Bittová I. Elida / I.Bittová violin, vocal with Bang on a Can All Stars (2005)

Iva Bittová - Elida

1. Malíři v Paříži (Painters in Paris) 2:44 / text by Richard Müller

2. Bolíš mě, lásko (You hurt me, my love) 5:50 / text by Richard Müller

3. Ladná Čeladná (Natty Čeladná) 4:19

4. Samota (Loneliness) 4:09 / text by Richard Müller

5. Hopáhop tálitá 9:00

6. Zapískej (Whistle) 9:28 / text by Vladimír Václavek

7. Elida 5:09 / text by Věra Chase

8. Presto 2:35

9. Nejsi (You are not) 3:20

Music by: Iva Bittová

IVA BITTOVÁ - violin, singing

Robert Blach - bass

David Cossin - percussion

Lisa Moore - piano

Mark Stewart - electric guitar, 12-string banjo, harmonica

Vendy Sutter - violoncello

Evan Ziporyn - clarinet, bass clarinet

Iva Bittová, the most famous Czech vocalist, composer and violinist experienced the stage of the renowned Carnegie Hall in a joint performance with the body of contemporary music Bang on a Can All-Stars. This took place after the management of this temple of culture was captured by Iva Bittová in the role of Donna Elvira in the opera Don Giovanni. It was with the support of the Carnegie Hall that the first lady of the Czech alternative scene wrote the musical project titled Elida for this ensemble. Iva Bittová started to work on this project autumn 2004 and during the winter recording started in New York under the management of Tom Lazarus in Systems Two, Brooklyn NYC and in the Clinton Recording Studios, mastering was made in the ClassicSound studio. On Friday 29 April 2005 Iva Bittová and Bang On a Can presented this piece at a joint performance in the Carnegie Hall in New York. In the "Elida" album recording Bittová used the All-Stars as her orchestra. The lengthy lines of piano mingle with the strings while the clarinet improvisation meets with the noise of the electrical guitar. The music is both well thought over and direct at the same time, sharp and nostalgic, mixing the music of Eastern Europe with folk traditions. The unusual connection of singing by Iva Bittová with the piano creates inspiring melodies. Iva Bittová sings in Czech or Slovak depending on who is the author of the text (R. Müller, V.Václavek or V.Chase). The excellent record also has unusual (shape) exclusive blue gold round digipack evoking a special soap box. (Elida - soap brand sold in the Czech Republic already at beginning of the last century)

(Indies)