Ganavya, Abdullah Miniawy

For the opening concert of the Morgenlandfestival 2026, the Marienkirche will once again be transformed into an exceptional acoustic space – and into the meeting place for two outstanding contemporary musical philosophies. The invited musicians all share deep-seated spirituality, poetic expressiveness and a masterful approach to musical exploration beyond any established categories.

Egyptian singer, composer, and author Abdullah Miniawy, known internationally for his award-winning project Le Cri du Caire, will perform the first set of the evening. With his exceptional trio, he navigates the intersections between Arabic musical tradition, contemporary improvisation, and spiritual poetry. Together with Parisian trombonists Robinson Khoury and Jules Boittin, Miniawy unveils a dense and theatrical sonic world: a musical ritual set between Sufism and rebellion, contemplative immersion and eruptive energy. His voice – fragile yet powerful – lies at the core of this music, drawing the audience into an intense and enduring emotional experience.

For the second part of the evening, singer, composer, and band leader Ganavya will conjure musical spaces characterized by community, devotion, and concentrated silence. Raised between New York and Tamil Nadu in southern India, her work is equally influenced by the Hindu Harikatha tradition and its meditative chants, spiritual jazz, and South Asian ritual music. She combines these influences to create a unique musical language that intertwines personal experience and collective practice. Ganavya’s internationally celebrated concerts are often described as quiet, highly concentrated rituals – music of great mindfulness, spiritual depth, and care. Her concerts demand time, open-mindedness, and attention and in return offer moments of rare intensity, intimacy, and connectedness. 

Filippo Vignato – Trombone

Andrea Andreoli – Trombone

Abdullah Miniawy – Vocals

Ganavya Trio & The Marienkantorei Osnabrück