Tribute concert to Franco Battiato
The Italian Cultural Institute in Sydney and Co.As.It. Sydney, under the artistic direction of Chisari (stage name of Maurizio Chisari), are proud to present Universi Paralleli – a tribute concert to legendary Italian singer-songwriter Franco Battiato.
The concert, whose idea was conceived by Lillo Guarneri – Director of the Italian Cultural Institute, will be held at the Auditorium of the Italian Forum Cultural Centre in Leichhardt on Friday 20 May 2022, just few days after the first anniversary of his death and it will mark the first international tribute dedicated to Battiato outside of Italy.
This very special evening will be a journey through the songs and the thoughts of one of the most innovative artists who changed the history of Italian music.
Italian singer-songwriter Chisari, who shares his Sicilian origins with Battiato, will perform a repertoire of his most iconic songs accompanied by an ensemble of string quartet, piano and guitars.
Franco Battiato was born in 1945 in Riposto in the province of Catania, Sicily. He was an Italian singer-songwriter, composer and
filmmaker.
Battiato’s songs contain esoteric, philosophical and religious themes, as well as tackling universal themes about the human condition. They have spanned genres such as experimental pop, electronic music, progressive rock, opera, symphonic music, movie soundtrack and new wave. This versatility have earned him a unique spot on Italy’s music scene and an established international success.
His massive mainstream success arrived very suddenly in the early 80’s with the record “La Voce del Padrone.” This record introduced sounds and styles never heard before in Italian music, such as a classic sense merged with a futuristic ambiance.
In Battiato’s work, the listener takes part in a journey around the world. After his first hit, he produced another, “L’Arca di Noe’ “, (Noah’s Ark), in which he searched for new, unknown sounds from faraway lands. This second success gave him power and total freedom to start experimenting.
Battiato continued with his music, balanced between pop and electronic, until 2010. He held his last concert in Catania in 2017. At the end of 2019, he announced his definitive retirement from the scene.
Battiato died on 18 May 2021, at his home in Milo, Catania.
Chisari is a Sicilian singer-songwriter born in Catania in 1983. Chisari participated in various Italian music competitions and won the prestigious “Area Sanremo” in 2011, together with Stefano Cherchi with their song “Confini” and the renowned song writing competition “Genoa for you” in 2016, which lead him to become an author for Universal Music Publishing for a year.
In 2016 Chisari released his first album entitled “Due” and he spent the following two years touring over 30 major Italian cities to present the album.
In 2018 Chisari, accompanied by an international band, performed in the “Music in miniature” live shows, a tour of the smallest and most beautiful historical theatres around 10 regions of Italy.
In July 2019 Chisari moved to Sydney where he currently lives and composes his music.
A few months after his arrival, he met the Australian mandoloncellist and guitarist of Sicilian origins Luke Wright, who will be also performing at the concert. This meeting resulted in a change of musical direction.
On April 2021, Chisari released his new single “La Jaggia”, followed by the album “D’amuri e raggia”. The project, entirely in Sicilian, is the result of experimental research done in Australia by Maurizio and Luke.
The Ensemble
Yaan Pallandi: Piano | Strings and piano arrangements
String Quartet: Beatrice Colombis, Lerida Delbridge, Dana Lee, Eliza Sdraulig
Luke Wright: Mandoloncello, Guitars
Entrance with fee: $10.00 members / $20.00 non-members (IIC members and students will receive the discount code in a separate email)
Limited seats – Booking essential: HERE