An exhibition on the voice in Rome: starring Carmelo Bene, Cathy Berberian and Demetrio Stratos

The exhibition The Body of Voice. Carmelo Bene, Cathy Berberian, Demetrio Stratos is dedicated to the voice understood as pure sound potentiality. The exhibition project at the Palazzo delle Esposizioni in Rome intends to retrace those events that, in the wake of the artistic avant-gardes of the twentieth century, broke the indissoluble link between the meaning of the word and its sound dimension, through the selection of some works by three extraordinary protagonists: Armenian-born American mezzo-soprano singer Cathy Berberian (Attleboro, 1925 - Rome, 1983), actor and director Carmelo Bene (Campi Salentina, 1937 - Rome, 2002) and Greek-born singer Demetrio Stratos, historic voice of Area (Efstratios Dimitriou; Alexandria, Egypt, 1945 - New York, 1979).

The research and experimental work undertaken by the three leading artists takes visitors on a journey of discovery of this fundamental human potential. On display are more than 120 works including photos, videos, archival materials, original scores, correspondences, and documents exhibited for the first time to the public as well as interactive exhibits, listening areas and electronic equipment used by the artists in order to explore the limits of their vocal possibilities.
The collection of the substantial documentation was made possible thanks to the consultation of various archives and the painstaking research work of Anna Cestelli Guidi and Francesca Rachele Oppedisano, curators of the exhibition, who found surprising and never-before-disclosed material.

The exhibition is enriched by two scientific sections: the first, introductory, curated by Franco Fussi, a physician-surgeon and specialist in Phoniatrics and Otolaryngology, will offer visitors an accurate analysis of the inside of the resonance cavity where the voice is configured in its carnality. The second, curated by Graziano Tisato, a researcher at theInstitute of Sciences and Technologies of Cognition (ISTC) - CNR of Padua, is located within the Stratos section and consists of three interactive stations created specifically for the exhibition, through which it will be possible to deepen the understanding of the vocal effects produced by the artist.

For information about the exhibition, which runs from April 9 to June 30, and to book admission tickets, you can visit the official website of the Palazzo delle Esposizioni.

Pictured: Demetrio Stratos performs John Cage’s Mesostics at Spazio Fiorucci in Via Torino, Milan, 1977 | Photo Roberto Masotti. Lelli and Masotti Archives. Courtesy 29 ARTS IN PROGRESS gallery © Roberto Masotti

Source: press release

An exhibition on the voice in Rome: starring Carmelo Bene, Cathy Berberian and Demetrio Stratos

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