koko Posted March 16, 2004 Report Share Posted March 16, 2004 Cathy Berberian This American singer of Armenian origin specialized in the performing of New Music, besides developing a wide range of research in this field as well as composing several works within this genre for her own voice. She studied music at the University of New York, and later at the Conservatoire Giuseppe Verdi in Milan before her first debut in Naples in 1957. A year later she appears onstage in Rome, at a concert in honor of John Cage, where she performs her "Aria with Fontana Mix". In 1960 she performed for the first time in America, at the Music Festival of Berkshire, with a work by Luciano Berio, "Circles". She would marry him in 1950. Berio composed many of his works for her, like Igor Stravinsky, John Cage, and Silvano Bussoti among others. Cathy Berberian developed a solid educational task at the Kölnische Musikschule, at the University of Vancouver (Canada) and at the Royal Conservatoire of Toronto (Canada), besides many other countries. In 1971, 1973 and 1974 she was awarded the Grammy prizes, besides a Grand Prix du Disque in 1972. Among the works she composed mention must be made of "Tripsody", commissioned by Radio Bremen in 1966, for the Festival of New Music, composed for a series of comic strips by Roberto Zamarin, a work where the artist gives her music to the drawings working in the same way as a sound technician would, yet providing the entire sound for the piece with only her own voice. As an author she also composed several vocal works and chamber pieces, as well as a theatre play, "The Architect and The Emperor of Assyria", which premiered in Paris, based on a text by Fernando Arrabal. Berberian also published an antology of romanzas by other women composers. Her works have been mainly published in Germany. http://www.amazings.com/articles/article0044.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anoushik Posted March 17, 2004 Report Share Posted March 17, 2004 Thanks for this post Karine! Last year in my music history class I felt so good when the professor specifically mentioned that Luciano Berio's wife was Armenian. By the way, have you ever listened to Berio's compositions? They are rather "interesting" (if that's the correct word to use in this case). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koko Posted March 18, 2004 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2004 (edited) Barev Anoshik! I haven't heard any of Berios compositions, not that I can recall anyway!! But I know that he deticeted some of his compositions to Cathy. There was a program with armenian composers and musicians in sweden some years ago...I had the radio on not knowing that it was the #"armenian hour of music" , and Cathy Berberian was singing, not knowing it, I thought to myself... her voice sounds so armenian! And then they go..."You were listening to Cathy Berberian in..." Her voice reminded me of Gohar Gasparyan's! I was lucky enough to have her as my teacher while attending Komitas Music konservatoria in Yerevan and taking lessons not long ago. They were all so good teachers. She and her assistant particullary! Edited March 18, 2004 by koko Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anoushik Posted March 21, 2004 Report Share Posted March 21, 2004 Wow! You studied with Gohar Gasparyan at the Komitas Conservatory? When? I'm so envious of you! Sometimes I really wish I could have been studying piano at the Komitas Conservatory (my mom studied piano there) instead of here in the U.S. But that's great that you studied music. I'm so happy - I thought I was the only one in this forum who studies music formally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koko Posted March 22, 2004 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2004 (edited) Oh That's great that u study music as well! There are many armenians who study music, we, must keep the tradition alive I studied with Gohar Gasparyan only a very short period of time, the time I got to rehearse with the teachers was not very much, but I learnt quite a deal just beeing there to listen to the other students during the lecutures. And during the winter time, they couldnt afford to heat the Conservatory, everyone was not only freezing but also fighting not to catch a cold (grip). needless to say, I was harpokh almost the entire period I took lessons... Edited March 23, 2004 by koko Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psyberium Posted May 18, 2004 Report Share Posted May 18, 2004 Hi, I was very excited to stumble onto this post. Its my first time in this forum. Cathy was my grandmother, and Luciano waas my grandfather. She was absolutely an Armenian-American having been born in Mass. from parents who escaped the genocide. You should try to find some of versions of her Armenian folk songs, they are quite beautiful. I'll post again soon with more information. As a matter of fact, she was the one who inspired my grand-father to write the pieces called Folk Songs, which is one of his best recordings. Among her many talents, I'm told her knowledge of Armenian cuisine was astonishing. Some say she was as good a chef as she was a singer. Obviously