"Where Brecht and Weill meets Brazilian soul.
A vibrant dialogue between cabaret and rhythm"
The Mandelay Project creates a unique blend of European cabaret and Brazilian rhythms. Imagine the dramatic music of Kurt Weill meeting the vibrant energy of samba – that’s the sound of this Belgian-Brazilian quartet. Led by Anne Bontemps' powerful voice and Wellington Barros' inventive piano, with Fernando Barros on bass and Marcos Della Rocha on drums, the band takes listeners on a captivating journey between melancholy and joy. Their music is both sophisticated and deeply emotional.
Artistic Concept & Repertoire In “Marginal Stories: From Weill to Brecht,” characters like Polly, Macky, Jenny, and Nana come to life through original arrangements that move seamlessly between samba, choro, jazz, and European songwriting. More than a concert, the project is a sensory journey through universal themes such as desire, injustice, identity, and resistance. Classic pieces like “Pirate Jenny” and “Alabama Song” are reinterpreted with surprising rhythmic textures, revealing new layers of meaning and emotion.
Stage Language & Audience Experience With strong theatricality and lively interaction among the musicians, each Mandelay Project performance is a multimodal event. The powerful and expressive voice of Anne Bontemps intertwines with Wellington’s narrative piano, Marcos’s compelling drums, and Fernando’s inventive bass arrangements. Together, they create a show that moves, provokes, and invites reflection—a true immersion where past and present converge.
Trajectory & Recognition With performances in theaters and festivals across Belgium and Germany, and the release of their debut EP in 2023, the group has been highlighted by specialized critics for its originality and interpretive strength. Their ability to connect distinct artistic languages—theater, classical, and popular music—has attracted a diverse audience, from Brecht and Weill enthusiasts to world music and cultural fusion lovers.
Mission & Cultural Dialogue Beyond entertainment, the Mandelay Project seeks to foster a critical and affective dialogue across cultures and time. By revisiting 20th-century classics through a contemporary lens, the group reaffirms the relevance of art as an instrument of social transformation and celebrates music as a territory of freedom and encounter.
A Modern Tribute to Timeless Masters Our new EP is a heartfelt homage to the iconic duo Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht, reimagining their timeless themes through the vibrant lens of Latin American influences. Dive into a rich tapestry of sound that explores the complexities of social inequality, the search for identity, and the unyielding fight for survival—blending the classic and the contemporary in a truly captivating way. Join us on this journey, where history inspires the future, and the past finds new life in the music of today.
2025
