Rebetiko’s female voices highlighted in Sydney performance

A show centred connected women’s voices successful rebetiko euphony has drawn a afloat location successful Sydney, reflecting sustained involvement successful the genre’s past and taste legacy.

Untamed Voices, staged astatine the Factory Theatre connected April 19 arsenic portion of the 44th Greek Festival of Sydney, sold retired up of the event. The accumulation combined unrecorded euphony with narration to analyse the relation of pistillate performers successful a tradition agelong associated with marginalised voices and municipality working-class beingness successful Greece.

Led by Melbourne-based vocalist Elsa Mouratidou, alongside the Taxim Trio directed by Con Kalamaras, the show moved betwixt well-known rebetiko songs and lesser-performed material. Commentary passim the nighttime placed the euphony within its humanities context, including themes of displacement, censorship and κοινωνικά stigma.

The programme focused connected the contributions of aboriginal and mid-20th period pistillate artists, including Marika Papagika, Rita Abatzi, Angela Papazoglou and Sotiria Bellou, whose work often challenged κοινωνικά norms of their time. Their songs, often dealing with exile, poorness and resistance, stay cardinal to the genre.

In a media release, festival president Sue Thliveris said: “The overwhelming effect to Untamed Voices reflects the enduring powerfulness of rebetiko and the value of celebrating the women who shaped this bonzer philharmonic tradition. It was a truly unforgettable evening that connected audiences with some past and emotion.”

The lawsuit forms portion of a wider programme crossed Sydney, arsenic the festival continues its yearly tally featuring music, theatre and assemblage events.