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Cathy Berberian was a remarkable artist who shook up the conventions of classical music in her own, idiosyncratic way. Her versatile voice pushed back the borders of vocality, and she was a source of inspiration for the greatest composers of the 20th century, including her husband at the time, Luciano Berio. Both of them would have been 100 years old in 2025, making this the perfect time to pay homage to the two artists.
The eccentric Recital I: for Cathy is the focal point of this tribute. In this piece, Berio creates a brilliant, tragicomic collage of music by composers including Monteverdi, Wagner and Schönberg. Sarah Aristidou, a new star in the operatic firmament, brings the piece to life with the Spectra Ensemble. Along with Recital I: for Cathy, Luciano Berio’s Folk Songs, also written for Berberian, and Berberian’s own Stripsody complete this evening of lively musical exploration.