Concert program
“Learning from the Light” by Mariana Sadovska and Christian Thomé
In the new program “Learning from the Light,” musicians Mariana Sadovska and Christian Thomé combine modern Ukrainian poetry and ritual folk songs, breathing new life into them. Contemporary Ukrainian poetry forms the basis for songs that oscillate between raw sound and refined vocals. Whether it’s excerpts from Olena Teliha “Hold! Pull up! Row faster! Swim! Believe! Live!” or the diary entities of Viktoria Amelina “Air raid alarm. Today it’s not you, all-clear” or the somber metaphors like “the ominous clatter of days shattering into pieces,” they form a new musical direction that combines the expression of pain, vulnerability, and the spirit of resistance, which becomes a guiding light.
They will also perform “VESNY,” which is a fusion of acoustic rhythms, electronic soundscapes, and intense vocals. The songs are rooted in Ukrainian traditions, and thanks to Christian Thomé’s orchestral percussion, Marcus Brown’s sound design, and Mariana Sadovska’s uncompromising vocal art, they receive a fresh and unexpected interpretation. Their performances transcend all genre boundaries, creating archaic worlds and transforming rhythms, harmonies, and lyrics into unique musical stories.
Mariana Sadovska
Mariana Sadovska, a singer, actress, and composer, blends folk and avant-garde elements in her musical programs. By combining innovative compositions and arrangements with ancient traditions, Mariana brings a fresh and uniquely personal vision to each of her works. Her powerful and wide-ranging vocals even earned her a comparison by The New York Times to rock star PJ Harvey.
Christian Thomé
Christian Thomé, a German percussionist and electronic musician, was born in Düsseldorf and currently resides in Cologne. He is one of the most creative German jazz percussionists, developing his unique sound concepts in his solo projects and as a member of various ensembles. Many of his projects use electronics as well as drums and percussion, such as his new group “abstract club.” Thomé teaches jazz percussion at the University of Osnabrück and was a fellow of the Istanbul Villa Tarabya in 2016-2017.
Safiye Lenter-Qizi
Safiye Lenter-Qizi is a singer of Crimean Tatar origin. She started singing in her native Crimea from an early age and has been living in Lviv for the past nine years. She is a researcher and ambassador of Crimean Tatar culture.
Grisly Faye
Margaryta Kulichova is a singer, songwriter, producer, composer, and sound engineer, and founder of Sound Force Sound Design Studio. She has been working under the experimental pop pseudonym Grisly Faye since 2014. She has toured in Europe and the United States and participated in One Beat 2018, which selected 25 musicians from around the world for an intensive residency, community engagement, and fall tour in 2018. Over the past 9 years, Grisly Faye has completed multiple tours in Europe and America, released a number of records, and collaborated with various artists, including Monotonne, Ze Jozers, Dno, and Blooms Corda.
Grisly Faye’s compositions combine the tenderness and whimsy of electronic music through vocal sampling, deep bass, field recording, and storytelling. Her collections of film soundtracks cover a wide range of genres, from choral music to electro-acoustic.
