News

Kicking off in Corigliano d’Otranto with the Orchestra Popolare.
Tributes to Domenico Modugno, Giovanni Marini, and Annabella Rossi.
Special closing in Martano with the young participants of the Matria 2 project.

THE THEME OF THIS EDITION:
RESPONSIBILITY

The long journey of the Itinerant Festival The Night of the Taranta will start on August 3 from Corigliano d’Otranto and will cross 19 municipalities in Salento, with a final stop at the Concertone in Melpignano scheduled for August 24.
50 events for the festival that has established itself for its itinerant format: discovering the richness and beauty of the historic centers of Salento following the captivating rhythm of pizzica. A journey that includes 2 concerts per stop with 34 guest groups and 3 special concerts by the Orchestra Popolare Notte della Taranta. There will also be space for dance with the show Pizzica in Scena and 9 pizzica workshops that will engage the audience. The Festival will open in Corigliano d’Otranto with Taranta in Parade - The Ways of the Land of Remorse. Musicians and dancers will perform along the streets of the historic center, starting from the atrium of the Castello Volante.
"The itinerant festival represents an authentic laboratory of excellence where different forms of art meet," says Massimo Bray, president of the La Notte della Taranta Foundation. "A fundamental festival for the territories it crosses. It constitutes the perfect synthesis of our vision of culture: solid foundations anchored in the past and a constant projection into the future. A widespread festival capable of enhancing the cultural and artistic heritage of Salento, which is by nature welcoming and plural. A program that unfolds around the theme of responsibility involving artists, opinions, and expertise with original points of view. We resume the journey, stop by stop, of the knowledge of the revival groups and expand the offer on dance with many pizzica workshops that invite visitors to participate, forming those impromptu communities, a contemporary mirror of popular tradition."
MUSIC
The Ragnatela concerts start on August 3 in Corigliano d’Otranto with the Italo-Iberian duo Radizi. The stop will also host the Corpo di Ballo della Taranta and the Orchestra Popolare Notte della Taranta; August 4 in Calimera with I Trainieri and I Calanti; August 5 in Sogliano Cavour with Makaria and Scazzacatarante; August 6 in Cursi with Pino Ingrosso and Li Strittuli; August 7 in Zollino with I Tamburellisti di Otranto and Consuelo Alfieri; August 8 in Nardò with Tarantarneo and Officina Zoè; August 9 in Ugento with Ionica Popolare and the Orchestra Popolare Notte della Taranta; August 10 in Sant’Andrea - marina of Melendugno with Cesare Dell’Anna, Redi Hasa, Ekland Hasa, and Antonio Castrignanò & Taranta Sound; August 11 in Sternatia with Mino De Santis and Stella Grande; August 12 in Carpignano Salentino with Edoardo Zimba and Enzo Petrachi & Folkband; August 13 in Galatone with Carmen Greco and Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino & Inude Pulse; August 14 in Lecce with Arneo Tambourine Project by Giancarlo Paglialunga and Antonio Amato Ensemble; August 16 in Soleto with Antonio Smiriglia and Gli Sciacuddhuzzi; August 17 in Galatina with Orchestra Popolare and Corpo di Ballo La Notte della Taranta; August 18 in Castrignano de’ Greci with Nando Citarella & tamburi del Vesuvio and Salvatore Galeanda; August 19 in Alessano with Fonarà and Mascarimirì x 2; August 20 in Cutrofiano with Enza Pagliara and Kamafei; August 21 in Martignano with I Briganti di Terra d’Otranto and Alla Bua; August 22 in Martano with La Corale la nuova Provenza Terra Nostra Folk, Hysterrae, and Ashèblasta.
DANCE
The show Pizzica in Scena is a journey of knowledge of Salento's dance. Curated by the Corpo di Ballo della Taranta, it explores the three choreutic movements linked to the rhythm of pizzica: tarantata, courtship, and scherma. The show will be presented in Galatina on August 17. Sharing and participation are the key words of the pizzica workshops scheduled in Corigliano d’Otranto on August 3, in Nardò on August 8, in Ugento on August 9, in Galatone on August 13, in Lecce on August 14, on August 16 in Soleto, on August 17 in Galatina, on August 18 in Cutrofiano, and on August 20 in Castrignano de Greci. The Balconate also return, dance performances from the balconies of the historic center of Soleto on August 16: at the end of the concerts scheduled at the stop, the audience will be invited to walk through the streets of the village in the middle of the night.
THEME
Each year the Festival addresses a theme that characterizes and runs through the entire edition. "It is the festival of heritage," says artistic coordinator Fabio Chiriatti, "or rather of responsibility. There is no doubt that the historical moment we are called to live is characterized by rapid social, cultural, and costume changes. Alongside changing ways and fashions, we witness the disappearance of masters, such as Giovanna Marini. For many years we have looked for fathers and mothers, now it is time to recognize ourselves in these roles, accepting responsibility towards the sons and daughters of Salento: going on stage with a revival repertoire linked to tradition is not just a moment of joy and singing, but carries the inevitable responsibility of saying. Singing is affirming."
SPECIAL PROJECTS
On the occasion of the fortieth anniversary of Annabella Rossi's death in Galatina on August 17, in Piazza Dante Alighieri in the former Convent of the Poor Clares, the presentation of the book Il Colpo di sole e altri scritti sul Salento published by Kurumuny is scheduled. The curator of the book, Vincenzo Esposito, Leandro Ventura, and Stefania Baldinotti from the Institute for Cultural and Intangible Heritage will participate.
On August 20 in Castrignano de’ Greci, Li Bellizzi, a concert show in which Enza Pagliara recounts the figure of Giovanna Marini, a recently deceased researcher, will take place. From pizziche to serenades, from stornelli to stisa songs, Li Bellizzi is a true generational confrontation. On stage will be musicians Michele Bianco, Dario Muci, Gianluca Longo, Giorgio Distante, Matteo Resta, and Cristian Martina, with Viola Centi in dance.
On August 6 in Cursi, in Piazza Pio XII, Pino Ingrosso will pay tribute to Domenico Modugno on the thirtieth anniversary of his death. The show, conceived and written with Salvatore Casaluce, covers the greatest hits of Mr. Volare, enriched with anecdotes, stories, and curiosities.
MINORITY LANGUAGES – MATRIA 2
The second main topic of the Itinerant Festival is the minority languages present in Puglia: Griko, Arbëreshë, and Franco-Provençal.
The stop in Martano on August 22 will host the students who participated in the Matria 2 project – The languages of yesterday, today, and tomorrow of the Puglia Region in collaboration with Apulia Film Commission, Teatro Pubblico Pugliese, and Fondazione La Notte della Taranta.
The protagonists are the Griko, Grecanic, and Franco-Provençal communities of Puglia and Southern Italy, while the Arbëreshë communities will be featured in the pre-concertone of Melpignano.
In Martano, Apulia Film Commission will present the three short films made by the involved young participants, directed by Vincenzo Ardito.
- A Story to Tell
Created with the students of I.I.S.S. Trinchese of Martano (Le) and involving the community of Grecìa Salentina.
A group of young people leaving high school on their bicycles find themselves living a real adventure, discovering unknown places and stories, searching for a treasure that turns out to be different but certainly more important than what they expected to find.
- Zzunna
Created with the students of the Comprehensive Institutes of Calimera, Cutrofiano, Martano, and Soleto, involving the community of Grecìa Salentina.
During a break from a Griko language lesson, a group leaves the classroom to undertake a journey into the future thanks to artificial intelligence, which turns out to be very different.
- A Special Taste
Created with the students of the "Catanoso - De Gasperi" Comprehensive Institute of Reggio Calabria.
Andrea and Elena, after a guided tour of the MARC - National Museum of Reggio Calabria, have an ice cream together. An ice cream with a new flavor and thanks to a precious encounter, they will learn about a story they did not know.
The three short films, with different styles and languages, aim to enhance minority languages, particularly Griko and Grecanic, and their communities.

