ENGLISH
TransCULT by Babylon ORCHESTRA feat. Nesrine, Momo Djender: An immersive audiobook based on The Sacred Night by Tahar Ben Jelloun with music by Mischa Tangian and RUSNAM, spatialized LIVE in 4DSOUND with MONOM.
Where: MONOM Studio
What: LIVE performance spatialized in 4DSOUND
Who: Mischa Tangian, RUSNAM, Babylon ORCHESTRA, MONOM
When: April 11th, 2026
Doors Open: 16:00
Sessions: 17:15 - 20:00
Program:
Doors open: 16:00
Session 1: 17:15
Session 2: 19:00
Session 3: 21:45PM
On April 11th, 2026, we invite you to enter a spatial sound experience inspired by the fairy-tale imagery of Tahar Ben Jelloun’s award-winning novel The Sacred Night, where voices, textures and music drift through MONOM’s immersive sound space.
TransCULT by Babylon ORCHESTRA feat. Nesrine, Momo Djender: An immersive 3D audiobook based on The Sacred Night by Tahar Ben Jelloun with music by Mischa Tangian and RUSNAM, spatialized LIVE in 4DSOUND with MONOM.
Performed by transcultural big band Babylon ORCHESTRA digitally in a new production by composer Mischa Tangian and producer RUSNAM it narrates the story of Zahra - born a woman but raised as a son, until her father's death opens the door to freedom.
A tale of liberation and loss unfolds only narrated by instruments, noises and voices. This bodiless theatre dissolves boundaries between 3D audio book, club experience, and contemporary theatre. A ritualized audio experience uniting elegiac cantilenas, traditional North African sounds and electronic beats within a multi-layered, walk-in space. Two performers – Nesrine (voc / cello) and Momo Djender (voc) – welcome the audience in the space with the embedded narration by Alina Vimbai Strähler (Schaubühne) in German, French and Arabic to a multifaceted exploration of the deconstructed book by TJB. Associative dreams, sound images and moments of encounters between the book’s characters invoke the atmosphere of the markets of Marrakesh, memories from old Maghreb and Morocco, imagery and reality blend together in a surreal tale of female identity within the context of modern Islam and European society.
About the artists:
Babylon ORCHESTRA
Babylon ORCHESTRA, founded in 2016, is an urban Berlin fusion ensemble that blends European and Middle Eastern music with the sound of a big band and a contemporary orchestra. Their aim is to musically foster transcultural collaboration, thereby giving diverse traditions a place within the context of new, modern soundscapes. Since its inception, the group has collaborated with outstanding soloists from Iran, Syria, North Africa, Turkey, Russia, Israel, as well as European jazz soloists and classical musicians. Thanks to support from the Berlin Senate, the Hauptstadtkulturfonds, the Kulturstiftung des Bundes , the Initiative Musik, AFAC, and sponsors, the ensemble has been able to realize its own concert series and theater projects and has entered into collaborations with other performing groups such as the Zafraan Ensemble, the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Dortmund Philharmoniker, the Biel Symphony Orchestra (Switzerland), and the Komische Oper.
Among other projects, Babylon ORCHESTRA has realized its own large-scale productions involving actors, opera singers, composers, hip-hop dancers, rap and acrobats. For example, with Forum Urbane Tanzkunst, the ensemble produced the dance piece LOST for the Asphalt Festival Düsseldorf in 2022, thanks to support from TIKTOK creators for diversity, and the short film "Unsere Fremden" with the help of the Kulturstiftung des Bundes and Neustart Kultur in 2020 (developed into a music theatre in 2023).
The ensemble's debut album won the Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik (German Record Critics' Award) in the "World Music" category in 2019. Its second album is currently in production and is scheduled for release in 2026.
Mischa Tangian
Mischa Tangian is an award-winning composer and violinist whose multifaceted work combines classical composition, traditional sound languages from diverse cultures, and performative elements. As the founder and artistic director of the transcultural Babylon Orchestra, he collaborates internationally with orchestras and ensembles.
His career is marked by significant opera commissions: In 2014, he won the "Neue Szenen II" competition at the Deutsche Oper Berlin, which led to the premiere of his chamber opera "in absentia." This was followed by commissioned works such as "Moby Dick" for the Staatsoper Hannover and "Die Nacht der Seeigel" for the Hamburg State Opera.
