Hildegard in the Forest
In this immersive concert programme, Innova Early Music invites the audience on an ambient musical journey around visionary chants of Hildegard von Bingen (1098–1179). Rooted in Hildegard’s monophonic melodies, the project evolves novel sounds in which the language of medieval music meets contemporary imagination for interpretation with nyckelharpa, countertenor and electronics.
Guided by the original chants, the music unfolds in constantly shifting forms. At times, the melodies are presented in their pure essence; at other moments, they are expanded into rich polyphonic textures or gradually dissolve into a dense forest of recorded and electronically transformed sounds. Voice, nyckelharpa, and electronics interact fluidly, blurring the boundaries between historical source material and present-day musical expression and possibilities.
Aleksandar Jova – Countertenor, Electronics
is a countertenor, composer, teacher and choir conductor. He is specialized in early music and contemporary music and performed many concerts as a soloist and an ensemble member. In his childhood he already started his intense education with the Wiltener Sängerknaben in Tyrol, performing and travelling the world with music. Recently he performed regularly in Cambridge with the Gonville & Caius choir and now also started composing for video games.
Anna Jova – Nyckelharpa
performs and teaches with baroque violin and the nyckelharpa. She is specialized in medieval, baroque and folk music and performed in many concerts and festivals with her projects across Europe (Austria, Germany, Latvia, Italy, Lithuania, Sweden, UK, Estonia, Hungary, Russia) and the US. In 2021 she published her first album Heimspielerei with her Duo Wiener Miniorchester, in 2024 an EP with the Folk trio Triga and recently her new album In Between including own compositions.