In 1988 a choir founded in the '50s Soviet socialist era, the Bulgarian State Television Female Vocal Choir released the album Le Mystère Des Voix Bulgares. It won them a Grammy, turned them into an unlikely global sensation and is said to have helped birth the genre World music. Kate Bush recorded with them that same year, and David Bowie and his wife Iman even chose one of their songs to replace 'Here Comes the Bride' at their wedding.
Today, that choir is part of a distinctive international cultural phenomenon revitalising a Bulgarian women's folk tradition.
In August Aotearoa ensemble, Medena will travel to Bulgaria for the first time to undertake a study tour and perform at what their conductor Tui Mamaki describes as the once in every five years "Te Matatini of Bulgaria". They will be singing with their idols.
Before they go, Medena perform at Tāmaki Makarau's Ellen Melville Hall Sunday 8 June.
This week we were privileged to host nine members to sing in the RNZ studio, and Mark Amery is joined by leader Tui Mamaki in conversation.
The songs were as follows:
Zora Se E Zazorila (Kushleva)
Yana Ovchar Lwgala (Shopkso)
Bacho Nikola (Kolevi / Tomova)
Purea Nei (Hirini Melbourne)
