Evento

Tunisian Vocalist Sonia M'Barek in Concert at Alwan

Tunisian vocalist Sonia M'Barek can sing a centuries-old song from Andalusia, and just as nimbly reframe the words of radical 20th-century poets. She hears the ties of mode and rhythm linking Tunisia's prized classical traditions, Egyptian cabaret music, and Ottoman court pieces, evoking the diverse musical variations around the Mediterranean with a sultry, supple voice. M'Barek is a rare musician: A woman specializing in a predominantly male genre, a highly contemporary musician drawing on songs first crafted in the 15th century, a performer who breaks down boundaries between classical tradition and popular song, between nations and eras. M'Barek was first inspired to sing by her grandmother, who would leap into stunning renditions of Tunisian folk songs or Umm Kulthum hits. "She had no formal training, but had a very beautiful voice," M'Barek recalls. "She made music part of her life and passed that down to me."