Artists

CHYSKYYRAI (Russia)

Chyskyyrai – Valentina Romanova, Russia

Author: Chyskyyrai (Valentina Romanova)
Vocals and folk instruments: Chyskyyrai (Valentina Romanova)
Percussions: Stanislav Parfienov

60 minutes

This artistic event joins the elements of a concert and a play. Chyskyyrai, a Siberian singer, presents traditional epics, as well as a diversity of vocal techniques typical to the Jakuck region. Her intriguing and emotional performance takes the artist and her audience to the edges of shaman hysteria.

Olonho, Jakuck region epic is on the UNESCO list of Non-material and Verbal Heritage Masterpieces.

The artist combines regional epics (olonho) and folk songs. She also often imitates animal sounds in her work. Olonho is an epic from the territory of Jakuck that is passed orally from generation to generation. It is composed of theogonic and cosmogonic myths. It also includes a creation myth that describes the creation of human beings and their souls. Olonho depicts the universe as made of three layers—the highest world, which is occupied by the dazzling gods (aïyy), six shaman women, three divine heroes and the highest daemons (abaassy). The following world is settled by people, their souls, and the dead ones. Finally, the lowest world is dominated by frightening, deformed beasts.

Born in 1971, Chyskyyrai (actually Valentina Romanowa) is a performance artist with a very broad scope of interests. Therefore, she often combines the traditional music of her nation (rooted in the ancient art of olonho) with even older elements of shaman tradition. She is not afraid to experiment with rock music and avant-garde. So far, she has recorded two albums: Chyskyyrai Mysterias and Siberian Extreme.



13.07 (Friday)
9:00pm,
St. Katherina Church

14.07 (Saturday)
8:00pm,
Song of the Goat Theater