Libretto by Federico Berti.
Birth of the opera
It was a meeting with the singer/songwriter Federico Berti that led to the birth of an opera which, going to the root of popular theatre, unites in itself oral tradition and naïve orchestration, as if written without interruption.
The Messina competition suggested a story based on the locality of Messina (in particular the Strait of Messina), local personalities, the madonna of stone, the echo of the fishermen and the song of the sirens.
Here was an opportunity for a modern approach to a fairy tale, for the idea of the suspension bridge, discussed in all newspapers, can be traced to an ancient folklore tradition.
My composition (opera lirica) uses vocal soloists, two choirs of fishermen, and two of sirens (taped), often deployed as a double swing-choir.
I use many compositional techniques in the opera. These range from denatured string sound (serving to provide harmonic background), to liberal use of counterpoint (canon, fugue, etc.), Ligeti's concept of continuity and discontinuity, as well as cantabile effects from woodwind and brass (these being treated as if they were human voices), and, in the case of the old woman, the spoken word.
The harmonic idiom is based in large measure on Berg's concept of semitonal annulment I make much use of popular tunes, as well as timbres varying between great splashes of sound and delicate watercolours.
I have paid particular attention to the relationship between music and text, as did the madrigalists.
The magnetic tape (preparated electronics) adds a surreal and disturbing element to the expressive range; peruvian flutes provide drones that are heard in conjunction with chromatic melodic lines - these glissandi recall the laments of the dead sirens, as if their spirits could resurface from the depth of the sea.
Daniele Venturi
Brief summary
It is said that at a time and place unknown Sicily was on joined to the mainland by a bridge that rested on three pillars of stone, one of which burnt with lava from Etna, and was accordingly unstable.
The arrival of these pillars distracted the fishermen from their work, and caused the death of the Siren, said to live in the volcano's crater.
Colapisci, a popular figure, tells the king of the islanders' concerns, and warns him that the pillar could collapse into the sea.
The warning went unheeded. Il folletto was accused of plotting against the king, chased away and forced to take refuge in a sea-grotto.
Even today many wonder if he is dead or perhaps still waiting for the king's carriage to cross the bridge, hoping to gnaw at the column till it fell into the sea, leaving the king to burn in the eternal fire that flares at the bottom of the sea.
Fabiana Ciampi