HERE YOU CAN DOWNLOAD PHOTOS

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/s3bh79ly3sd9mqmymwa15/AC2KnaGJ8SI8Ttk-dG4VgCk?rlkey=ifxykttpqamwekkpjzrzvfbov&st=lws8d6q3&dl=0 

#nottedellataranta #WeAreinPuglia

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Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

Fondazione La Notte della Taranta has its new president.
The assembly of members-composed of representatives of the Apulia Region, Union of Municipalities of Salentinian Greece, and the “Diego Carpitella” Institute-unanimously elected Massimo Bray, who succeeds Massimo Manera, who resigned from the post.

Massimo Bray returns after 11 years at the helm of the Foundation, which he chaired from 2010 to 2013. “I want to thank everyone, starting with President Emiliano and the heads of the Grecìa salentina and the Diego Carpitella Institute, for the honor of chairing the Foundation, commented Massimo Bray. I also want to thank Massimo Manera, who for more than 10 years has passionately presided over what is one of the most important cultural realities in our country. At this moment I am saddened not to be able to share this news with Sergio Torsello with whom I had the first experience, the deep knowledge of the pizzica, I will miss them. In the coming days I will meet with the Popular Orchestra that continues to make this immense intangible heritage known in the world and that on June 25 will represent Italy in Azerbaijan on Republic Day in Baku.”

Massimo Bray has been director general of the Italian Encyclopedia Institute founded by Giovanni Treccani since 2015, after serving as its editorial director (1994-2013) and head of the Modern History section (since 1991). From 2010 to 2013 he chaired the board of directors of the La Notte della Taranta foundation. On April 28, 2013, he was appointed minister of heritage, cultural activities and tourism in the government headed by Enrico Letta. In March 2015, after 22 months in the Chamber of Deputies, he resigned as a parliamentarian. As president of the Foundation for Books, Music and Culture, he was in charge of the 2017 and 2018 editions of the Turin Book Fair. From 2019 to 2021 he taught History of Publishing at the Suor Orsola Benincasa University of Naples. From Nov. 19, 2020 to Nov. 21, 2021, he was Councillor for Culture and Tourism of the Apulia Region. He published the book Alla voce Cultura. A suspended diary of my experience as a minister (Manni 2019).

Also elected is the Foundation's new Board of Directors, which will be composed of Graziano Vantaggiato representing the Union of Municipalities of Salento Greece, Dina Manti reappointed by the Region of Puglia and the mayor of Melpignano Valentina Avantaggiato for the Diego Carpitella Institute.

The Foundation's organizational machine is already at work for the most anticipated event of the Italian summer: the Itinerant Festival that will culminate as always with the final stage of the Concertone scheduled for August 24 in Melpignano.

The Travel Show - Saturday, Sept. 30, 3:30 p.m

The modernity of the Notte della Taranta conquers the BBC.

Saturday, Sept. 30 at 3:30 p.m. (local time) will air The Travel Show, the historic documentary program that explores new travel destinations around the world. A 24-minute short film curated by Catharina Moh and hosted by Carmen Roberts dedicated to Puglia's beauty, archaeology, crystal clear sea, enchanted villages and the contemporary nature of the Melpignano Concertone.

The BBC team reached Puglia last July filming in Otranto, Sant'Andrea, Polignano and again in Manduria with the children and the children of the
pizzica, the Greek and Apulian vases kept in the Sigismondo Castromediano Museum in Lecce. Completing the in-depth coverage are interviews with ethnomusicologist prof. Gianfranco
Salvatore on the myth of tarantism and with musician Gianluca Longo on the sound of the Popular Orchestra that captivates audiences around the world.

