SARAY Iluminado – Bruised River

SARAY Illuminado

Presented by Melbourne Recital Centre & SARAY Iluminado

Details

An intricate blend of the contemporary and the ancient.

Embark on a captivating journey as SARAY Iluminado weaves the rich tapestry of ancient Balkan melodies into the vibrant cultural landscape of contemporary Australia. Specialising in Bosnian Sevdah and Sephardic Jewish music, their spellbinding performances skillfully straddle the borders of music and theatre.

In this intimate Salon experience, Bruised River pays homage to the profound significance of rivers and waters in Bosnian Sevdah and Sephardic Jewish music, as well as in Nela Trifkovic’s original compositions. This three-fold repertoire is thematically underpinned by spoken word and poetry performances, drawing inspiration from literary masterpieces such as Ivo Andric’s Nobel Prize-winning Na Drini ćuprija (The Bridge on the Drina) and Meša Selimović’s Derviši smrt (Death and the Dervish). Featuring original writings by special guests, join SARAY Iluminado in this stirring concert where culture, music, and poetry converge to create an enriching experience.

Praise for SARAY Iluminado

‘Trifkovic’s voice is something to behold; it cuts through the thick stifled air like a knife through butter, and her ability to draw you inwards through song is only made stronger by the rest of this ensemble as they interchange instruments…’ – Melbourne Critique

Caring for Our Community

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Artists

Nela Trifkovic vocals, spoken word, frame drum
Irine Vela lute, vocals, frame drum
Kelly Dowall ney flute, clarinet, vocals, frame drum
Ernie Gruner violin, mandolin, vocals
Dan Witton double bass, vocals
Donna Dimovski-Kantarovski poetry, prose
Goran Djuric poetry, prose

Program

Modra Rijeka text by Mak Dizdar
Bruised River

Traditional Sephardic
Si la mar era de leche (La Sirena) / If the Sea Was Made of Milk (Song of the Siren)

Traditional Sevdah
Bosno moja divna mila
Anadolka
Ruse kose medley
My Bosnia
Anatolian Girl medley

Traditional Sephardic
La Rosa Enflorece (Los Bilbilikos) / The Rose Blooms (Song of the Nightingale)

Traditional Sevdah
Kraj potoka bistre vode / By the Brook, By Clear Water

Nela Trifkovic lyrics Mak Dizdar
Brod / The Boat

Traditional Sevdah
Razbolje se simsir list / Song of the Sick Boxwood Leaf
Žute dunje / Song about the Yellow Quince
Pjesma o Mehmed Paši / The Song About Mehmed Pasa

Modra Rijeka
Bruised River Outro

Series

This production is part of the following series:

Venue