Kiezsalon with Dal:um, Mariam Gviniashvili and Juli Deák

The Kiezsalon closes the 2026 season with an intimate show the Collegium Hungaricum in Berlin-Mitte. For our final program of the year, we present Seoul-based zither duo Dal:um, Georgian composer Mariam Gviniashvili and Polish-Hungarian flautist Juli Deák. Defining new territory for Korea’s traditional instrumentation, Dal:um is the Seoul-based duo of Ha Suyean and Hwang Hyeyoung, virtuosos on the gayageum and geomungo types of zither respectively. Blending minimalism, experimental folk and abstract jazz into ethereal soundworlds, their 2024 album Coexistence was praised by Songlines as: “a deft fusion of Korea’s ancient musical traditions with modern influences,” while Chain DLK hailed it as “a rare achievement: an album that engages with tradition without ever sounding reverent or restrained.” Mariam Gviniashvili is a Georgian composer and visual artist based in Oslo. With a background as a singer and pianist, she works with electroacoustic music, 3D sound and instrumental composition, surveying the emotional and spatial dimensions of sound. She has been commissioned by institutions and ensembles including INA GRM, ZKM Karlsruhe, MA/IN, Notam, Henie Onstad Art Centre and Oslo Sinfonietta. The Wire described Rhythm in Flux, her composition for the 16-piece Orchestra of Futurist Noise Intoners, as “a staccato work of unrelenting if off-kilter propulsion.” Polish-Hungarian flautist and saxophonist Juli Deák bridges classical, contemporary and jazz music through tender melodic lines, circular breathing and percussive effects. Deeply rooted in the classical tradition, her sound embraces experimentation, improvisation and folk influences. In both her performance piece The Breathing Project and new album Brisk, her focus has turned toward the physical language of the flute — breath pressure, airflow, resonance, and the subtle mechanics of keys and metal. The atmosphere is intimate and concentrated, shaped by endurance and control. Having opened its doors in 2007, the new Collegium Hungaricum Berlin stands where the original institute existed from 1926 to 1944. With its Bauhaus architecture, the building is reminiscent of a modernist movement that connects Hungary and Germany. Filled with large windows, the cultural hub offers panoramic views and radiant sunlight. The Kiezsalon is a project by Digital in Berlin. Curated by Michael Rosen and funded by the Senate Department for Culture and Social Cohesion. Presented by The Wire and taz, die tageszeitung.