Set for the filming of The Travel Show, the ancient cloister of the former Convento degli Agostiniani in Melpignano, which houses the headquarters of the La Notte della Taranta Foundation. A program produced by BBC, which chose La Notte della Taranta to tell the world how "a centuries-old dance originally performed to cure according to popular legend the spider bite is experiencing a rebirth thanks to the cathartic ritual of the concertone." The Popular Orchestra with Gianluca Longo - mandola, Alessandro Monteduro - percusisoni, Antonio Marra - drums, Roberto Gemma - accordion, Gioele Nuzzo - tambourine, Attilio Turrisi - beating guitar, Carlo De Pascali - tambourine, Giuseppe Astore - violin, Nico Berardi - woodwinds, Valerio Bruno - bass and singers Antonio Amato, Consuelo Alfieri and Stefania Morciano performed the Pizzica di San Vito danced by Stefano Campagna, Fabrizio Nigro, Serena Pellegrino, Mihaela Coluccia and Cristina Frassanito. The tambourine rhythm won over host Carmen Roberts, who posted on social media her "first" pizzica danced in the shadow of the former Augustinian Convent. The documentary can be seen in Italy on Sky.

Not just BBC. In the coming days La Notte della Taranta will be a guest on Il Provinciale hosted by Federico Quaranta airing Sunday, October 1 at 11:15 p.m. on RAI 3.
An in-depth report on tarantism with an interview with Prof. Maurizio Agamennone, a member of the Foundation's scientific committee, made in Galatina, and on the modern vision of the Taranta Concertone with interviews with Prof. Nico Berardi a member of the Popular Orchestra and Lucia Scarabino dancer of the Taranta Dance Corps, made in the symbolic place of the Concertone in Melpignano.

On October 6 at 11 a.m. live from Bari for RAI ITALIA, La Notte della Taranta will be the guest of Filippo Solibello and Marco Ardemagni in the program Paparazzi, the new English-language strip that tells the world about Italian excellence. And also on October 6, La Taranta will be featured on UNO MATTINA the program broadcast from 8:30 a.m. on RAI 1, hosted by Daniela Ferolla and Massimiliano Orsini.

An extraordinary success for La Notte della Taranta, which will represent Puglia in the National Festival of the Conference of Regions and Autonomous Provinces scheduled in Turin from Sept. 30 to Oct. 3 and at Columbus Day in Chicago scheduled for Oct. 6 to 9.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

On Monday 4 September, at 11.25 pm, the twenty-sixth edition of La Notte della Taranta will be broadcast on RAI 1, the Concertone that celebrates the pizzica and popular culture of Salento. A night dedicated to women and in defense of women with the strong message launched by Tananai: Enough is enough, no one else.

The Concertone which recorded a record attendance in the square, 200,000 who came from all over the world, becomes a television program directed by Stefano Mignucci, created with the support of the Puglia Region and Puglia Promozione. The show conducted by Fiorella Mannoia was filmed by 11 television cameras with special drone shots that give the public the image of the square colored by thousands of tambourines.

The evening will be opened by Fiorella Mannoia with the intense "A day on a Friday" dedicated to Luigi Chiriatti. In the background a lunar scenario designed by Claudia Andrioli and Carolina Stamerra Grassi which opens the rich sequence of images designed to project the symbols and beauty of Puglia. Starting from the sea. The waves, the lighthouses and the boats guided by the lights chosen by Marco Lucarelli, immerse us in Arisa's song "Lu ruciu de lu mare", the first piece in the lineup that ends with the enchantment of the verses of La Notte.

The masterly and applauded interpretation of the singer from Potenza turns the spotlight on the Popular Orchestra Notte della Taranta and on the Taranta Ballet, protagonists of an amazing show. Ec Ec follows, a song in arbëreshë interpreted by Salvatore Galeanda, embellished by the refrain Menamenamò. The second guest of the evening, Tananai arrives on stage intoning the famous Tango to introduce the powerful "Ri Lo La La", a song in Grico that the young artist chooses to send a clear message to the public against violence against women: Enough is enough, no 'other, he writes in red on the shirt he's wearing. In the background fountains that flow and jets of water introduce the overwhelming "Acqua de la funtana" sung by Consuelo Alfieri engaged in a colorful dance created by the choreographer Francesca Romana Di Maio. Fiorella Mannoia's precious cameo is Bocca di Rosa, a tribute to Fabrizio De Andrè introduced by the Salento folk song "T'aggiu amatu comu na rosa". A cascade of virtual flowers introduces "Lule Lule" the song in arbëreshë interpreted by Brunori Sas. Trio of pizzica in sequences unleash the audience: Pizzica di San Marzano interpreted by Stefania Morciano, Pizzica di San Vito with all the voices of the Popular Orchestra and Pizzica di Aradeo which brings Tananai back to the stage in a duet with Antonio Amato.

It is still Fiorella Mannoia who gives the poignant poetics of the song "Madonna ti lu mare". Deep atmosphere that introduces a moving interpretation of "Santu Paulu de Galatina" entrusted to Giancarlo Paglialunga and the women of the corps de ballet who stage a modern invocation. Women's rights are a manifesto sung in Fimmene Fimmene interpreted by Fiorella Mannoia, Alessandra Caiulo, Enza Pagliara, Stefania Morciano and Consuelo Alfieri. A song of nostalgia for Brunori Sas who once again chooses a minority language, Grico, to give the audience the emotion of Aremu Rindineddha. Again the women protagonists with La Cardileddha sung by Enza Pagliara and Ferma Zitella with Arisa. The grand finale is Aria Caddhipulina with Antonio Amato and a Calinitta-Buona Notte that brings everyone back to the stage for the final greetings.

All the arrangements, compositions, orchestrations and harmonizations were handled by Carlo Di Francesco, Clemente Ferrari and by the Popular Orchestra Notte della Taranta composed by Nico Beradi - wind instruments, Roberto Gemma - accordion, Giuseppe Astore - violin, Mario Esposito - bass, Gianluca Longo – mandola, Peppo Grassi – mandolin, Roberto Chiga Alessandro Chiga Gioele Nuzzo Carlo De Pascali – tambourine, Antonio Marra – drums, Alessandro Monteduro – percussion, Leonardo Cordella – accordion, Attilio Turrisi – swing guitar.

