The Voice of Hagia Sophia

Associate Professor of Medieval Art Bissera Pentcheva talks about the materials used to create Constantinople’s Hagia Sophia, an edifice that for nearly one thousand years was the largest enclosed space in the world. Materials like marble and mosaics enhanced the acoustics for Byzantine chanting. The video also features the vocal ensemble Cappella Romana who recently performed Byzantine chants in Bing Concert Hall, taking advantage of accurate computer-enabled simulation of Hagia Sophia's unique acoustics.