Cathy Berberian

Cathy Berberian was a trailblazing American mezzo-soprano and composer whose fearless creativity redefined what a voice could do. Born in 1925, she became a muse for avant-garde composers like her ex-husband Luciano Berio (who wrote his iconic *Folk Songs* for her), John Cage, and Igor Stravinsky, thanks to her knack for balancing technical precision with theatrical flair. Whether growling, whispering, or belting, she treated her voice like a full-body instrument, slipping seamlessly between medieval chants, experimental electronics, jazz standards, and even Beatles covers (her *Beatles Arias* album is a cult classic). Projects like *MagnifiCathy* and *Cathy Pop Art Ber

Genres

Avant-garde

Related Artists

Meredith Monk

Laurie Anderson

Diamanda Galás

Luciano Berio

John Cage

Bjork

Pierre Boulez

Pauline Oliveros

Yoko Ono

Amanda Palmer

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Sainkho Namtchylak

Latest Release

Songs Cathy Sang, Music Composed for the Voice of Cathy Berberian. Berio: Folksongs & Sequenza III - Cage: Aria - Pousseur: Phonèmes pour Cathy - Berberian: Stripsody

Luciano Berio•

London Sinfonietta•

Diego Masson•

Cathy Berberian•

Henri Pousseur•

John Cage

Album - 15 Tracks - Released July 30, 2025