RAI 1 PROGRAM SCHEDULE

UN GIORNO DI VENERDÌ FIORELLA MANNOIA

LU RUCIU DE LU MARE ARISA

EC EC canto arbëreshë SALVATORE GALEANDA

TANGO TANANAI

RI LO LA LA TANANAI

ACQUA DE LA FUNTANA – CONSUELO ALFIERI

T’AGGIU AMATU COMU NA ROSA – FIORELLA MANNOIA

BOCCA DI ROSA – FIORELLA MANNOIA – ALESSANDRA CAIULO – CONSUELO ALFIERI – STEFANIA MORCIANO – ENZA PAGLIARA

LULE LULE - canto arbëreshë – BRUNORI SAS

PIZZICA DI SAN MARZANO – STEFANIA MORCIANO

PIZZICA DI SAN VITO - VOCI DELL’ORCHESTRA POPOLARE

PIZZICA DI ARADEO – TANANAI – ANTONIO AMATO

MADONNA TI LU MARE – FIORELLA MANNOIA

SANTU PAULU DE GALATINA – GIANCARLO PAGLIALUNGA

BEDDHRA CI DORMI – ALESSANDRA CAIULO

FIMMENE FIMMENE – FIORELLA MANNOIA – ALESSANDRA CAIULO – CONSULEO ALFIERI – STEFANIA MORCIANO – ENZA PAGLIARA

AREMU RINDINEDDHA - canto in grico – BRUNORI SAS

LA CARDILEDDA – ENZA PAGLIARA

FERMA ZITELLA – ARISA

ARIA CADDHIPULINA – ANTONIO AMATO

CALINITTA BUONA NOTTE - canto in grico

La Notte della Taranta is a cultural project of the La Notte della Taranta Foundation created with the support of the Puglia Region and Puglia Promozione, the participation of the Union of Municipalities of Grecìa Salentina and the collaboration of the Diego Carpitella Research Institute.

#taranta26 #weareinpuglia

Taranta Night. Applause from Federconsumatori Lecce for the services tested throughout the festival until the Concertone

"Prompted" by the media resonance of the inconveniences during another major event held a few weeks earlier, we followed and carefully monitored all the organizational phases of the Festival, from the first stage in Corigliano to the final concertone in Melpignano, in order to verify that the quality and safety standards reserved for "consumers" were respected.
We too, by participating in the events, have used and hand-tested the services made available to the public: information service , parking, shuttle bus, toilets, water (free and plastic free) and refreshments, public order and medical and health garrisons, just to name a few. And we did this to protect users and consumers. As
Associazione Federconsumatori Lecce Aps we can only congratulate co with the Fondazione La Notte della Taranta , with the Municipality of Melpignano (Le) , with all the administrators of the Grecìa Salentina Union, with the Italian Red Cross - Apulia Regional Committee and the Italian Red Cross - Lecce Committee , with Coordinamento Provinciale del Volontariato di Protezione Civile di Lecce and with all the Forces of Order for the excellent work done, which impeccably guaranteed the serene enjoyment of the show, something not at all taken for granted given the very high number of participants.

Lawyer Mario Lorubio, President Federconsumatori Lecce Aps

250 THOUSAND ESTIMATES FOR THE LONG NIGHT OF THE TARANTA

Record numbers for the dress rehearsal of the Notte della Taranta that last night in Melpignano welcomed 60 thousand people, according to data provided by the Committee for Public Order and Safety.

The show that began at 8 p.m. ended at 11:30 p.m., allowing the Foundation to test the organizational machine in view of the large flow of public expected this evening. It is estimated that 250 thousand people will arrive and also for this reason, as pointed out by the mayor of Melpignano Valentina Avantaggiato, a small change was made to the traffic plan that will allow separate access between buses and cars. Also arriving are numerous campers and buses from all parts of Italy. According to the mapping of premium ticket sales arrivals are expected from Paris, Budapest, Athens, Berlin, London.

Starting today at 2 p.m. on www.lanottedellataranta.it an electronic eye will provide real-time images of the square in Melpignano (LE).

The Concertone will open tonight with Fiorella Mannoia's tribute to Gigi Chiriatti, the artistic director of the Itinerant Festival who passed away recently. "A Friday Day" is dedicated to him.

Interpretation is the key to Concertone 2023. "After having worked on the sound of the Popular Orchestra, which is today the excellence of the area," explains President Massimo Manera, "in 2023 we focused on the interpretation of traditional lyrics, bringing to the stage not only Fiorella but the golden voice of Italian music Arisa, the expressive and poetic ability of Brunori Sas and the experimentation of Tananai. But in the foreground we wanted our voices: Antonio Amato, Giancarlo Paglialunga, Salvatore Galeanda, Enza Pagliara, Stefania Morciano, Alessandra Caiulo and Consuelo Alfieri."

This is the line up for the evening: Un giorno di venerdì, Pizzica di San Vito, Ec Ec, Tango, Ri lo la la, L'acqua de la funtana, Taranta di Lizzano, T'aggiu amatu, Bocca di Rosa, Lule Lule, Pizzica di San Marzano, Pizzica di Aradeo, Madonna de lu mare, Santu Paulu, Beddra ci dromi, Fimmine fimmine, Aremu, Stornelli, Ferma Zitella, Lu Zinzale, Pizzica di Stifani, La Cardilleddha, Lu ruciu de lu mare, Pizzica di Ostuni, Aria Caddhipulina, Calinitta.

The choreography is entrusted to Francesca Romana Di Maio. The Taranta dance troupe along with professional dancers will give colorful and energetic paintings and accompany ARISA on the song Lu Ruciu de lu mare in an intense atmosphere surrounded by the sea of visuals that brings the audience to dive into the Salento sounds.

