elements of the various Surinamese cultures resonate throughout her compositions. Hajary enjoyed worldwide success as a concert pianist performing works by Liszt, Mozart, Schumann. In Paris, she studied under Nadia Boulanger and others. While there, she fell in love with Roland Garros, nephew of the aviator of the same name, after whom the famous tennis stadium was named. Because of his position as director of the airline Air France, Majoie lived in various different countries with her husband and two children. This meant that she performed less often, but continued to compose. Her compositions are a dynamic blend of Surinamese music styles, Western, Eastern and African sounds, jazz and classical music.
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