طرب / TARAB

Little known in the western world, the singer Umm Kulthum - the "Callas of Egypt" - is one of the great icons of classical Arabic music. In a male-dominated artistic field, she made it to the top and became a role model for change and self-empowerment for women all over the world. Umm Kulthum's influence extended into the political sphere: with lively solidarity and public commitment, she campaigned for a society in which everyone could participate - just like in her music.

Today, it seems more important than ever to activate the cross-border power of this exceptional artist and to put people in Berlin-Neukölln into a trance-like state of communal ecstasy. طرب / TARAB creates a collage of diverse Umm Kulthum songs for three singers and performers, accompanied by the Berlin ensemble transmusica, in a unique stage experience. A performance that interweaves music with expressive stage design, movement and sensual-dramatic forms of expression.

WITH Mireille Bittar, Rita El-Achkar, Waed Bouhassoun

MUSICIANS ensemble transmusica - Valentin Link (bass), Bernd Oezsevim (percussion), Jehad Jazbeh (solo violin), Mari Sawada / Vera Kardos (violin I), Angelika Feckl / Meike-Lu Schneider (violin II), Kundri Lu Schäfer (viola), Zoe Cartier / Lea Rahel Bader (cello), Deniz Mahir Kartal / Yazan Alsabbagh (clarinet & ney), Tarek Charbel (oud)

ARTISTIC DIRECTION / COMPOSITION Nesrine Belmokh MUSICAL DIRECTION / ARRANGEMENTS Frank Woeste DIRECTOR Sjaron Minailo DESIGN / STAGE Shahrzad Rahmani DESIGN ASSISTANT Sarah Schimke DRAMATURGY Nora Amin, Dennis Depta DRAMATURGICAL CONSULTANCY Mieke Kolk DIRECTOR / PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT Joelina Spiess ENSEMBLE MANAGEMENT transmusica ensemble / MUSICAL CONSULTANCY Sofia Surgutschowa

LANGUAGE Arabic, with short descriptions in Arabic, English and German