On stage we will also see percussionist Carlo Di Francesco, who, together with Clemente Ferrarri and Orchestra Popolare, took care of the arrangements. With tamburellists Carlo De Pascali, Roberto Chiga, Gioele Nuzzo, and Alessandro Chiga, they will offer a high-impact sound patrol.

Also highly anticipated is Tananai's performance after the video of the performance with Antonio Amato went viral on social media.

Spectacular video narration that will accompany the audience in the long Night of Melpignano. A total immersion in the symbols of the Apulian festivities: from the illuminations, to the ceramics, from the breathtaking landscapes to the blue of the sea, which in the song "Madonna de lu mare," written by Massimo Marangio, is transformed into authentic poetry.

The Melpignano Concertone is completely free as is the water that will be provided by the fountains set up by Acquedotto Pugliese.

The Humanity of Water is the title of the project wanted by Fondazione to raise public awareness of the precious resource of water. A fluens-shaped highway that through the pipelines of Acquedotto Pugliese, the amazing network of water conservation and distribution fruit of the work and ingenuity of countless generations, influences the life of Puglia, the gestures and language of its inhabitants.  Water is the most important link that has spanned the past and flows into the future.

"I consider it one of the most important manifestations of popular culture in Europe and in our nation. In its being it blends different styles that find a perfect synthesis and that recall the spirit of the Mediterranean and therefore the fact of being a nation at the center of the Mediterranean basin, capable of attracting and mixing the different cultures that have succeeded each other over the centuries. I have always said that the richness of Italy is the plurality of its regions, each with its own peculiarities, museum, archaeological. This event will always find my support, I have always been involved in the Notte della Taranta even as a news director, because it is a community and identity event that brings people together and being together is something necessary." Thus Minister Sangiuliano today in a video message at the beginning of the press conference presenting the Melpignano Concert that will be held tomorrow, August 26.

Gennaro Sangiuliano Minister of Culture

Theme: women in popular music

Festival on the theme of identity inspired by Italo Calvino

Popular Orchestra Notte Taranta conducted by FIORELLA MANNOIA

Guests: ARISA - BRUNORI SAS - TANANAI

Choreography: FRANCESCA DIMAIO

Arrangements: Carlo Di Francesco - Popular Orchestra - Clemente Ferrari

Taranta is woman in 2023 and celebrates identity as a social value. Appointment Saturday, Aug. 26, in Melpignano (LE), 10:30 p.m., with the Concertone directed by maestro FIORELLA MANNOIA that will host ARISA, TANANAI and BRUNORI SAS in Europe's biggest dancing ritual.
The Notte della Taranta returns to restore contemporaneity to the classics of Salento folk music and chooses a long-sighted innovation in which widespread participation is declined in artistic expressions.
Starting at 8:00 a.m. on August 26, everyone will be able to admire the flow of the audience arriving on the former Augustinian square by connecting live with the event's official website: www.lanottedellataranta.it. An electronic eye that will return the spell of Taranta to every part of the world.
The Concertone will open with Fiorella Mannoia's tribute to the festival's artistic director Gigi Chiriatti who passed away recently. The maestro concertante will perform "Un giorno di venerdì," which anticipates the explosive start of the long sound journey curated by Carlo Di Francesco and conductor Clemente Ferrari with the Notte della Taranta Popular Orchestra.

The choice of songs is once again the result of extensive research into the beauty of dialect and minority languages. Not surprisingly, Brunori Sas will interpret Lule Lule in Arbereshe and Aremu in Grico while Tananai will sing Ri lo la la in Grico and Pizzica di Aradeo in Salento dialect.
Arisa is assigned Ferma Zitella and Lu Ruciu de lu mare, two iconic songs from the Popular Orchestra's repertoire.
The women's manifesto is contained in Fimmene Fimmene, the song from the tradition that in 2023 is rewritten to highlight current emergencies "for those who have no freedom of speech and hopes no more, and for every woman respect and freedom everywhere. Women we are and like trees we sing, strong branches and roots we have." A new element on the Concertone stage, with set design by Massimo Calzavara, is the impressive video narration entrusted to Carolina Stamerra Grassi, who, starting from the meaning of the text, conceived the visual path that unites past and future through the beauty of Puglia. The magical atmosphere rediscovering rituals and symbolism originally linked to the ritual of tarantism will welcome the Taranta audience in the square of Melpignano. The liquid highway that crosses Apulia, water, will be the scene of collective immersion. A project in collaboration with the Acquedotto Pugliese to emphasize the preciousness of the public water resource.
The press conference for the presentation of the Concertone opened with the gift to the artists of handicrafts made by the ceramists of Cutrofiano, who together with the municipalities of San Pietro in Lama, Laterza, Grottaglie, Rutigliano. Terlizzi have formed the "spider's web" of ceramics. The memory of Gigi Chiriatti could not be missed with the applause of the press room.
Imposing the security apparatus put in place to welcome the public already from this evening during the general rehearsal and then tomorrow for the final Concertone. The Public Order and Safety Committee estimates a larger influx than last year.

Fiorella Mannoia concertmaster : "I came once as a guest of Carmen Consoli, but going in and out is a matter of fun, because you listen more superficially to the songs, when you go deep, a world opens up. Listening to these songs is dragging, they are rhythms that make you dance, if you get into the folds like Stop spinster, they all have the inner theme of work, labor exploitation, forced marriages, abused women. Inside there is always a kind of melancholy, and that happens a little bit in all popular music. There is this desperate cheerfulness, you have to have the opportunity to get into it."

Arisa: "I am proudly from the South, from a small town in the province of Potenza. When we have a family party we dance the tarantella, our culture is very close to that of Salento, your stories are also ours. It was easy to enter your sound world, less easy to enter your dialect, but I was helped by professionals and local people. And I am sure I will feel at home."

Brunori Sas: "It is important to bring forward identity, but also hybridization, because only then can we achieve something more beautiful. If we can mix, understand each other's reasons, it is better for everyone. Identity is enriching if it is seen as the sum of many identities."

