🥇 The Pastoral Symphony

For the theatrical production Pastierska Symfónia, inspired by Liptov folklore and the classic drama “Bačova žena”, an organic and culturally rooted soundscape was developed. Under the direction of Divadlo Pôtoň, the project explored Slovak popular culture through traditional music, dance, and clothing, with guidance from ethnomusicologist Alžbeta Lukáčová.

The creative process integrated audio samples of the actors’ voices, who were trained to perform various instruments live on stage. A network of concealed microphones was installed within the forest that comprised the set, allowing for the amplification and spatialization of specific moments through delay and reverb effects. As part of the instrumentation, tensioned piano strings were used to generate sonic textures linked to contemporary music.

The sound design and musical composition were collaboratively realized by Cristian Estrella and Ivana Mer, working in tandem to create a live, atmospheric score deeply connected to the stage narrative and cultural identity of the production.