Sofia Jernberg explores the voice with singers from across Europe
Sofia Jernberg is known for her incredible voice and improbable performances. She masters a wide range of vocal techniques – opera and pitchless (singing sounds that are not notes), but also jazz and improv. The common thread in her performances is always the same: experimentation and crossing boundaries. Her questions are always the same what is our voice capable of doing? What are the specificities of the voice compared to other instruments? Is language a prerequisite for singing? On stage, Jernberg expands the instrumental possibilities of the voice, in incredible high and low tones, with inarticulate vocal performances and great moments of improvisation.
Freedom to Move explores the intersection of freedom and genre boundaries in contemporary classical music. Jernberg focuses here on the voice, the most personal musical instrument, as our cultural background also influences the sound.
As a workshop leader, Jernberg boasts a wealth of experience. She studied not only jazz music, but also composition. Among others, Jernberg has worked with the Trondheim Jazz Orchestra and improvisers such as Mats Gustafsson, Nate Wooley, Petter Eldh and Christian Lillinger. She has also starred in compositions by Arnold Schönberg (Pierrot Lunaire), Chaya Czernowin and Anna Thorvaldsdottir.
5 Sounds Now festivals are participating in Freedom to Move, each selecting local singers with Sofia Jernberg as the connecting link.
Hover your mouse over the images to hear interviews that were made with the singers. We’ll be adding more as time as goes on.
Freedom to Move is presented at November Music (NL), hcmf// (UK), Wilde Westen (BE), Onassis Stegi (GR) and Ultima (NO).
November Music (November 2022)
Vocalists : Yanki Bicakci, Jodi Gilbert, Rianne Wilbers, Paloma Lázaro Arteaga and Ilyas Nadjaf
Photos: Jostijn Ligtvoet
hcmf// (November 2022)
Vocalists (clockwise, starting top left): Alice Brookes, Stephanie Lamprea, Kirsty Ferguson Lewis, Ben Spatz, Supriya Nagarajan
Photos: John Bonner
Wilde Westen – Festival Kortrijk (March 2023)
Vocalists (clockwise, starting top left): Els Mondelaers, Oriana Ikomo, Rebecca Driesmans, Meskerem Mees, Maris Pajuste
Photos: Lies Depraetere
Onassis Cultural Centre – Borderline (April 2023)
Vocalists (clockwise, starting top left): Alkmini Basakarou, Anna Linardou, Konstantinos Angelopoulos, Marissa Bili
Photos: Andreas Simopoulos
Ultima Oslo – September 2024
Vocalists: Synnøve Brøndbo Plassen, a Spellemann-nominated folk singer coming from the music traditions of Folldal, Østerdalen and Trøndelag; Reshail Mansoor, who fuses raga with more modern styles; ; and Nawar Alnaddaf, who uses improvisation and group playing to explore the microtonality in Arabic Maqam music and Western musical styles; Kaia Rullestad Teigen, with experience in musicals, theatre, opera, jazz, folk and pop; and Emily Adomah, a singer and composer working within electronic pop.
