Press Archive
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KITKA
1201 Martin Luther
King Jr. Way
Oakland, CA 94612
TEL: 510.444.0323
FAX: 510.444.1013
E-MAIL:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 3, 1999PRESS CONTACT: Shira Cion, (510) 444-0323, KITKA WOMEN'S VOCAL ENSEMBLE MAKES THREE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CONCERT APPEARANCES AS PART OF "NECTAR" TOUR"KITKA's power and energy is exotic and exhilarating. . . showcasing the beauty and vitality of female voices"-National Public Radio The award-winning women's vocal ensemble KITKA will present three Southern California concerts in conjunction with the release of the group's newest CD NECTAR, on the Diaphonica label. Two performances will take place on Friday, September 24: the first at noon at Grand Performances at the Marina Pavilion in Los Angeles, and the second at 8 PM at San Juan Capistrano's Multicultural Arts Society's South Coast Concert Series at the South Coast Assembly Hall. On Saturday, September 25 at 8 PM, KITKA will sing at the Grand Salon at University Student Union of California State University, Northridge. KITKA is composed of nine women from diverse ethnic and musical backgrounds, joined together in their passion for the stunning dissonances, asymmetric rhythms, exotic ornamentation, lush harmonies, and resonant strength of Eastern European women's vocal traditions. KITKA's mastery of the demanding techniques of Balkan and Slavic vocal styling has been praised throughout the U.S. and Eastern Europe and has often been compared to that of Les Mystere des Voix Bulgares. The ensemble's rich and varied repertoire ranges from strident chants sung in traditional village styles to complex modern choral arrangements inspired by ancient extended vocal techniques from Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia, Croatia, Macedonia, Russia, Ukraine, Hungary, Romania, Georgia, Serbia, and beyond. The Ledger Dispatch characterizes KITKA's sonority as "angelic voices in complete unison-like mother earth herself had opened up her vocal chords." The San Francisco Chronicle/Examiner raved, "KITKA's reedy, open-throated sound resonates as if energized by the universe itself, invoking living things and still matter into togetherness and unity." KITKA's voices have been featured on several major motion picture soundtracks, including BRAVEHEART, JACOBS LADDER, and AT PLAY IN THE FIELDS OF THE LORD. Recently, KITKA received critical raves on both coasts and a nomination for a Drama Critics' Circle Award for their role as the Greek Chorus/Trojan Slave Women in the American Conservatory Theater's production of HECUBA, starring Olympia Dukakis. NECTAR is a collection of eighteen haunting and emotive songs from Bulgaria, Georgia, Hungary, Macedonia, Russia and Ukraine. The album was produced by Elektra/Nonesuch recording artist Kit Higginson, best known for his work with the medieval group Ensemble Alcatraz. NECTAR is available from KITKA, 1201 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Oakland, CA 94612, or on-line from http://www.kitka.org. For more information, call 510.444.0323. * * * * CALENDAR LISTINGS List under MUSIC: Folk/World/Classical/Choral KITKA Women's Vocal Ensemble Review copies of Nectar, black and white and color photographs, media kits, and interviews with KITKA artists are available upon request. Call (510) 444-0323. An on-line press kit, including a wide selection of photographs is downloadable from http://www.kitka.org. |