Massimo Manera president of La Notte della Taranta Foundation: "We imagine that La Notte della Taranta has inverted the process of the identity path: before, we only looked backwards, to the past, but today it is a path that is well rooted in the past but that looks forward, broadens the horizon. And then there is an inescapable aspect, the economic return: a micro-economy that stands around this event and that over the years has been documented by universities and research organizations, including prestigious universities that translates into an economic return for the whole territory."

Senator Roberto Marti, president Senate Culture Commission: "It is a work of building culture, landscape, and enhancement that has now become fundamental for our territory. The region alone cannot maintain such a structure, it needs the support of the state to create an international place of culture, it needs the support of everyone to travel the world, to bring this place, this tradition and this culture that evolves and it is right that it should be so by keeping these traditions alive."

Alessandro Delli Noci Assessore regione Puglia: "This project represents the whole Apulian identity, we represent an Apulia capable of enhancing identity, at a time when identity is being lost. This is thanks to research work by the La Notte della Taranta Foundation and Grecìa Salentina. I am also very happy with this networking as already happened with the Taranta also for the Apulian craftsmanship the system making will lead to great results for the craft productions of excellence.

Hon. Claudio Stefanazzi: "This is a very long process that has lasted many years, which began with the will of a handful of women and men who invented 'identity as a cultural and economic asset and from that process we have arrived at this marvel. I believe that this path should be supported and relaunched because in this historical moment in which we live a general uncertainty it is important to recover the spirit of identity, to give those who visit Puglia a clear idea of what we are."

Valentina Vantaggiato Mayor of Melpignano: "Our security plan is now well established, this year we have added a change to improve even more the accessibility of the Concertone for over 150 thousand people. I hope that the event dedicated to women can be a flywheel and a voice to send a message against all violence."

POPULAR ORCHESTRA

The Popular Orchestra La Notte della Taranta is entrusted with the Artistic Direction of Concertone 2023. The Orchestra is composed of singers and tambourine players Consuelo Alfieri (also accordion) Alessandra Caiulo, Stefania Morciano, Enza Pagliara, Antonio Amato, Salvatore Cavallo Galeanda Giancarlo Paglialunga, and musicians Gianluca Longo (mandola), Peppo Grassi (mandolin), Attilio Turrisi (chitarra battente), Giuseppe Astore (violin) Roberto Chiga, Alessandro Chiga, Carlo Canaglia De Pascali (tambourine from Salento), Roberto Gemma (bellows), Nico Berardi (woodwinds), Leonardo Cordella (accordion), Alessandro Monteduro (percussion), Antonio Marra (drums), Mario Esposito (bass), and Gioele Nuzzo (tambourine and didgeridoo). For the August 26 Concertone, the Popular Orchestra staff will be joined by Apulian musicians with a wind section composed of Alessandro Dell'Anna, Giovanni Chirico, Gaetano Cristian Carrozzo, Giorgio Distante, and a string section composed of Domenico Zezza, Sabrina Pacucci, Pier Paolo Del Prete, Roberta Mazzotta, Luca Gorgoni (violin 1), Zita Mucsi, Alessio Chirizzi, Valentina Marra, Sofia Marra De Franco (violin2), Nicola Ciricugno, Armando Ciardo, Claudia Russo (viola), Mauro Fagiani, Elisa Pennica (cello).

BALLET COMPANY

The Corps de Ballet has been spreading the "pizzica" for years on the stages of national and international tours with engaging choreography on the songs performed by the Popular Orchestra. It consists of Mihaela Coluccia, Cristina Frassanito, Serena Pellegrino, Lucia Scarabino, Giorgia Carbone, Stefano Campagna, Andrea Caracuta, Fabrizio Nigro and Mattia Politi. Four professional dancers will join the corps de ballet on the concert stage: Veronika Maritati, Alessia Losavio, Maria Pia Taggio, and Filippo Grande. Choreography is entrusted to Francesca Romana Di Maio. Assistant choreographer Alessandra Cito from Salento.

STAGE SET DESIGN AND VISUALS

The structure is a first, as it is one of the most capable support structures in the world: 33 meters wide by 18 meters deep with a 24x20 roof capable of supporting 40 tons of weight. Same type of structure, again made of aluminum, was adopted as the solution for the repeater towers compared to the traditional multidirectional ferrous steel systems.

Essential scenography, with a design by Marco Calzavara, with 240sqm of video walls on which the graphic design of the visuals that will tell in images sounds and rhythms of the most awaited night of the Apulian summer will come to life.

The Notte della Taranta Foundation entrusted the task to internationally established Salento excellence: the Milan-based production company MaTi srl led by Angelo and Carolina Stamerra Grassi both from Salento who design shows and concerts all over the world. A team of graphic designers created the digital sets for the concert. Art direction Claudia Andreoli, artistic coordination: Carolina Stamerra Grassi. A narrative that follows the lyrics of the songs by seeking their identity in an interpretation of poetic images that recall the Apulian landscape, dreams, women, love, water and humanity.

SALENTINE COMPANIES FOR THE LOOK

The Salento tailoring art of Danamò will dress the female voices of the Popular Orchestra La Notte della Taranta. Daniela Amoruso, a well-established seamstress from Lecce, has been setting up a craft workshop for a few years now, but needle and thread is a family art that has been handed down and sews wefts of Salento history between past and present. Especially that linked to the world of art, dance and theater. Daniela Amoruso, who since she was a girl grew up in the family workshop where stage dresses were made, a historic reference for dance in the city of Lecce, has embarked on this adventure, this sartorial journey that will take her with her dresses to the stage of the Notte della Taranta. At the Melpignano Concertone on August 26, the voices of the Orchestra: Consuelo Alfieri, Alessandra Caiulo, Stefania Morciano, Enza Pagliara, will interpret songs from the traditions of Salento dressed in clothes that represent them but also the land they will sing, stresses Daniela Amoruso, who together with Anna Sabina Pastore is proceeding with the making of the clothes.

