In 2022, the Italian sound artist and vocalist Sara Persico took a trip to the north of Lebanon, where she explored the Rachid Karami International Fair in Tripoli. Designed by renowned Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer in the 1960s, it was left unfinished when civil war broke out in 1975. Amongst these abandoned concrete curves, she was fascinated by the Experimental Theatre, a unique dome-shaped structure with incredible acoustic properties.

A year later she returned, and with the help of a local friend, was able to record inside the dome for three hours. Her debut album Sphaîra is a document of this impromptu session, capturing the unique echo and acoustics of the dome, as well as the hum of the outside world, from street noise and the call to prayer to snatches of voices and even wildlife.

Working with Mika Oki - a visual artist, DJ and producer with a background in electroacoustics and sculpture - she’s brought those 3 hours back to life, using specially designed lighting and scenography to transport the audience inside Niemeyer’s dome. Expect a truly immersive experience when they bring Sphaîra to Sónar by Day. More info soon