12/16, KITKA Women’s Vocal Ensemble: Wintersongs

Friday and Saturday, December 16 and 17, 2022, 8-10pm

“A refreshing spin on traditional seasonal choral music… A thoroughly marvelous concert!”
– National Public Radio

For more than two decades, Kitka’s annual Wintersongs concerts have explored songs from across Eastern Europe that summon the return of light and hope in times of difficulty and darkness.

This December, Kitka’s nine powerful female vocalists sing in solidarity with Ukraine, giving voice to the lush harmonies of traditional Ukrainian polyphony as the centerpiece of their wildly popular annual touring program. The theme of this year’s Wintersongs concert is “Shchedry Vechir”, a common refrain in Ukrainian carols that translates into English as “A Generous Evening.” In addition to offering an abundant feast of sacred and secular songs for the holiday season, these concerts will raise awareness of, and funds for, several organizations providing critical aid to victims of the war in Ukraine.

Kitka, which means “bouquet” in Bulgarian and Macedonian, began as a grassroots group of singers from diverse ethnic and musical backgrounds who shared a passion for the stunning dissonances, asymmetric rhythms, intricate ornamentation, and resonant strength of traditional Eastern European and Eurasian women’s vocal music. Since its informal beginnings, the group has evolved into an internationally-recognized professional ensemble known for its artistry, versatility, and mastery of the demanding techniques of Balkan, Slavic, and Caucasian vocal styling. Through a busy itinerary of live and broadcast performances, recording, educational programs, master artist residencies, commissioning programs, and adventuresome collaborations, Kitka has exposed millions to the haunting beauty of their unique repertoire.

$25-$50.

Presented by KITKA Women’s Vocal Ensemble.

http://www.kitka.org 510-444-0323

St. Paul's Episcopal Church
114 Montecito Ave.
Oakland, California 94610