“Tonight, I would like to celebrate this new place,” Angélique Kidjo said last night, a few songs into her set, the first ever in the new concert hall at Aviva Studios, the home of Factory International and the Manchester International Festival.
“As an artist, I have been dreaming about concert spaces that are more multi-functional. Where we don’t waste energy, we don’t waste space, and every form of art can be represented in one place, and finally this place is answering to my dreams as an artist.
“I hope that you in this city can understand the importance of this place and come every time something new comes here because this is a place where the world is going to come to you, and you can discover wonderful artists from around the world.”
