Our very first song is, most likely, a lullaby. It connects us to the person who cared for us, and to the place we come from. The diasporas of Prespa reached the far ends of the world through successive waves of migration. The abandoned school of Daseri vibrates with lullabies of every kind, from Prespa itself and from its scattered communities abroad.

A small musical ensemble — cello and electronics — enters into dialogue with two voices. Traditional vocal traditions: lullabies in Albanian, Greek, and Slavomacedonian, performed by Natasa Tsakiridou in conversation with soprano Marianna Nomikou. The younger generation meets the older one; youth converses with the still-living history of the region, preserved through the memories, stories, and music of its local people. Just as the people of Prespa spread across the farthest corners of the earth through successive migratory waves, so too does the ensemble’s repertoire expand, embracing lullabies from every place touched by the Prespa diaspora.

The Lullaby of Prespa puts down roots, connects cultures, and sends parental love to all those far from home, wherever in the world they may be.

The participation of Rebekka Stephan is supported by the German Consulate in Thessaloniki.

Within the framework of the Festival’s research-oriented focus on the creation of original works—with particular emphasis on artistic sustainability (both in artistic design and production)—the performance is realised with the least possible disturbance to the natural environment, as well as the smallest possible energy and material footprint. The action is designed for a limited audience and takes place in secluded locations of particular natural and historical interest.