Wide skirts that evoke the gracefulness of pizzica skirts, the dresses will be all black and there will be no shortage of lace inserts. Because lace is a return to the past, a reworking of the precious lace that decorated occasion dresses in ancient times with a contemporary twist. Being in the contemporary by enhancing and remembering those details of timeless elegance. Each dress will be personalized because it is essential that they reflect the personality of the artists who will be on stage.

Fashion creator Daniela Amoruso and her Danamò tailoring workshop will also take care of all the stage costumes for the Taranta Ballet Corps.

And again craftsmanship of excellence, the art to embellish the look bears the signature of Gioielli futuroRemoto for the voices of the Orchestra of the 26th edition of La Notte della Taranta. The futuroRemoto Jewels, which Gianni De Benedittis designed are pieces in silver bathed in gold, sometimes finished with enamels of various colors, handmade with the embossing technique and the use of semiprecious stones and small branches of coral. Accessories designed to go along with the lightness of bodies dancing to the rhythm of music, employing original kinetic elements meant to express the dynamism of modern life and the spirited style of renewed freedom. As well as the bewitching hand-kisses, with bracelet and ring joined by a chain, inspired by the taste of the Orient; captivating colorful necklaces, often embellished with original pendants, consisting of real micro-sculptures and finally intriguing earrings with defined geometric lines. Dresses, jewelry and of course final touch for the artists to complete the look on stage: make up and hairstyles. For the fourth year in a row, well-established team Officina Paar ,consisting of 15 professionals: 7 make-up artists and 8 hair artists will take care of the look of the artists who will be on stage.

This is the team of professionals:For hairstyles Carla Marti, Nico Anglani, Angela lo Parco, Sabrina Giussani, Roberta Apos, Pasquale Santantonio, Stefano Spinetta, Claudia Di Canosa. For Makeup: Valentina Pagano, Chiara Longo, Noemi Vetrugno, Eleonora Cucurachi, Elena Giannuzzi, Francesca Canana', Deborah Andretta. The team, working for a long time in research to draw from the trends of the moment and propose them on the Concertone stage, will be inspired by a very natural hairlook, but at the same time bold and alternative. The hairstyles will therefore be essential, with almost tribal weaves, expertly shaped to bring a unique and original look to the stage. On the makeup front, warm earthy colors will be used, with a glossy and editorial effect, dark red for the mouth and then many surprises to enhance the beauty and characteristics of each artist and to create an effective look even on TV.

 LA NOTTE DELLA TARANTA is a cultural project supported by the Puglia Region and Puglia Promozione with Unione dei Comuni della Grecìa salentina and Istituto Diego Carpitella.

#taranta26  #weareinpuglia

APULIAN MUSICIANS AND DANCERS TO ENRICH TARANTA ORCHESTRA AND DANCE TROUPE

The great protagonist of the Melpignano Concert is the Popular Orchestra of La Notte della Taranta, which every year performs traditional Salento songs during the long night in Melpignano, also accompanying the guest artists called upon to reinterpret them. For the 2023 edition, the guest artists of the Resident Orchestra are Tananai, Brunori sas and Arisa, concert master Fiorella Mannoia.

The Popular Orchestra La Notte della Taranta is once again entrusted with the Artistic Direction of the 2023 edition of the Concert. The Orchestra consists of 21 elements: voices:

Consuelo Alfieri, Alessandra Caiulo, Stefania Morciano, Enza Pagliara, Antonio Amato, Salvatore Cavallo Galeanda, Giancarlo Paglialunga, and musicians Gianluca Longo (mandola) Peppo Grassi (mandolin) Attilio Turrisi (chitarra battente) Giuseppe Astore (violin) Roberto Chiga Alessandro Chiga, Carlo Canaglia De Pascali (tambourine from Salento) Roberto Gemma (bellows) Nico Berardi (wind instruments) Leonardo Cordella (accordion) Alessandro Monteduro (percussion) Antonio Marra (drums) Mario Esposito (bass) Gioele Nuzzo (tambourine and didgeridoo)

At the Melpignano Concertone, the Popular Orchestra will be joined by other musicians, all from Salento and Apulia: a wind section composed of Mihaela Coluccia, Cristina Frassanito, Serena Pellegrino, Lucia Scarabino, Giorgia Carbone, Stefano Campagna, Andrea Caracuta, , Fabrizio Nigro, Mattia Politi and Alessandro Tagliente. Four professional dancers will join the corps de ballet on the concert stage: Veronika Maritati, Alessia Losavio, Maria Pia Taggio and Filippo Grande. The choreographies are entrusted to Francesca Romana Di Maio. Assistant choreographer Alessandra Cito from Salento.

The dancers joining the dance troupe of La Notte della Taranta are all Apulian, as is the choreographer's assistant. A choice aimed at enhancing the professionalism of artists who have their roots in this land.

'This year we wanted to valorise artists and musicians from our land, choosing professionals who were trained in our conservatories and schools. The musicians, woodwind and string players and professional dancers will enrich our Popular Orchestra and our Corps de Ballet, giving together a pentagram of emotions and designing choreographies that we are sure will be unforgettable,' emphasises the president of the La Notte della Taranta Foundation, Massimo Manera.

AT THE MELPIGNANO PRECONCERTONE ON 26 AUGUST ROCCO BORLIZZI AND NIDI D'ARAC

The rhythms of tradition, the ever-present tambourine and popular music of Salento will accompany spectators arriving at the Melpignano Concertone from 8 p.m. onwards to attend the most eagerly awaited event of the summer and introduce them to the long, most eagerly awaited night.

At the Preconcertone there will be two groups taking to the imposing stage, among the most capable in the world, set up near the former Convento degli Agostiniani: the historic singer Rocco Borlizzi and the Nidi D'Arac.

