Bobby McFerrin News

http://www.thetakeaway.org/2010/mar/05/bobby-mcferrins-cultural-heritage/

Bobby McFerrin’s latest expansion of the known universe: Bobble, an improvised opera with a wordless libretto, will be presented in Moscow on January 25 and 26, 2010 by the Musical Olympus Foundation This new project gives Bobby a chance to collaborate with other voices, welcoming local talent and influences. In this 90-minute a cappella stage show, Bobby and a cast of 16 singers, reflecting a panoramic vista of influences and traditions, re-enact the plight of the citizens of Babel and their struggle to find a common language. Through music, spontaneously composed and conducted by Bobby, they learn to listen and to hear each other.

Our incredible cast for the Moscow production:

• Bobby McFerrin
• Marina Sabianina (Moscow)
• Christiane Karam (Lebanon/Boston)
• Brenna MacCrimmon (Toronto/Istanbul)
• Bori Magyar (Budapest)
• Gaya Arutyunyan (Budapest)
• Pelagea (Siberia/Moscow)
• Tina Kuznetsov (Moscow)
• Nino Katamadze (Georgian Republic)
• Marta Ruiz Villamil (Cuba/St. Petersburg)
• Edson Cordeiro (Brazil/Germany)
• Andrey Mongush (Tuvan Republic)
• Bulat Gafarov (Moscow)
• Adam Matta (New York)
• Andreas Schaerer (Germany/Zurich)
• Vladimir Kryzhanovsky (Moscow)
• Sergey Sarostin (Moscow)
• Joey Blake (Boston)

Catch Bobby doing his ever-adventurous improv thing with the three final groups on the Sing Off Finale, live on NBC tonight!

(Check your local listings for details.)

Bobby demonstrates the power of suggestion (and the beauty of spontaneity) at the World Science Festival; filmed in NYC on June 12, 2009. Over three million views on the WSF, You Tube, and Vimeo alone, not counting social media and forwarding. Changing global perspectives, one individual at a time.

Released by NBC : NATASHA BEDINGFIELD, BOBBY MC FERRIN, BOYZ II MEN AND SMOKEY ROBINSON TO PERFORM A CAPPELLA ON NBC’S LIVE FINALE OF ‘THE SING-OFF’ MONDAY, DECEMBER 21.

Winner of the $100,000 Grand Prize and an Epic Records/ Sony Music Recording Contract to be Announced Live.

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. – December 17, 2009 – Natasha Bedingfield, Bobby McFerrin, Boyz II Men and Smokey Robinson will perform a cappella during the live two-hour finale of NBC’s singing competition “The Sing-Off” on Monday, December 21 (8-10 p.m. ET). The anticipated finale will also crown the winning a cappella group, determined by America’s vote, with the $100,000 grand prize and an Epic Records/Sony Music Recording contract.

The remaining groups performing in the finale are: Nota from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and the Beelzebubs from Boston, Massachusetts and Voices of Lee from Cleveland, Tennessee.

Hosted by Nick Lachey with judges Ben Folds (Ben Folds Five), Shawn Stockman (Boyz II Men) and Nicole Scherzinger (The Pussycat Dolls), “The Sing-Off” features the hottest a cappella groups from across the country. There is no lip-synching, back-up band or safety net.

“The Sing-Off” is produced by Tenth Planet Productions, Outlaw Productions and Sony Pictures Television. Joel Gallen, Deb Newmyer and Sam Weisman are executive producers. Josh Greenberg serves as co-executive producer. SPT is also the distributor of the series.

Earlier this month, Bobby McFerrin and a cast of 20 incredible singers from around the world dazzled the Stimmen Festival in Basel with their performance of Bobble, Bobby’s new improvised opera with a wordless libretto. The performance retells and reimagines the biblical tale of the Tower of Babel, and our endless search for common language and true communication. This beautiful photo was taken by the Festival’s Artistic Director, Helmut Bürgel.

Notes and Neurons at The World Science Festival:  http://www.worldsciencefestival.com/2009/notes-and-neurons

Check out Bobby’s duet with Voicestra member Judi Donaghy on the classic “I Can See Clearly Now,” recorded live at Orchestra Hall on January 30, 2009: