We enjoyed a beautiful concert in Auckland on Saturday 9 November. Grazie Tenores di Neoneli for bringing a taste of Sardinian music and culture to New Zealand
Here is the review by our Dante member Wendy Garvey
The concert Isulas (Isole) presented by Tenores di Neoneli was a wonderful insight into the ancient musical traditions of Sardinia.
The singers, four men - a soloist and a chorus of three - were incredible in how they held their notes, using their voices as a musical instrument. In addition, the three female dancers, dressed in traditional costumes, moved as one with complete control and their staccato foot movements further adding to the rhythm of the music.
A unique wind instrument, the Launeddas (sometimes referred to as the Sardinian clarinet), which consists of 3 canes (pipes) of different lengths and tonality. Each pipe has an individual reed, with one pipe functioning as a drone, while the other two provided the melody. The launeddas is played with the wind instrument technique where the mouth acts as bellows. The sound balances with the male voices and the staccato tapping of the dancers feet movements.
An impromptu improvisation on the flute by Luca Manghi, in the musical style of the performance was a special bonus.
The entire performance was fascinating and captivating, a magical experience of an ancient cultural expression.
You can watch a clip of Luca Manghi joining in with musicians Matteo Muscas and Samuele Meloni. The dancers are Francesca Cau, Silvia Deidda, and Angela Fais.
Photos and video by Gianni Flego
