Folk Cabaret
Mezzo-soprano Teodora Drozdik-Popović and marimbist Colin Crandal present their program Folk Cabaret—a celebration of music by 20th-century composers who pushed the boundaries of classical music by reinterpreting folk melodies and incorporating elements from traditional and popular music.
Featuring works by Xavier Montsalvatge, Kurt Weill, William Bolcom, Gustav Mahler, and others, the program brings together an unusual yet perfectly suited combination of voice and marimba, offering a fresh perspective on this expressive and meaningful music.
Marimbist Colin Crandal: “Our program brings together a somewhat unusual juxtaposition of two musical traditions: cabaret (with music by William Bolcom and Kurt Weill) and “folk”—or rather, folk as it was reimagined by 20th-century composers such as de Falla, Ligeti, Mahler, and Montsalvatge.
As performers, Teodora and I are both deeply interested in the ease and wisdom that seem to be ingrained in many folk traditions, especially in relation to our own classical training. This curiosity lies at the heart of the repertoire we’ve chosen.
Teodora is currently preparing a doctoral study exploring the Hungarian folk tradition and ways of incorporating it into the interpretation of vocal music by Bartók and Ligeti. In parallel, I’ve been working on adapting ragtime piano repertoire by Joplin and Bolcom for marimba, and more generally on translating piano music with African and folk influences to this “folk” instrument.
Out of these shared interests, “Folk Cabaret” gradually took shape. After taking the time it needed to develop, we now feel ready and eager to bring the program to audiences.”
Teodora Drozdik-Popović, mezzo-sopraan
Colin Crandal, marimba
