Our event programme is inspired by the dark folklore and twilight mysteries of a traditional Eastern European winter. In Slavic folklore, the domestic stove is the dwelling place of the Domovoi - a protective house spirit who speaks through the warmth and crackle of the hearth. In neighbouring Yiddish culture (East European Jewish), the warmth of the brick stove served as a locus for storytelling, where the boundaries between everyday life and the supernatural would blur… The Stove Spirit Whispers programme will present a wide array of music that captures the shared world of the Eastern European hearth, bridging Slavic and Klezmer heritages together.

Slavic Voices London and Brighton Choir and The Merlin and Polina Shepherd Duo will present distinct, contrasting sets and also perform together.

The choral set will include Orthodox chants, iconic classics by Tchaikovsky, Janáček, Rachmaninov, refined Art songs and gritty folklore from the far corners of Siberia to the banks of the Black Sea. The repertoire is sung mainly in Russian, Polish, Ukrainian, Serbo-Croatian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Belorussian. This time Slavic Voices will also sing a bit in Yiddish - to make the wonderful connection to their neighbouring East European Jewish culture.
Experience the electrifying musical chemistry of the internationally acclaimed klezmer duo as they deliver a set of traditional klezmer and vibrant originals. This captivating performance will feature a few soul-stirring songs from Polina’s brand-new Yiddish art song album, Aza Bloye Nakht (Such a Blue Night).
Let The Stove Spirit Whispers transport you to the heart of Eastern Europe for an unforgettable afternoon of shared musical heritage.