This was one of those rare concerts where I felt I was in the presence of greatness. Iva Bittovà from the Czech Republic, simply has one of most extraordinary voices I’ve ever had the privilege to hear live.
It is the sheer versatility of her singing that makes it so special. One minute she’s reciting what could be a kids playground song, the next she’s producing raw, guttural sounds that could be death rattles.
This phenomenal demonstration of the voice as instrument could easily have been merely an impressive exercise in style but here conveys a real feeling that she is adding expression and punctuation to the words and mood of her music.
Admittedly, the fact that she mostly sings in languages I do not know (Czech or German) I have no way of verifying this but, for example, there’s such a vitality and sensuality at the heart a song she introduces as “a small song about big love” that translation becomes redundant. In addition, a lot of her vocal energy stems from screams, sighs, whispers, yelps and clicks that are so universal that they communicate to any nationality.
She is performing at a small venue in provincial Italy to an audience of around 200. While she merits a larger, more prestigious concert hall, to be able to see her in such an intimate setting is a bonus. She seems to revel in the closeness too, stepping off stage a couple of times to sing without the aid of a microphone.
She conveys a warmth and playfulness as she performs pieces that cross many musical genres from traditional East European folk to Western Jazz, effortlessly combining a spirit of the experimental with the experiential .
Aside from singing she is a virtuoso violinist and musical accompaniment also comes in the form of long-time collaborator Vladimir Vaclavek, a notable performer in his own right. He plays electric and acoustic guitar, and sings in a low, confidential voice. He a thick set man with a bullet shaped head and in another life would make a menacing bouncer but with guitar in his arms there is only gentleness and humour.
Many of the songs they play are from the brilliant double album the two made together in 2001 for Indies Records called Bile Inferno a record I’d strongly recommend. Better still, check out if Iva Bittovà is coming to a town near you – an experience not to be missed.
