““Kitka’s songs are hauntingly beautiful, simple, yet otherworldly. The rich sound these women produce resonates as if energized by the universe itself, as if it were calling all live beings and still matter into togetherness and unity.”
— Ching Chang, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE”
Kitka’s core repertory material ranges from ancient village duets to complex choral works, from early music to contemporary compositions. The soaring sound of the vocalists is exotic, both elegant and eerie. The melodies are hauntingly beautiful. The many languages in which Kitka sings are largely unfamiliar to American ears — Albanian, Bosnian, Bulgarian, Croatian, Georgian, Modern Greek, Hungarian, Ladino, Latvian, Macedonian, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Ukrainian, Yiddish, with the occasional Latin, medieval Gallician, or ancient Greek. It is exactly this unfamiliarity that is so riveting, as Kitka’s sensitive precision lifts their work out of the merely musical into a universe beyond words, an experience that is primal, elemental. More than just a concert, an evening with Kitka unites vibrant music, enhanced by a subtly changing stage picture, compelling song introductions, and each singer’s warm rapport with the audience.
examples of Repertory program:
Highlights from Kitka’s recent repertoire
SAZEIMO PERKHULI (Svaneti, Georgia, traditional). A festive round dance from the Northwestern mountains of Georgia with a text consisting entirely of what some consider nonsense words (worera, voisa-rera, dila-wadila). Others believe this songs' lyrics contain remnants of archaic texts associated with pre-Christian pagan rituals honoring cosmic deities.
Recorded Live in 2021 at The Freight and Salvage in Berkeley, CA
NA PAT JODAM (Sandanski Region, Bulgaria, arr. Philip Koutev). “I set out on the road and I asked which road goes to the village of Hotovo, where there is a spacious garden...”
Recorded live in 2021 at The Freight and Salvage, Berkeley, CA.
Please note, the program above is being offered for Kitka's 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons. Additional ethnically specific and/or collaborative programs are also available by special arrangement. Kitka also offers a variety of community outreach activities including vocal workshops, choral masterclasses, community sings, lecture-demos, K-12 assembly programs, open rehearsals, pre-concert talks and more.
We would be delighted to discuss ways to engage your communities more deeply in Kitka's work.