Cantadoras I: Sofia Jernberg

The celebrated Swedish-Ethiopian soprano, performer and composer ranges between contemporary composition, noise, free jazz and experimental vocal art. Her voice measures five octaves — from guttural growl to crystalline overtones, from microtonal glissandi to percussive sound explosions. An instrument of resistance and exploration — irrepressible, precise, unpredictable. *** What can a voice be? Ritual, resistance, myth and knowledge carrier? Visionary, memory and healing? The new Cantadoras series brings together outstanding female artists who ask these questions radically — each in their own way, in their tradition, with their practice. Various vocal techniques meet improvisation and performance, spiritual practice meets political resistance, centuries-old traditions meet progressive sound art. In the first season, the new concert series of Unlimited combines overtone singing from Tuva, Persian vocal traditions from Iran, Carnatic music, Ukrainian polyphony and Ethiopian-Swedish vocal art.

A translocal series in cooperation with Berlin partners