SONGS WE CARRY
SAIED SILBAK | ANA SILVERA
Beautiful and deeply moving…their performance summoned such sorcery within seconds of starting, and the thrills kept coming.” - The Arts Desk ☆☆☆☆☆
Acclaimed British singer and multi-instrumentalist Ana Silvera and Palestinian composer, Oud virtuoso and singer Saied Silbak join creative forces for Songs We Carry, a new collaboration exploring the common ground between their heritages - the emotive, melancholy of Ladino (Judeo-Spanish) music and the rich Maqams and intricate melodies of Arabic song.
For Ana Silvera, this project is deeply personal, rooted in her family's history as Jewish refugees of the Spanish Inquisition, who resettled in Aleppo (then part of the Ottoman Empire) in the 18th century. Ladino, the language that Ana sings in is a UNESCO endangered language, and many of the songs she shares have been almost completely lost in time - until now. Silvera’s resurrection of these ancestral songs offers a glimpse into the resilience and beauty of her heritage; her talent for rendering these ancient melodies afresh also gestures to her work as a singer-songwriter, a path that has earned her praise from discerning critics including The Guardian, who have lauded her work as "stunning... magical storytelling.”
Meanwhile, Saied Silbak's journey from Shafaa’mr, a city located in the lower Galilee of occupied Palestine, to the cosmopolitan landscape of London infuses his artistry with a profound understanding of diverse musical traditions. With virtuosity honed through a lifetime of exploration, Silbak masterfully melds Arabic, Turkish, and Indian influences with Western styles, crafting a signature sound that transcends borders.
This duo have already proved their wide-ranging appeal with appearances including Amare Den Haag (NL), Sibelius Museum (FI), Melahuset (NO), Vortex Jazz Club (UK), Round Chapel, Clapton and the Royal Opera House (UK). They have also played live sessions on BBC Radio 3’s In Tune and Late Lunch with Max Reinhardt on Soho Radio. They released their debut album in Autumn 2024, which culminated in a sold out launch at London’s Kings Place. Review here from Mark Kidel of The Arts Desk
Ana Silvera and Saied Silbak invite audiences on an evocative journey, exploring history, culture and heritage through music. At the heart of this collaboration is the duo’s deep kinship, both as friends and musical minds, showing Palestinian and Jewish unity and solidarity in action.
Photo credits: Liv Anastasia Ikkala; Ana’s dress by Dragana Perisic.
