Martenitsa

Modelled on the magnificent Bulgarian state choirs, Sydney-based Martenitsa was formed by Mara Kiek in 1990 with the assistance of the Australia Council's Performing Arts Board.

Martenitsa has performed at many concert halls and festivals around Australia, and in 2005 made its first full choir performance tour to Bulgaria for the Koprivshtitsa Festival and the UK for WOMAD Reading.

In 1993, a groundbreaking work "Sezoni" was written by Bulgarian Stefan Kozuharov and members of the Mara! Ensemble. “Sezoni” has been performed, broadcast and, recorded by Martenitsa and Mara! and was a final ARIA nominee for Best World/Folk/Traditional CD of 1997 and released on Real World records in 1999 through Virgin/EMI.

“Sezoni” was synchronized with Legs on the Wall’s spectacular aerial performance “Homeland”, and performed at the Sydney Olympics, Brisbane Festival, and in Berlin and Manchester, as well as broadcast to more than 60 countries as part of ABC TV’s Today 2000.

Martenitsa’s and Mara!’s newest suite “Tra Parole E Silenzio” was recorded and broadcast by the ABC in 2004 and restaged in November 2006 at Paddington Uniting Church.

Martenitsa have sung on motion picture soundtracks, most recently with massed voices for “Happy Feet” and on the multi award winning short film “Danya”. Collaborations with other recording artists include CDs with Clarion Fracture Zone, David Hobson, David Hirschfelder, Tenzing Tsewang and Llew Kiek.

In 2007 Martenitsa performed at the Queensland Music Festival’s major choral event “Lift Every Voice” and in 2008 for the Joint Ecumenical Council’s celebrations.

Website:  www.maramusic.com.au/Martenitsapages/martenitsa_choir_contents.htm
Hear them: Sednalo E Giore Dos (wav - 679KB)

When are they on?  Saturday September 13, 12 noon
Click here to book online for their show!