Read what the
New York Times
says about
Rhythm Is The Cure

"EARTH, SUN AND MOON"
Southern Italian Passionate Music

Featuring Guest Artists:
Percussionist GLEN VELEZ,
an internationally recognized master drummer,
composer and teacher of frame drum
& STEVE GORN,
virtuoso of Indian bansuri bamboo flute &
Soprano Saxophone

Original Music Composed by Music Director/Composer
JOHN LA BARBERA for the Company's Fold Opera:
"THE VOYAGE OF THE BLACK MADONNA,"
written by Alessandra Belloni, dedicated to Mother Earth,
& premiered at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine.

This new musical collaboration of I Giullari di Piazza with percussionist Glen Velez, flautist Steve Gorn and accordionist Charlie Giordano, features a powerful blend of traditional rhythms and instruments from various cultures including Greece, Turkey, North Africa, the Middle East, Celtic France and Spain whose influences blended with those of Southern Italy in such regions as Naples, Puglia, Sicily and Sardenia. Belloni, La Barbera and company have created an explosive cross-cultural potion that is equal parts ancient Mediterranean, and contemporary world music, whose roots go as far back as the nomadic Gypsies' travels from India to North Africa, and whose sound holds the fiery energy of a Mediterranean volcano!

Through the universal connection of music and dance, I Giullari di Piazza seeks to bring people together, creating a new sound of Italian Music combined with other ethnic traditions, making "EARTH, SUN AND MOON" a spiritual and joyous celebration.

The repertoire includes:
Southern Italian Ritual Tarantellas played with North African, Indian, Brazilian tambourines and frame drums, adding amazing variations to the rhythms, including new arrangements of:

"PIZZICA TARANTATA," a wild dance performed in Puglia as an exorcism to cure the mythical bite of the Tarantula.

"TARANTELLA ALLA MONTEMARANESE," danced in the streets of Montemarano (Campania) with masks and costumes during Carnival time.

"TAMMORRIATA," a very erotic dance from Naples, performed during the Feasts of the Black Madonna, by couples playing castanets, and accompanied by large frame drums and improvised singing.
Neapolitan Chants for the Black Madonna and for the SUN RISE played with Indian bansuri Bamboo flutes, original music by John La Barbera dedicated to Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love, Mother Earth and the Black Madonna of Sicily and Naples, rearranged for soprano saxophone and accordion, combined with traditional instruments such as "chitarra battente" (Renaissance guitar), Classical guitar, mandoloncello, mandolin, "quatro," (all played by John La Barbera), violin, harp, bass, ciaramella, bagpipe, oboe, recorders, flute, piccolo, tambourines and castanets.

The concert will be presented by seven musicians, directed by John La Barbera, and two singers: Alessandra Belloni, mezzo-soprano, Artistic Director/lead singer of I Giullari di Piazza, also playing the Southern Italian tambourines and performing the ritual dances, and Ivan Thomas, baritone, a wonderful opera singer who has toured Europe, North & South America, and has just made his debut at LA SCALA, in Milan.



What the reviewers say:

"The liturgical folk music of Il Viaggio Della Madonna Nera is smashing and sung splendidly by Alessandra Belloni-- Belloni's operatic love child is overall an evocative, woozy trip."
Pamela Renner, The Village Voice

"The music directed by John La Barbera is folkish aiming for vitality above precision and achieving both."
Jon Parales, The New York Times

"I Giullari Di Piazza. . . somehow manages to be both riotously entertaining and curiously haunting, even profound."
Alex Ross, The New York Times

"I doubt there are any more true theaters in New York. . . . Belloni is such a sexy and sure performer that her character remains the most sympathetic on stage. The momentum builds to a pitch thanks to the haunting and feverish score by John La Barbera. Those rhythms touch something deeper than the legend itself."
Robert Massa, The Village Voice

"Traditional elements mix with the newly composed ones, all converging by the end into a colorful, slapdash swirl."
Susanna Sloat, Attitude Magazine

"With its lyrical Renaissance guitar and recorder, riveting hoof rattles and pow wow drums, and the visual contrast of the choreography and costume, this artistic olive branch sends not only a message of healing, but makes a case for the celebration of our richly textured differences as well."
Wendy Y. Martens, Downtown Express

"Belloni's mezzo-soprano voice helps to portray a succession of Black Madonnas dating back a thousand years--primitive statues carved from ebony or some other dark wood--while La Barbera plays guitar and mandolin with other musicians on period instruments."
Frank Merkling, The New York Times

For further information on bookings and technical requirements you can contact:
Audrey Ross, Public Relations, (212) 586-3500 or Alessandra Belloni, Artistic Director, (212) 431-7179.
email at abelloni@aol.com