Great musicians: Berio and Berberian
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- Start Date: 02 Dec 2025End Date: 02 Dec 2025Tue (Daytime): 11:00 - 16:00In PersonFull fee £59.00 Senior fee £59.00 Concession £59.00
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What is the course about?
Italian Luciano Berio and American Cathy Berberian, both born in 1925, met as students at the Milan Conservatory in the late 1940s and were a couple until the mid 1960s. They inspired each other to create many avant-garde works and performances, especially for voice, and had a huge influence on the development of avant garde music in the post-WWII era.
Together, they explored and extended the range of vocal techniques, discovering exciting new sounds and applying these in solo, ensemble, instrumental and electronic works. Significant works produced include the electronic collage Tema: Omaggio a Joyce, the virtuosic solo voice Sequenza III, and the monumental Sinfonia for large orchestra and singers. Berberian’s Stripsody is her own distillation of the vocal techniques she developed working with Berio.
What will we cover?
Biographical information about both musicians, individually and as a couple, including their musical education in Italy and the USA and their left-wing political leanings
The wider context of avant-garde and experimental music in which Berio and Berberian operated
The collaborations and reciprocal influences of Berberian and Berio on each other, and on other avant-garde musicians
Major compositions and performances created together or as a result of their reciprocal influences, especially in the years 1950–1964.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
Know how the two musicians worked together and influenced each other in the 1950s and 1960s
Understand the wider musical context in which they operated
Be familiar with the compositional and vocal techniques they explored
Recognise and appreciate some of the major works and performances that resulted from their mutual influences and collaboration.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is suitable for anyone with an interest in listening to music, especially music post-1900. We will look at various scores and historical documents during this course.
You do not need to be able to read basic music notation
All texts will be in English, or accompanied by an English translation.
You can access further course materials online though Google Classroom after the course.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
Tutor presentation, guided listening and watching, class discussion.
Course materials will be shared via Google Classroom, with recommendations to encourage further exploration after the course.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Please bring a notebook and pen to take your own notes. All other materials will be provided by the tutor.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
City Lit offers a wide range of Music history courses. For more information, visit our Guide to the Music history programme. You may also be interested in courses in modern history, art, ideas, German culture, etc.
Trish trained as a violinist, singer and historical musicologist, with a specialism in music since 1900. She has worked variously as a university and college lecturer, choral conductor and arranger, and orchestral violinist, and has taught a wide range of subjects including choral singing and conducting, composition techniques, music theory, analysis and musicianship, music history, violin and chamber music. She has published and presented at conferences on French music (especially Ravel), and Australian music and cultural history. At City Lit, Trish currently teaches Orchestra workshop and short music history and theory courses. Her interests in the arts also include contemporary theatre, dance and visual arts.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
