Cathy Berberian facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cathy Berberian
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Cathy Berberian in 1972
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Catherine Anahid Berberian
July 4, 1925 Attleboro, Massachusetts, U.S.
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| Died | March 6, 1983 (aged 57) Rome, Italy
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| Education |
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| Occupation | Operatic mezzo-soprano |
| Spouse(s) | Luciano Berio |
Catherine Anahid "Cathy" Berberian (born July 4, 1925 – died March 6, 1983) was an American singer and composer. She was known as a mezzo-soprano, a type of female singing voice. Cathy lived and worked mostly in Italy.
She often worked with modern composers who created new and experimental music. These included famous names like Luciano Berio, John Cage, and Igor Stravinsky. Cathy also sang older music by composers like Claudio Monteverdi.
Cathy Berberian was special because she brought many different kinds of songs into classical music concerts. She even sang classical versions of songs by The Beatles! She also performed folk songs from around the world.
As a composer, Cathy wrote unique pieces. One was Stripsody (1966), where she used sounds from comic books. Another was Morsicat(h)y (1969), a piano piece based on Morse code.
Contents
Cathy Berberian's Early Life and Training
Cathy Berberian was born in Attleboro, Massachusetts. Her parents were from Armenia. She was the older of two children. When she was 12, her family moved to New York City. She went to Julia Richman High School there.
From a young age, Cathy loved Armenian folk music and traditional opera. In high school, she led an Armenian Folk Group in New York City. She studied at New York University for a short time. Later, she took evening classes in theater and music at Columbia University. She worked during the day to pay for her studies.
How Did Cathy Start Her Music Career?
In 1948, Cathy went to Paris to study music. The next year, she moved to Milan, Italy. There, she studied singing at the Milan Conservatory. In 1950, she received a special scholarship called a Fulbright scholarship. This helped her continue her studies.
Cathy performed in student shows and on the radio in the early 1950s. Her first official performance was in 1957. It was at a modern music festival in Naples, Italy. The next year, she sang in the world premiere of John Cage's Aria with Fontana Mix. This performance made her famous for singing new and experimental music. In 1960, she performed in America for the first time. She sang in a new piece called Circles by Italian composer Luciano Berio.
Cathy's Marriage and Musical Collaborations
From 1950 to 1964, Cathy Berberian was married to Luciano Berio. They met while studying music in Milan. They had a daughter named Cristina, born in 1953.
Cathy was a huge inspiration for Berio's music. He wrote many pieces especially for her voice. These included Thema (Omaggio a Joyce) (1958), Circles (1960), Visage (1961), and Sequenza III (1965). Even after they divorced, they continued to work together.
Did Cathy Berberian Sing Beatles Songs?
Yes, she did! In 1967, Cathy Berberian released an album called Beatles Arias. It had 12 songs by The Beatles, but they were sung in a classical, baroque style. The music was played by classical instruments like a string quartet or wind quintet and a harpsichord.
The album cover was drawn by Gerald Scarfe. In 2005, the album was re-released on CD. It included extra songs and interviews.
Other Composers Who Wrote for Cathy
Many other famous composers also wrote music for Cathy's voice. These included Sylvano Bussotti, John Cage, Hans Werner Henze, William Walton, and Igor Stravinsky.
Even though she lived in Milan, Cathy also taught music. In the 1970s, she taught at Vancouver University and the Rheinische Musikschule in Cologne, Germany. After she passed away, Luciano Berio wrote a piece called Requies: in memoriam Cathy Berberian to honor her.
Cathy Berberian is even mentioned in a song! The band Steely Dan sings about her in their 1973 song "Your Gold Teeth."
Cathy Berberian as a Translator
Cathy was also a talented translator. She helped translate works by Jules Feiffer and Woody Allen into Italian. She worked with the writer Umberto Eco, who called her magnificathy. Cathy later used a similar name, magnifiCathy, for one of her most famous albums.
Cathy Berberian's Later Years
In her last years, Cathy Berberian faced some health challenges. She worked hard to remember all her music so she could keep performing. She loved reading, so losing her sight was very difficult for her.
Cathy continued to have a busy concert schedule. On March 6, 1983, she passed away from a heart attack. She had planned to perform "The Internationale" in the style of Marilyn Monroe for a TV show the next day.
Her body was cremated in Rome. Her ashes were later divided between her brother and daughter. They scattered some of her ashes in the Mediterranean Sea, near the city of Oneglia. They also added pink orchids, which were Cathy's favorite flowers.
What Was "The New Vocality"?
In 1966, Cathy Berberian wrote an article called "The New Vocality in Contemporary Music." In it, she talked about a new way of singing in modern music. She developed these ideas with Luciano Berio.
Traditionally, opera singers focused on making beautiful sounds. But Cathy believed in "The New Vocality." This meant using the voice in many different ways. It included sounds from music history and even everyday sounds.
Cathy felt that a singer should be like a composer during a live performance. She believed singers should use their voice in every possible way. This idea was very important for how vocal performance art developed. It influenced artists like Meredith Monk and Laurie Anderson.
Tributes to Cathy Berberian
Many artists have created works to honor Cathy Berberian:
- Songs Cathy Sang (1989) by Linda Hirst
- Cristina Zavalloni (2003) by Cristina Zavalloni
- Salomix-Max: In Memoriam Cathy Berberian (2008) by Salome Kammer
See also
In Spanish: Cathy Berberian para niños
