Steve Katona on Art as Universal Force and Nordic Pavilion at Venice Biennale
Berlin-based artist, composer, countertenor, and actor Steve Katona (Brandenburg) shares insights into his diverse artistic endeavors and recent works. He pursued opera studies at the Berlin University of the Arts, engaging in music, performance, and avant-garde art. His musical range spans both early and modern compositions. In 2021, he took the stage in 'Trackers' at the Epidaurus Festival and performed in Jamie Man's opera 'Zelle: Wenn es dunkel wird,' which premiered at De Singel in Antwerp. From 2022 to 2023, he held a fellowship with the German Music Fund. In 2024, he will be involved in the Venice Biennale and the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence, alongside recent projects like 'The Altersea Opera' and a commissioned work for Leeum Museum in Seoul.
Key facts
- Steve Katona is a countertenor, composer, actor, and artist based in Berlin.
- He studied opera at Berlin University of the Arts.
- In 2021, he performed in Michail Marmarinos' 'Trackers' at the Epidaurus Festival in Athens.
- He sang a role in Jamie Man's opera 'Zelle: Wenn es dunkel wird' at De Singel in Antwerp and other venues.
- From 2022 to 2023, he was a fellow of the German Music Fund.
- In 2023-2024, he performed in 'Männerfantasien' at Deutsches Theater Berlin.
- In 2024, he participated in the Venice Biennale Nordic Pavilion, invited by Moderna Museet Stockholm.
- He collaborated with Lap-See Lam, Tze Yeung Ho, and Kholod Hawash at the Nordic Pavilion.
- He took part in the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence 2024 Multidisciplinary Residency.
- He performed a fragment of his composition 'Orbital – Tribute to Hildegard' at the residency's final concert.
- He cites Caspar David Friedrich's 'Mondaufgang am Meer' as a favorite visual artwork.
- He values John Dowland's 'Flow My Tears' as a favorite song.
- His recent project 'The Altersea Opera' was part of the Venice Biennale Nordic Pavilion.
- He composed a piece commissioned for a performance at Leeum Museum in Seoul.
- He plans collaborations with Joseph Schiano di Lombo and Lynn Daphne Rudolph.
- He comes from a working-class background and recalls his great-grandparents' cherry tree.
Entities
Artists
- Steve Katona
- Michail Marmarinos
- Jamie Man
- Theresa Thomasberger
- Klaus Theweleit
- Lap-See Lam
- Tze Yeung Ho
- Kholod Hawash
- Caspar David Friedrich
- John Dowland
- Joseph Schiano di Lombo
- Lynn Daphne Rudolph
- Samantha Stella
Institutions
- Berlin University of the Arts
- Epidaurus Festival
- De Singel
- Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia
- Gulbenkian Foundation
- Theater Casino Zug
- German Music Fund
- Deutsches Theater Berlin
- Moderna Museet Stockholm
- Venice Biennale
- Nordic Pavilion
- Festival d'Aix-en-Provence
- Académie
- Leeum Museum
- Artribune
Locations
- Brandenburg
- Berlin
- Germany
- Athens
- Greece
- Antwerp
- Belgium
- Valencia
- Spain
- Lisbon
- Portugal
- Zug
- Switzerland
- Stockholm
- Sweden
- Venice
- Italy
- Aix-en-Provence
- France
- Seoul
- South Korea