The Concert 'One Voice, a Hundred Voices' Bridges Art and Science to Launch Zientzia Astea 2026

The Basque Center for Applied Mathematics (BCAM), in collaboration with the University of the Basque Country (EHU) and the Elhuyar Foundation, hosted the unique theatrical concert "Ahots bat, ehun ahots" (One Voice, a Hundred Voices) today. Held at the Bilbao Conservatoire, the event served as the official opening for the 25th edition of Zientzia Astea 2026, the science week driven by EHU which this year celebrates the theme "Art and Science."

The initiative is part of the broader "Soinuaren Zientzia" (The Science of Sound) outreach project, funded by the Basque Government through the first call of the Ezagutza Zabaltzen grant program.

An Interdisciplinary Performance in Basque

Departing from a conventional concert format, "One Voice, a Hundred Voices" is designed as an accessible scientific outreach spectacle where music, spoken word, memory, and perception merge into a single scenic experience. Performed entirely in Basque, the show combines theatrical narration, scientific explanation, and live musical execution to guide the audience toward a deeper understanding of how a single instrument can generate multiple sonic architectures, implicit polyphony, and resonance.

The event featured a specialized collaborative team:

• Theatrical Script: Written by Luca Fanelli, BCAM and UPV/EHU researcher and principal investigator of "The Science of Sound" project.
• Musical Execution: Performed live by the violinist Marianna Atria, from the Katarina Gurska Superior Conservatoire in Madrid.
• Narrators: The performance was brought to life by the narrators Ana Galarraga and Ibai Jurado.
• Repertoire & Context: The script and performance were based on two monumental pieces for solo violin: Eugène Ysaÿe’s Sonata No. 3 and Johann Sebastian Bach’s Sonata No. 2, using narration to open scientific and cultural questions around the works.
• Scientific Commentary: Insights from the project's core research team, including Osane Oruetxebarria, Andoni García, and Judith Rivas (EHU), who explore the mathematical underpinnings of acoustic waves and vocal properties.

Media Prelude on Euskadi Irratia

In connection with this launching event, BCAM and EHU researcher Osane Oruetxebarria was interviewed on Euskadi Irratia’s afternoon program, Baipasa.

During the broadcast, Osane discussed the mathematical principles underlying acoustics, the challenges of musical temperament, and the importance of taking these scientific disciplines onto the stage to open new perspectives for the public.

The full radio segment is available to stream on the official EITB platforms (beginning approximately 20 minutes into the first hour of the show): Guau EITB - Baipasa.

BCAM thanks the Basque Government for its support through the Ezagutza Zabaltzen program, as well as the Bilbao Conservatoire, the participating artists, EHU, and the Elhuyar Foundation for making this inaugural event a success.