Charitona | pt

Charitona is a darkwave band from Berlin, Germany formed in 1994.

It was in 1989 when new bands appeared in the Gothic Music scene - Das Ich and Goethes Erben, to mention only some. German music became common among the scene and there were three guys in Berlin, having been inspired by this development who founded the Diener der Musik (Servants of Music) project. Their concept was to combine dark texts with classical melodies and styles. The music was recorded electronically and above all that you could hear the classical voice of Dörthe Flemming, who began to study classical singing at the Hanns Eisler Music High School in Berlin at the same time. The combination of classical music and classical singing appeared earlier already (p.e. in Klaus Nomi's songs) but it was unique in this minamalistic and romantical style.

The band Diener der Musik was founded in 1992 by Dörthe Flemming (music, lyrics, vocals), Hagen Flemming (music, lyrics) and Jacky Holan (music) in Berlin. Two years later they changed their name into Charitona.

Charitona's music is very melodical and instrumentated minimalistically. Their main instruments are strings, piano, oboe, bells or flute. A special feature is the low appearance of all kinds of drum instruments. The voices are dominated by mezzo-soprano Doerthe Flemmings.

Between 1997 and 1999 Charitona did some gigs in Berlin off-theatres with a musical performance that included almost only songs of their album "Fürst der Finsternis" (Lord of the Darkness) together with a pantomime show that was inspired by the “Vampire Chronicals” by Anne Rice combined with the band's own emotions and feelings.

Their biggest show took place during a Gothic Festival in the BKA tent in Berlin together with those headliners as Dreadful Shadows or Goethes Erben.

The band decided not to continue their gigs in 2000. There was never a official split but there was no album after "Fürst der Finsternis".

www.charitona.de .