Throughout history, people and cultures have travelled across the world, settling in distant lands and weaving a timeless story of migration, conflict and coexistence. This story is written in our DNA — the hereditary material that connects us to our ancestors. DNA knows no language, religion or borders. It carries an indelible trace of where we come from, and forms one of the keys to who we are.

For this project, the five musicians of Dianto Reed Quintet took part in DNA testing to explore their origins and discover which (new) families they belong to. The results were full of surprises: the predominantly Spanish quintet (with one member from South America) turned out to have roots stretching from Greece to Scandinavia and from Mexico to the Balkans. 

The programme combines newly commissioned works — by Ramin Amin (Iran) and Fuensanta Méndez (Mexico) — with traditional, classical and folk music. The sound world expands with the gaita, the Galician bagpipe, played by our bassoonist María, who also lends her voice in song.

Alongside the music, audiences will hear pre-recorded testimonies from contemporary migrants, including the two commissioned composers. These voices reflect on the many reasons people move: hunger, war, love, ideology, sexuality, study, work, and more. Migration always carries mixed emotions — a sense of loss and longing, but also of hope and renewal. We see it as an opportunity for growth and enrichment.

For more info, you can check our agenda and the concert program down below. Hope to see you there!