THE LIQUIFIED THRONE OF SIMPLICITY

Monday, 15 September 2025

The evening of 15 September at the Cultural Center’s courtyard marked one of the most remarkable events of the 28th Cultural Festival of the University of Cyprus: a festival dedicated to presenting artists who redefine the boundaries of artistic experience. At the centre of this journey stood the Slovenian trio Širom (Ana Kravanja, Iztok Koren and Samo Kutin), performing in Cyprus for the very first time and leaving an indelible imprint on all those who were present.

Guided by their latest album, “The Liquified Throne of Simplicity”, Širom dissolved the borders between traditional music and experimental sound, unfolding a sonic world in which the ancient converses with the contemporary, the familiar intersects with the uncharted, and the tangible meets the dreamlike.

The performance evolved as a living organism of deconstruction and re-composition: rhythmic motifs drawn from diverse musical traditions intertwined with improvised sound textures; classical and folk instruments merged with handmade constructions built from everyday materials; and demanding yet impeccably structured improvisations revealed musicians of profound technical mastery and rare sensitivity.

Shortly after their appearance in Cyprus, the international press affirmed the global resonance of the trio. In its October review, “The Guardian” described the ensemble’s sound as “a ritualistic vortex where instruments seem to breathe stories of ancient places and unknown future landscapes,” highlighting the group’s ability to create music that unfolds like a mystical narrative.

In the Axiothea’s courtyard, this narrative became vividly present. What emerged was a single musical entity, atmospheric, dense and poetic, that showcased not only Širom’s radical reimagining of global musical traditions, but also a deeper reflection on a world that is fluid and chaotic, yet retains its beauty through simplicity.

The concert was organized with the support of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia.