Evening Concert Series

Presented by Music & Art at Trinity, formerly M&PA at Trinity.

Harmonia Ensemble
Friday, April 23, 7:30 pm
Tickets are $10
Information: 216-774-0420
A multi-cultural group of master musicians from several countries performing on authentic folk instruments, Harmonia presents the virtuosic and passionate traditional music of Eastern Europe.

"Brilliant. Lush. Dazzling.." raved SingOut! Magazine.

The harmonic, rhythmic and tonal richness of Gypsy and village music from east of the Danube are channeled by this "musical gem" (National Public Radio). Featuring top soloists from Ukraine and Slovakia and with roots in Hungary and Croatia, this Cleveland-based ensemble includes violin, accordion, vocals, folk flutes and the 125-string hammered-dulcimer-like cimbalom (played by Alexander Fedoriouk, "a cimbalom supremo-prepare to be hammered" Songlines). Combining original and traditional music, Harmonia can "dig into melancholy sentiments, improvise expressively on traditional rubato forms and...plug into the energy and excitement of music from a rich variety of Eastern European traditions" (Cleveland Plain Dealer). From varied East-European backgrounds, the musicians find a common musical language in Harmonia.

Harmonia makes the depth fire and passion of Hungarian, Slovak, Romanian, Ukrainian, Rusyn, Croatian, and Gypsy music and culture come alive. Technical brilliance only adds to Harmonia's breathtaking performances; their rhythms move in a heartbeat from mellow and dissonant to loud and frenzied. Dizzying cimbalom solos coupled with soaring violin lines, haunting flute and accordion solos and soulful vocals are a joy by any standard, welcomed alike by folk, classical, and general audiences.