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Cathy Berberian was born in Attleboro (MA), on July 4th, 1925. From an early age, she developed a great love for singing and music - at first by singing along with records. During her studies, her many interests came to the forefront: besides pursuing vocal lessons in Milan, Italy, she participated in courses in mime, writing and Hindu and Spanish dancing. As a performer, Berberian gained experience with, among others, a group of Armenian dancers.

Her debut took place in 1957, in Naples, during a concert of the ‘Incontri Musicali’. The following performance was a year later with John Cage’s ‘Aria with Fontana Mix’. Her knowledge of and love for contemporary music had its roots in her marriage with Luciano Berio, in 1950 - a marriage that would end in 1966. Together, Berberian and Berio realised legendary compositions such as ‘Circles’, ‘Sequenza III’ and ‘Visage’.

Berberian’s vocal virtuosity and charisma on the stage inspired many composers. Stravinsky, Hans-Werner Henze and Sylvano Bussotti, among others, composed works dedicated especially to Berberian.

Berberian, however, did not limit her repertory to contemporary avant-garde music; on the contrary she performed early music, especially 17th-century opera, and also indigenous music from many countries. Apart from performing and singing, Berberian composed herself, resulting in works like ‘Stripsody’ (solo vocalist, 1966) and ‘Morsicat(h)y’ (piano, 1971).

Cathy Berberian died on March 6th, 1983, in Rome, Italy. Her influence on vocal music in the twentieth century has proved to be enormous, as will become evident in the congress. And the influence of music on her was neither less than enormous, as she touchingly formulated in her motto, especially the last moving sentences:

“Music is the air I breathe and the planet I inhabit. The only way I can pay my debt to music is by bringing it to others, with all my love."

Based on Andrew Porter: 'Berberian, Cathy', Grove Music Online ed. L. Macy (Accessed 1 december 2005), Grove Music.