For the first time, Victoriateatern leaves the theatre and moves into a church setting—and what venue could be more fitting than S:t Johannes Church in Malmö. Here, the music takes on a new dimension: sounds that resonate, hover, and linger in the space. On stage is The Bulgarian Voices Angelite, whose singing spans ancient Balkan traditions and contemporary repertoire. Their music is marked by tightly woven harmonies, striking dissonances, and a vocal texture in which each voice both blends and stands out. It is rhythmic and driving, yet also still and meditative—a sound world that feels at once grounded and spiritual, and which gains a particular intensity within the church. A concert where the power of the human voice takes centre stage, where past and present meet, and where the space itself becomes part of the music.
The concert opens with NOSTRA, a vocal ensemble affiliated with S:t Johannes Church in Malmö. With sopranos and altos at its core, the group works with specially written arrangements tailored for them. During the performance, the singers move through the church, allowing the music to surround the audience from different directions. Under the direction of Sofia Söderberg, Nostra creates an intimate, spatial listening experience.
The Bulgarian Voices Angelite has been a central force in the Bulgarian choral tradition since the late 1980s. Their international breakthrough came at a time when the Iron Curtain still divided Europe, and their first appearances in Western Europe drew widespread attention. Recordings associated with the Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares phenomenon helped establish their distinctive sound as something entirely new to Western audiences. Since then, the choir has toured worldwide, performing across Europe, the United States, and Japan, earning two Grammy nominations and releasing numerous albums.
Over the years, the ensemble has evolved, but under the direction of conductor Katya Barulova, the choir has continued to refine and deepen its artistic expression. With a strong artistic identity and deep roots in tradition, Angelite today is both a bearer of cultural heritage and a vital, evolving force. Their music has been internationally acclaimed as magical, modern, and timeless—a rare combination that continues to captivate new generations of listeners.
