Iva Bittová x Vladimír Václavek: ‘Bile Inferno’

Rediscovering indestructible songs

Czech violinist Iva Bittová and guitarist Vladimír Václavek released the legendary album Bile Inferno in 1997. It made for an equally legendary concert at Vooruit in Ghent. Especially for Ha Concerts, she brings those indestructible songs back to life together with new material. With the inventive guitar playing of Vladimír Václavek, this music remains movingly beautiful.

In the 25 years following Bile Inferno, Bittová's career became richer and richer. She recorded dozens more records, worked with Bang on a Can All Stars, played music by Béla Bartók, soloed with a symphony orchestra and made a solo record for ECM. Above all, the magic of Bittová's violin playing and singing, the beautiful songs, vocal improvisations and the imaginary world evoked remain untouched.

'The trip to Bile Inferno became one to remember. Even if the music sometimes moved you to tears, overall, Bittová and Václavek provided an evening of high-quality entertainment, which was received to a standing ovation in Vooruit's packed auditorium," said Dirk Steenhaut in De Morgen.

Photo © Standa Merhout