We are all familiar with the Italian song “Bella Ciao”, dedicated to the partisans of the Italian resistance against fascism and Nazism during World War II. The song is based on a folk tune from the late 19th century, sung by female workers in northern Italy’s rice fields as a protest against harsh working conditions. It has been heard in various adaptations, such as those by Tom Waits and Marc Ribot. However, many are unaware that for the past decade, there has also been a musical group named Bella Ciao, comprising some of the most renowned Italian singers and musicians from Tuscany and Umbria, Sardinia, and Apulia.
FOR FANS OF: Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino, Marc Ribot, Trieste Pinko Tomažič Partisan Choir
Bella Ciao je lekcija demokracije, ki izvira neposredno iz ljudi, zgodovinska pripoved, ki se razpleta skozi glasbo, zvoke in besede. Program v živo je mešanica obeh albumov, izvajajo pa ga nekateri najboljši glasovi italijanskega družbenega in političnega petja zadnjih 30 let.
The seven-member ensemble Bella Ciao is anchored by Riccardo Tesi, Elena Ledda (who performed with Suonoficcina at the very first Druga Godba festival in 1985), Nando Citarella, and Maurizio Geri. Bella Ciao’s concert programme is almost as famous as the song itself: in 1964, it was the sensation of the Spoleto Festival, becoming the catalyst and foundation of the Italian folk revival. As a musical portrait of the Italian people, it tells another story of Italy – one of love and labour, faith and celebrations, protests and resistance.
In 2015, Riccardo Tesi and his ensemble achieved surprising success with the anniversary album Bella Ciao, which has since been performed on numerous concert and festival stages across Europe. Today, the old partisan and workers’ songs not only retain their full expressive power but have gained renewed relevance in our globalised world for their values of freedom, peace, and civil rights.
On their second album, A Sud di Bella Ciao, the group revels in the languages and dialects of their homeland, exploring its landscapes and melodies. This time, their musical journey focuses on southern Italy, with all its contradictions – from the lyrical poetry of love ballads to the tarantella and the raw energy of protest songs, both old and new. They focus on a long-forgotten treasure trove, where history blends with magic and legend, where ritual elevates the rural world, and where sensuality meets hardship.
Bella Ciao is a lesson in democracy, emerging directly from the people – a historical narrative that unfolds through music, sounds, and words. The live programme is a mix of both albums, performed by some of the finest voices in Italian social and political singing from the past 30 years.
Line-up:
Elena Ledda, vocals; Gabriella Aiello, vocals; Ginevra di Marco, vocals; Nando Citarella, vocals, tambourine; Maurizio Geri, vocals, guitar; Andrea Ruggieri, drums, percussion; Riccardo Tesi, accordion, musical direction
Supported by the Italian Cultural Institute in Ljubljana.
Organization: Kino Šiška in collaboration with Domingo Productions (Bogdan Benigar).
