Saturday 9th Julyat 21, al Sanctuary of Montenero the research work on traditional sacred music will be presented “Ave Maris Stella, Mediterranean Confessions“. For the occasion, the funicular will remain in operation until 11 pm, so as to allow those who want to use the car park just before Piazza delle Carrozze to connect in an easy and characteristic way with the Piazza del Santuario.
The event, organized by the ViviMontenero Association with the patronage of the Municipality of Livorno and the Vescovado of Livorno, was born from an idea by Stefano Thrull who collected passages from tradition from Holy music of the Mediterranean countries and highlighted the similarities, making use of the collaboration of Maestro Roberto Sbolci who does not need any introduction. However, we are happy to remember that, with the Modo Antiquo ensemble, specialized in the Renaissance and Baroque repertoire, he received two nominations at the Grammy Awards; he won music composition competitions for films at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana with Ennio Morricone and his compositions have received international recognition.
The research of Maestro Sbolci and Thrull in the field of traditional sacred music starts from the study of the ex-votos of the Sanctuary of the Madonna delle Grazie, in particular those of the many sailors who over the centuries have escaped the dangers of the Mediterranean, and highlights the deep connection between sea, storms and spirituality, metaphors of the world, its evils and the search for salvation; these are the themes that animate the sacred music of tradition in every corner of the Mediterranean, dating back to distant times, from the 9th to the 17th century, and which, from Corsica to Sardinia, from Spain to Provence, echo in the words of popular songs sung by believers .
It is no coincidence that the selected songs will be interpreted not by professional singers but by fans of traditional singing, Sara Donnini And Stefano Thrullaccompanied by the guitar of Master Sbolci and assisted by the voices of Lara Gallo And Riccardo Taddei. The leitmotif of this musical journey is the imaginary inner dialogue between the captain of a brig and the sea, a maternal figure that gives life but at the same time torments and induces to reflect on oneself and on the spirit, on the infinity that the sea has always evokes. At the end of the path, a composition by Maestro Sbolci will be performed inspired by the ex-votos of the Sanctuary of Montenero from which this sort of confession is born and ideally closed in the light, physical and spiritual, of the Mediterranean Sea. Light that pours out in both its connotations also in the beautiful flyer edited by way of friendship by the well-known Livorno-based graphic designer and cartoonist Capras, born Stefano Caprina.
The ViviMontenero Association invites citizens to participate in this event, the result of the refined research of two dear Montenerese friends and represented in the symbolic place of Montenero, the Sanctuary, from which the idea was developed and to which it returns on Saturday.
“Ave Maris Stella”, Saturday 9 July sacred songs at the Sanctuary of Montenero