Cathy Berberian

Catherine Anahid Berberian (July 4, 1925 – March 6, 1983) was an American mezzo-soprano and composer based in Italy. She worked closely with many contemporary avant-garde music composers, including Luciano Berio, Bruno Maderna, John Cage, Henri Pousseur, Sylvano Bussotti, Darius Milhaud, Roman Haubenstock-Ramati, and Igor Stravinsky. She also interpreted works by Claudio Monteverdi, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Kurt Weill, Philipp zu Eulenburg and others. As a recital curator, she presented several vocal genres in a classical context, including arrangements of songs by the Beatles by Louis Andriessen as well as folk songs from several countries and cultures. As a composer, she wrote Stripsody (1966), in which she exploits her vocal technique using comic book sounds (onomatopoeia), and Morsicat(h)y (1969), a composition for the keyboard (with the right hand only) based on Morse code.

Songs Cathy Sang, Music Composed for the Voice of Cathy Berberian. Berio: Folksongs & Sequenza III - Cage: Aria - Pousseur: Phonèmes pour Cathy - Berberian: Stripsody - 2025-07-30T00:00:00.000000Z

Ostranenie Musicale - 2025-03-16T00:00:00.000000Z

Earle Brown Contemporary Sound Series, Vol. 3 - 2024-02-01T00:00:00.000000Z

For Cathy, A Capella Album, A Tribute to Cathy Berberian - 2021-10-14T00:00:00.000000Z

Folk Songs of the World - 2016-04-01T00:00:00.000000Z

Folk Songs of the World - 2016-04-01T00:00:00.000000Z

America, Vol. 3: From Modern to Pop Art - 2014-01-20T00:00:00.000000Z

Lesser, Clare: Chanticlare (Contemporary Vocal Music) - 2013-04-01T00:00:00.000000Z

Banalités - 2012-04-23T00:00:00.000000Z

Stories: Berio and friends - 2011-10-05T00:00:00.000000Z

Choral Masterpieces - 2011-10-04T00:00:00.000000Z

Donaueschingen Festival 75 Years: 1921 - 1996 (Digitally Remastered) - 2011-02-15T00:00:00.000000Z

La voce contemporanea in Italia, Vol. 4 - 2009-04-19T00:00:00.000000Z

Essential Igor Stravinsky - 2003-03-11T00:00:00.000000Z

Stravinsky Conducts Stravinsky - The Classic LP Recordings - 2000-03-07T00:00:00.000000Z

Maderna: Electronic Music - 1994-07-06T00:00:00.000000Z

MagnifiCathy - The Many Voices of Cathy Berberian - 1970-01-01T00:00:00.000000Z

Wie einst in schöner'n Tagen - Salonmusik der Belle Epoque - 1970-01-01T00:00:00.000000Z

Monteverdi: L'incoronazione di Poppea, SV 308 - 1974-01-01T00:00:00.000000Z

Stravinsky: Songs - 1970-01-01T00:00:00.000000Z

Cathy Berberian Sings Monteverdi - 1970-01-01T00:00:00.000000Z

Stravinsky Conducts Music for Chamber and Jazz Ensembles - 1970-01-01T00:00:00.000000Z

Stravinsky Conducts Cantata, Mass, In Memoriam Dylan Thomas and Other Works - 1970-01-01T00:00:00.000000Z

Recent Stravinsky Conducted by the Composer - 1970-01-01T00:00:00.000000Z

Cathy Pop Art Berberian - 1970-01-01T00:00:00.000000Z

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