Tangian's creative output increasingly extends to contemporary dance theater. For Theater Oberhausen, he composed the music for "Gametime" in 2025. He is currently developing new productions in collaboration with choreographer Takao Baba for Tanzhaus NRW and Schauspielhaus Düsseldorf, with premieres scheduled for 2026.
Momo Djender
Momo Djender is an Algerian-Berber singer and a key figure in modern Chaabi music. He began his career at the age of 14 and became a pioneer in the 1990s with his debut album "Bled Music," which reinterpreted traditional Algerian sounds for a young generation. Since 1994, he has lived and worked in Berlin, where he is regarded as a cultural bridge-builder. His collaborations with international stars like Sting and Klaus Doldinger, along with his soulful, jazzy voice, make him a versatile artist who consistently understands his music as that of a "son of the Mediterranean."
Nesrine Belmokh
Nesrine Belmokh is a Franco-Algerian cellist, singer, and songwriter celebrated for her ability to blend musical traditions. She skillfully merges her classical training with influences from Arabic, North African, and jazz music, creating songs in French, English, and Arabic that reflect her multicultural background.
She has performed as a classical cellist with prestigious ensembles like Daniel Barenboim's West-Eastern Divan Orchestra and was also a featured performer with the Cirque du Soleil. She first gained wider recognition leading the trio NES, whose 2018 debut album Ahlam received international acclaim. She later embarked on a solo career, releasing deeply personal albums such as Nesrine (2020) and Kan Ya Makan (2024).
RUSNAM
RUSNAM is an electronic artist and music producer signed by label Shouka (Paris / Tunis) and has collaborated with renowned artists such as Ebow, Dj Ipek, Anthony Hüseyin, Sinem Altan, Sera Kalo and more.
Starting her career as the singer and songwriter for the globally renowned band Gülina, she has performed live across the world and has firmly established her presence in various theater projects, performances, music productions and compilations.
RUSNAM's musical journey is characterized by her commitment to decolonizing music practices. She produces empowering music from a feminist perspective, aiming to transform experiences of discrimination, trauma, and exclusion faced by marginalized female* artists.
She is the initiator of the audio-visual performance CTRL.XX.TENSION and the interactive musical photo exhibition DE:CODE. She also runs her own recording and music production studio, deep dive Studios, located in the heart of Berlin.
About MONOM
MONOM is a spatial sound studio and multidisciplinary creative lab working at the intersection of music, art, technology, ceremony and ritual. Our projects range from sound art and music to theatre, dance, and the immersive realms of virtual and augmented reality. MONOM’s mission is to provide space and time for artists to expand the dimensions of their creative practice and to enrich communal and individual experiences of sound and art.
Founded in 2017, MONOM’s studio is home to the original 4DSOUND system. This technology is an intuitive instrument for composing virtual sonic realities. These new worlds of sound are designed not only to be heard but also to be felt with the whole body.
MONOM aims to foster a multicultural and cross-disciplinary movement centered around spatial sound and listening-based practices and experiences. MONOM believes in the potential of this emerging art form to transcend cultural divides through a common language of sound and space.
Content Note:
TransCULT is based on a Prix Goncourt–winning novel and engages with themes of gender identity, sexual violence, bodily autonomy, trauma, and scenes involving the use of a firearm. These are approached with care and artistic intention. We encourage you to take care of yourself while experiencing the work. If at any point you feel uncomfortable, you are welcome to leave the room and return when you feel ready.
The experience is recommended for audiences aged 15 and above.
FAQ
What will happen in the MONOM lounge?
Beverages will be served in the lounge before, during and after the listening experience.
Which payment method is accepted in the lounge?
Cash & card.
Can I bring my dog?
Dogs are not allowed in the space.
Can minors join the experience?
These sessions are for visitors over 15 years of age.
Tickets:
If not sold out, tickets will be available for purchase at the door using a QR code, up to the venue's capacity limit. If you wish to pay with cash, please bring the exact amount.
Tickets are non-refundable, but they are transferable.
If you are experiencing financial scarcity and need help to afford the ticket, please reach out to us.
PLEASE NOTE
We recommend arriving 30 minutes before the start of the live performance.
Cell phone use is not permitted during the sessions.
Photos are allowed before and after the experience.
Silence is required during the listening experience, if you need to talk you are welcome to do it in the lounge area.
MONOM has a zero-tolerance policy for any form of abuse, harassment, or discrimination.
Ramps will be available in the studio for wheelchair users. While the lounge isn't directly wheelchair accessible, if you need assistance entering, the MONOM team is here to help and ensure a comfortable experience.