Experience Sicily

Category: Music

  • Italy’s Maestro is Sicilian 

    Many famous artists and musicians hail from Sicily, and Franco Battiato (photographed during a TV special I watched in May) is perhaps the most famous one from his generation. He was born in Riposto, a seaside town between Catania and Taormina, in 1945. Known as “Il Maestro,” or The Master, he is a performing songwriter,…

  • Join Us in NYC this Tuesday 

    For those of you in the New York City area, please join us for Experience Sicily with Villa Palagonia, Tues., Aug. 30 at 6:30 PM at the Italian American Museum, 155 Mulberry St, New York, NY 10013, $10 Donation. Reservations are encouraged, as space is limited. RSVP, ItalianAmericanMuseum@gmail.com.  Multifaceted guitarist Joe Ravo and multi-instrumentalist and singer…

  • The Most Awesome Day: Taranta Sicily Fest

    If I could dream up the most awesome day, this would be it: August 20 in Scicli, the The Taranta Sicily Fest: A Tarantella music and dance festival in Sicily!!!! And the headliner is one of my favorite Italian artists and the leader of the Taranta Power movement: Eugenio Bennato. I mean, seriously. My two…

  • Theater to the Maximum: Teatro Massimo

    After Paris and Vienna, Teatro Massimo is the third largest opera house in Europe (in terms of surface area), and the largest in Italy. Construction of the Giovanni Battista Basile neoclassical design started in 1875 and was completed in 1897 by his son Ernesto. When inside, it feels intimate and elegant. The acoustics are said…

  • There Will Be Jousting

    Speaking of Lords and Ladies, this weekend head to Piazza Armerina for the annual Medieval Festival featuring period music, dance, jousting, and a Palio (horse race)! The citizens of Piazza Armerina don’t fool around–from 12-14 August, the entire town recalls the 11th century, dressing, eating, entertaining, and sporting in the style of the citizens during…

  • Friscalettu: Sicily’s Reed Flute

    Sicilian music is punctuated with the sounds of the friscalettu or reed flute, pictured. Traditional tarantellas (folk dances) are colored with motives from this instrument, often hand carved by the player using the wood from fig or olive trees or the oleander shrub. Like the harmonica, a friscalettu (friscaletto, in Italian language versus Sicilian) player…

  • Ortigia Sound System

    Going on now through 31 July in Ortigia (Where the Piazza del Duomo pictured is located.) is the 3rd annual Ortigia Sound System, a music, design, and culture festival. Contemporary bands and DJs take to the streets, boats, and pop-up concert venues to push boundaries of modern music and entertainment. Designers host workshops about building…

  • La La La Le Ru

    Villa Palagonia, my music duo named after the estate in Bagheria, is hitting the road this weekend. We’re performing on Sunday at the Woodstock Folk Festival in Woodstock, IL.  See you in the square from 12 noon to 6 PM! We’re on at 3:30 PM. Bring your dancing shoes for some Sicilian tarantella! Please invite…

  • The “Tormented” Spasimo

    Located in the historic Kalsa district, the roof-less Chiesa di Santa Maria dello Spasimo, commonly known as “Lo Spasimo,” was once a church, tracing its inception to 1509. There is doubt however, that it was actually ever considered finished. Throughout its history, the building’s walls have served as a hospital and shelter to the poor.…