About
"Abandoning the purely syllabic articulation of a text, vocal music can influence the entirety of its configurations, including both the phonetic aspect and the — ever-present — vocal gestures. It may be useful for the composer to remember that the sound of the human voice is always a citation, always a gesture. Whatever it does, even the simplest noise, the voice is inevitably meaningful: it triggers associations and always carries a model with it, be it natural or cultural." Luciano Berio.
The masterclass is open to both singers and composers who already have experience in the contemporary field, as well as anyone wishing to approach this repertoire for the first time.
Understanding the Voice
The voice is a unique instrument, and every body possesses its own distinct voice. An adventure to discover and understand different vocal timbres, even while moving decisively away from classical training.
The Labyrinth of Contemporary Scores
Starting with "Sequenza III" and "Stripsody", milestones of contemporary vocals, we will navigate a maze of notations that are more or less innovative and often surprising, seeking to unveil their meaning and underlying motivations.
Study and Creation
Registered singers will be guided through the study of one or more agreed-upon pieces. Composers will have the opportunity to write a short vocal work, which may also take the form of an initial fragment. At the end of the masterclass, the studied pieces and new compositions will be performed in a dedicated concert at Salotto in Prova.
Biography
Akiko Kozato began her vocal studies at the age of fifteen and attended the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, graduating in 1992.
She moved to Italy in 1994, earned her diploma in 2002, and pursued advanced studies with Bianca Maria Casoni. That same year, she successfully completed the advanced training course for artists of the Opera and Symphonic Chorus of the Teatro alla Scala in Milan.
She has dedicated herself particularly to the modern and contemporary repertoire, and in the chamber music field, she has performed in concerts both with ensembles and as a solo vocalist.
She has sung in numerous festivals, including the "5 Giornate per la Nuova Musica" Festival (Milan), "Spaziomusica" (Cagliari), "Risuonanze 2012 - 2019" (Udine, Trieste), "Bellagio and Lake Como Festival", "Acqui Terme Contemporary Music Festival", and "Labirinto della voce - Nanko Sunset Hall" (Osaka).
She performs in duos with pianists Adele D'Aronzo and Kumi Uchimoto, accordionist Davide Vendramin, and guitarists Norio Sato and Walter Lupi.
Composers who have written works specifically for her include Carlo Boccadoro, Gilberto Bosco, Giorgio Colombo Taccani, Azio Corghi, Francesco Filidei, Luca Francesconi, Carlo Galante, Stefano Gervasoni, Federico Gardella, Annachiara Gedda, Paolo Longo, Reiko Morohashi, Gabriele Manca, Mio Minamikawa, Mauro Montalbetti, Andrea Padova, Matteo Pittino, Alessandro Solbiati, and Gabrio Taglietti.