I'm partial, but most scholars will tell you she was one of the most influential singers of the 20th century. She did things with her voice that nobody imagined possible. She also collaborated with some of the greatest composers of all time, Stravinsky, Cage, Berio and others. She was also the first person to perform a Kurt Weill repertoire, and bring his music to popularity. The article link somebody provided, actually had some inaccuracies. The piece she wrote was called "Stripsody". It was based on omnomatoepias from cartoon strips. For more information you can contact me. I'm a young filmmaker, webdesigner, and have been doing some music production with my own band. I'm actually making cathy's site right now (cathyberberian.com), its not up yet but it should be done soon. There people will be able to listen to her music, etc... I found this post by coincidence because I actually made the website for a dear friend of mine the artist vahe berberian (www.vaheberberian.com). You can also visit my own site at www.artilleryunit.com. Thanks, and I look forward to being part of this forum. Alberto Berio Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anoushik Posted May 19, 2004 Report Share Posted May 19, 2004 Hello Alberto Berio, nice to meet you. Welcome to Hyeforum! Wow, you're actually Cathy's grandson? Yeah, I'm looking forward to the upcoming Cathy Berberian website. Thanks for visiting Hyeforum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koko Posted May 22, 2004 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2004 Indeed, a big welcome. It's nice to have you in our forum! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aidin-Sabetian Posted July 25, 2004 Report Share Posted July 25, 2004 Barev I study at Komitas conservatory as well I'm a freshman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vava Posted July 25, 2004 Report Share Posted July 25, 2004 Welcome to HF, Alberto. Excellent work on Vahé's site. Congratulations! We look forward to seeing the results of efforts on cathyberberian.com. Oh, and I'm excited to hear her Armenian folk songs. Enjoy your stay here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vava Posted July 25, 2004 Report Share Posted July 25, 2004 Barev Aidin-Sabetian, and welcome to HyeForum to you as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vigil Posted July 25, 2004 Report Share Posted July 25, 2004 (edited) Hello Aidin-Sabetian, welcome to the forum. Edited July 25, 2004 by Vigil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angel4hope Posted July 26, 2004 Report Share Posted July 26, 2004 (edited) Barev I study at Komitas conservatory as well I'm a freshman hellooo and welcome its gonna be a bumpy ride here so hold on tight... btw i like your avatar, looks like a rock star Edited July 26, 2004 by angel4hope Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aidin-Sabetian Posted July 26, 2004 Report Share Posted July 26, 2004 (edited) btw i like your avatar, looks like a rock star thank u thank u THANK U http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/emoticons6/9.gifhttp://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/emoticons6/71.gifhttp://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/emoticons6/9.gif you're very kind http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/emoticons6/6.gifhttp://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/emoticons6/9.gifhttp://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/emoticons6/9.gif actually that photo has been taken in september 2003, and at the moment I got long (almost long) curly hair with a tiny triangle beard under my lower lip :-)~ ya know..., that shaved head and beard in my photo could seem somehow strange and inappropriate in a conservatory specially in Yerevan. so to shape up with the atmosphere of Komitas konservatoria I decided to grow my hair. Edited July 26, 2004 by Aidin-Sabetian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koko Posted July 26, 2004 Author Report Share Posted July 26, 2004 (edited) Hello Aidin -S and welcome! Another musician, I see that is lovely!! so what ru studying at the koservatoria? I dont study there anymore myself...everything going well, I hope? Edited July 26, 2004 by koko Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anoushik Posted July 26, 2004 Report Share Posted July 26, 2004 Barev I study at Komitas conservatory as well I'm a freshman Barev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zartonk Posted January 23, 2007 Report Share Posted January 23, 2007 http://www.cathyberberian.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vava Posted January 23, 2007 Report Share Posted January 23, 2007 http://www.cathyberberian.com/ Nice looking site, but why, oh why, do some web designers feel that they must reduce the usable space of a web site to a 200x300 pixel box, which amounts to 6 square inches of space. You can't read a thing without using the glitchy scroll buttons! Ugh. Why bother buying a 20" screen then? the 8" of viewable area on my old Apple IIe would suffice... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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