Iva Bittová & Abraham Brody at Rich Mix

Two sensational international musicians Iva Bittová and Abraham Brody present the premiere of their playful new lyrical collaboration.

Bittová and Brody, drawing separately from Czech and Lithuanian folk traditions, both bring passionate avant-garde performance into their live gigs. Expect a set of new work packed with virtuosic experimental violin, electronic samples, lyrical melodies, and beautiful and bizarre vocal performances – a journey into the hidden ethereal sound worlds of Central and Eastern Europe.

IVA BITTOVÁ
Iva Bittová is a Czech avant-garde violinist, singer, and composer. She began her career as an actress in the mid-1970s, appearing in several Czech feature films, but switched to playing violin and singing in the early 1980s. She started recording in 1986 and by 1990 her unique vocal and instrumental technique gained her international recognition. Since then, she has performed regularly throughout Europe, the United States and Japan, and has released over eight solo albums.

Bittová's music is a blend of rock and East European music which she describes as "my own personal folk music". Her violin playing mixes different techniques, including playing the strings with various objects and plucking them like a banjo. Her vocal utterances range from traditional singing to chirping, cackling and deep throat noises. She puts her whole body into her performances, drawing on her theatrical skills.

„Bittová - the fabulous multitasking Moravian singer can yodel, play the violin, act in Oscar-nominated films - and even knit.“
The Guardian

ABRAHAM BRODY
Lithuanian-American musician, composer and performer Abraham Brody creates unique multidimensional experiences for his audiences. Drawing inspiration from rituals, roots and folklore, he combines composition, improvisation and multimedia, pushing the boundaries between artist and audience, and challenging the traditional notions of a performer in the twenty-first century. In 2017-18 he is touring his most recent album, From The Rich Dark Earth, which features compositions drawn from his extensive research across the Baltic countries.
Abraham has collaborated with countless artists in and outside the classical arena such as Marina Abramovic and Iva Bittova, and performed on shows such as WNYC, BBC Radio 3, Classic FM, Vernissage TV and Labas TV amongst others.

„A vibrant musician with plenty of virtuosity“
The Independent

The concert is organised by Czech Centre London as part of their Czech and Slovak Century series celebrating a centenary since the foundation of independent Czechoslovakia.

In partnership with Dash Arts.