Ensemble Tritala
Connected by their love of art songs, the Leeds based opera singers - soprano Sofia Livotov and tenor Satriya Krisna together with Indonesian pianist and RCM graduate Prajna Indrawati began their collaboration in 2018. As some of the few artists currently performing and recording Indonesian classical music in Europe, the three musicians strive to bring this lesser-known genre to a wider audience.
Their recent performances of Indonesian art songs include appearances at the University of Leeds International Concert Series 2023,
the Jakarta Conservatorium of Music, the Oxford Song Festival, and at international venues in London, Hamburg and Salzburg. Furthermore, songs from their short album 'Sounds of Indonesia' - which the musicians recorded during lockdown - were broadcast on German radio SWR2, Radio Klassik Stephansdom and Canadian radio CKIA FM. Ensemble Tritala effortlessly brings together Western and Indonesian classical music in their concerts and allows the audience to discover many rarities in addition to well-known art songs and duets.
Indonesian art songs, also known as "Seriosa", have yet to gain recognition in the Western classical music scene. Nevertheless, their history is both fascinating and inspiring. Seriosa emerged in the 20th century, introduced by a small group of European-educated musicians, and played a pivotal role in inspiring Indonesian fighters during the National Resurgence movement. As an expression of freedom, these songs reflect the voice of a new generation, recounting stories of leadership, victory, Indonesian nature, mythology, and the struggles of a country that endured three and a half centuries of colonization. Although largely unknown outside of Indonesia, Seriosa occupies a significant place in the country's cultural heritage and deserves wider recognition globally.
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