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Medena Ensemble – The Daughters Of Orpheus @ Ellen Melville Centre
June 8 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
$20 – $100
Aotearoa’s premier Bulgarian Folklore Vocal Ensemble, lead by Tui Mamaki, present their new collection of exquisite a capella offerings – carrying song threads from afar, with a longstanding passion for, and dedication to, the craft.
The Daughters of Orpheus is a vibrant feminine tapestry of traditional Bulgarian song, where classic choral arrangements rub shoulders with obscure rural treasures, at times arranged for improvisation. This song cycle is specially prepared for Medena Ensemble’s upcoming collaboration with long standing New York based Bulgarian folklore choir Yasna Voices, at the renowned Koprivshtitsa Festival, in Bulgaria this August.
Medena Ensemble invite you to celebrate and to support their inaugural journey to the source of this enchanted mahi.
Orpheus was said to make music so beautiful that stones would roll, and trees would uproot, to be able to follow him and listen… All the women who carry folklore song threads in Bulgaria are deemed to be “The Daughters of Orpheus”.
With thanks to the Ellen Melville Centre for their support.
Who are Medena? Be it through classic Bulgarian folklore choir arrangements or obscure rural treasure songs issue of Tui Mamaki’s love affair with Bulgaria and its phenomenal voices, MEDENA ENSEMBLE explore that compelling vocal tone, bewitchingly close harmony, playful odd-meter rhythms and the colourful feminine fabric of a community blend. Medena means “honeyed”! Highlight performances to date include Auckland Folk Festival 2025, World Choir Games 2024, VoCo & Unitarian Church in collaboration with Bulgarian Roses 2023.
