BALKANIA

Three vocal ensembles, Isokratisses from Greece, Lot Kurbeti from Albania, and Abagar Quartet from Bulgaria, invited by WOMO and the female vocal ensemble CHÓRES, leave their mark on the musical performance BALKANIA, unfolding their expressiveness and aesthetics through their local musical traditions.

The repertoire selection aims to highlight the intersections and differences among them, creating a diverse canvas of Balkan colours and polyphonic styles. The elements of conflict include highlighting and distinguishing each national identity through language, the differences in musical structure, instruments, and details in musical execution, as well as in aesthetics.

The unique characteristics and influences of each of the musical traditions featured in the concert reflect the historical background and the challenging experiences deeply rooted in the collective memory of the nations mentioned above, during the 20th century. They also mirror the political will that shaped both the form and impact of these traditions on a global scale. Within a context of cultural exchange, the concert gives space to the differences that bring out the musical diversity, distinctiveness, and individuality of each region.