The singer Rocco Borlizzi, in his long activity in the sphere of traditional music, has always been stimulated by the search for new musical experiences, generating encounters between sounds that could expand the musical horizons of the rhythms of popular music. With Rocco Borlizzi at the Preconcertone will be the musicians: Gianluca Milanese (transverse flute), Anna Maggio(harp), Vincenza De Rinaldis(vocals), Giacomo Contaldo (guitar), Vittorio Chittano (accordion), Sergio Pizza (frame drums), and Rocco Borlizzi - vocals.

The other popular music group that will be a guest at Preconcertone, a prelude to the long Night of Melpignano, are the Nidi D'Arac. The name is an anagram of "arachnids": a circular word, "nests of arachnids", where the nest is understood as the place of origin, birth and guards the most hidden and remote secrets of tradition. In Melpignano they will offer an unprecedented musical performance combining two different generations of musicians experimenting with traditional Salento music, and to celebrate their first 25 years of music they will host MUNDIAL on stage. The concert, played by the Nidi d'arac in unplugged with Alessandro Coppola (vocals and tambourine), Edoardo Targa (bass), Ylenia Giaffreda (violin), Julian Bellisario (drums), Matteo Cappella (guitar), will have electronic incursions by guests, the Salento band MUNDIAL (Carmine Tundo, Roberto Mangialardo, Alberto Manco). An unprecedented musical performance uniting two different generations of musicians experimenting with traditional Salento music.

200 volunteers from the Italian Red Cross and 8 medical staff including doctors and nurses from 118 to deal with emergencies during the Final Concert in Melpignano on 26 August. CRI volunteers and medical personnel are ready to assist spectators attending the 26th edition of the event and deal with emergencies. In the 'Health Camp' area of about 400 square metres, 25 beds are available for in-patients, and there are also two first- and second-level assistance stations. The technology used at the Melpignano Concert is advanced, specifies Dr. Maurizio Scardia, head of the 118 emergency services in the province of Lecce, an emergency structure that just this year celebrated 20 years of activity in the province (on 1 March). There will be defibrillators, the possibility of carrying out electrocardiograms with online reporting, and the technology used will be in continuous connection with the 118 emergency call centre. There will be a total of ambulances, including those belonging to the 118 emergency services and those of the Red Cross, stationed at strategic points in the concert area, and six itinerant teams in the audience, equipped with defibrillators, ready to intervene in case of need.

Everything is ready for the final Concertone finale in Melpignano directed by concertmaster Fiorella Mannoia. As always, the organisational machine is working at full speed to guarantee safety and services for the people who will attend the 26th edition of La Notte della Taranta. 1173 people including technicians, production services, security, porterage, cleaning, stage, dressing rooms, tailoring, hair and make-up, communication, internal staff, and traffic are at work to ensure that the impressive event takes place in complete safety.

The road network plan is in place: the buses that will reach the town of Melpignano must necessarily enter Melpignano in a southerly direction, entering on State Road 16 (near the industrial area). To avoid queues or traffic jams on the SS 16, vehicles arriving in Melpignano will not enter the parking areas directly, but will take a short route on a slip road in the industrial zone.

Since the only access allowed is from the south, buses arriving from Lecce near the Cursi junction will have to make a sort of U-turn to get back onto State Road 16. Parking for people with disabilities has been identified in a dedicated area: via Salento and some neighbouring streets near the Concertone stage. The camper van area has been placed near the sports field. Access is through the industrial area. Vehicular traffic will be prohibited from 16.00 on 25 August. Those arriving from the SS16 will have to use the car parks set up in the industrial area to reach the performance area only via Via Salento and Via dell'Annunziata.

Parkforfun.com S.r.l., a leading national innovative startup in the field of mobility and logistics for mass events, active in the field since 2017, has set up an ad hoc parking area in the vicinity of the event for the "La Notte della Taranta" Concert. The car park can be easily booked on the website www.parkforfun.com on the dedicated page https://www.parkforfun.com/it/events/place/melpignano. The car park is scheduled to open at 14:00 and access is allowed through three gates. Below is useful information for correct traffic flow and to limit traffic as much as possible.

- SOUTH gate (opening at 14:00, closing at 01:00)

Access: State Highway 16 Adriatica - exit industrial area at Autosat

- NORTH passage (opening at 14:00, closing at 20:00)

Access to gate: Statale 16 Adriatica - exit Melpignano industrial area

- WEST passage (opening at 14:00, closing at 23:00)

Access to gate: Maglie ring road

Access for heavy vehicles (camper vans, caravans, buses, minibuses) is only permitted from the South Gate.

Vehicles with trailers will not be allowed access.

It is strongly recommended to arrive at the parking areas well in advance, preferably before 18:30.

he organisational machine, set in motion many months ago, also provided for the presence of people with disabilities, to whom an ad hoc space was allocated. This is thanks to the partnership with 'L'Integrazione', a cooperative for services to the disabled, led by Veronica Calamo. To the cooperative, we owe the creation of the AbilFesta brand, the first national brand for event accessibility, born thanks to the experience and intuition of the operators coordinated by President Calamo to support event organisers in outlining some guidelines aimed at making an event accessible, to allow persons with disabilities to move independently from their families and, in case of need, to be supported by a qualified escort. At the "concertone", therefore, it will be possible to participate supported by qualified professional figures who will take care of accompanying people with disabilities directly to their assigned place: Social and Health Workers, educators, psychologist.

The services of Abil Festa will be at La Notte della Taranta will be.

Reserved parking spaces

Operator present in the concert area

Info Point and reception

Accessible toilets

Free wheelchair rental service

Assistance from operators during the event.

"We would like to thank the Fondazione Notte della Taranta," says the president of L'Integrazione, "for the trust placed in our AbilFesta brand and in what our cooperative has been able to offer in terms of support and services for years now. We have worked well and in harmony, they have trusted in our experience,' adds Veronica Calamo, 'and we are certain that this event can only give unforgettable emotions to those who will rely on the work of our operators.

To participate, please fill in the form https://forms.gle/u1QAdmxrRhqWiSsH8