Writer and researcher Ellen de Vries will deliver a presentation about Surinamese pianist/composer Majoie Hajary (1921–2017), “A Surinamese Rhapsody – The Life of Majoie Hajary.”  This lecture will take place on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at 11:00am at Readytex Art Gallery. Readytex Art Gallery underlines, “Don’t miss this unique opportunity to discover the sparkling legacy of Suriname’s long-overlooked musical pioneer.” The gallery is located at 46-48 Maagden Street, Paramaribo, Suriname.

Description: How is it that a gifted pianist and composer with the looks of a movie star remained relatively unknown? In her book ‘A Surinamese Rhapsody: The Life of Majoie Hajary in Seven Musical Pieces,’ Ellen de Vries traces the career of this remarkable artist. On Saturday, April 5th, she’ll bring this story to life in a special presentation at Readytex Art Gallery, drawing connections to artworks that inspired Majoie Hajary.

As a teenager, Majoie Hajary left Paramaribo to study piano and composition in Amsterdam. She dazzled audiences worldwide with performances of Liszt, Mozart, Schumann, and more. Her own compositions were a vibrant fusion of Surinamese, Western, Eastern, and African sounds, blending classical, jazz, and funk. She settled in Paris but carried Suriname in her heart: “That’s where my soul is. And my soul is in that music.”

Ellen de Vries is a writer and researcher specializing in media, representation, (post)colonial history, and heritage studies. Her work spans multimedia productions, such as the acclaimed ‘Legacy of Nola Hatterman’, as well as publications like the book ‘Hans Valk: On a Dutch Colonel and a Coup in Suriname (1980)’.

For more information, see https://www.readytexartgallery.com/