ARAB-APPALACHIAN FUSION MUSIC CONCERTS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 FLORENCE 000027

SIPDIS

ECA FOR ROMANOWSKI, SCHUMAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OEXC OPRC SCUL EUN
SUBJECT: ARAB-APPALACHIAN FUSION MUSIC CONCERTS


1. On the first week of March 2006, the U.S. Consulate
General in Florence organized three fusion music concerts in
Colle Val D'Elsa (Siena),Bologna and Modena, targeting local
Muslim communities, high school and university students,
authorities and representatives from local community
institutions. The group named "kantara", composed of four young
American talents and three renowned Tunisian artists, started
its first-ever tournee' in Italy in front of large appreciative
audiences. Kantara is the name of the enlarged "Le Minaret et La
Tour" group, which performed in Florence and Colle Val D'Elsa in
November 2005. The past success of this unusual blend of
Arabic-Appalachian music convinced the Consulate in Florence to
request the Department of State's support for a new performing
arts project targeting, principally but not exclusively, the
Muslim communities residing in the rest of the consular
district.


2. The concert in Colle Val D'Elsa had been organized for the
second time in light of continuous requests by the local
government, eager to repeat the November success and to
co-sponsor a cultural initiative favoring integration between
the moderate Muslims and the citizens of Colle. The performance
took place on March 3, at the S. Agostino Theater, before almost
300 people, mostly young Muslims and high school students, but
also local authorities and common citizens from neighboring
towns. In the words of the mayor, this event is a step forward
to "fight ignorance" and a means "to support the knowledge of
different cultures" on the path to "dialogue and integration,
based on values like civilization, solidarity and democracy". In
his speech Imam Jabareen, who actively contributed to the
initiative, reminded the audience that for those who wish a
mutual and better understanding through dialogue "no effort is
small, no commitment is useless". Finally, the hosting Catholic
priest, Father Daniele welcomed the concert as the best evidence
that, notwithstanding what the Italian media say, there is no
clash of civilizations.


3. The concert in Bologna, the first Florence PA event in the
city in years, took place in the prestigious Fifteenth Century
Farnese Chapel, one of the most sought-after venues for public
events, inside the ancient Town Hall. About 200 people attended
the concert, presented by CG Dempsey and by the chairperson of
the Interdepartmental Center for Islamic Studies of the
University of Bologna, who gave welcome remarks in Arabic and
FARSI for the members and students of the Islamic community.
Among the audience, there were also the director of the
conservatory, several academicians, the president of the City
Council and representatives of the business and cultural
institutions. The chapel was standing room only. Some students
who wanted to listen to the concert in spite of the lack of
available seats, agreed to sit on the floor. This performance
has been a result of an enthusiastic support of the local
institutions, namely the Town Hall, the University of Bologna/
University of Denver, and the "Luciano Finelli" cultural
institution. This cooperation went beyond the Consulate's
expectations, and paves the way to future new PD projects.


4. The third and final concert was held on March 5 in Modena,
at the headquarters of Rossini Chorale, a musical institution of
renown in the region, which includes Luciano Pavarotti among its
members. Together with CG Dempsey, the performance was
introduced by the President of the Chorale and by the mayor of
the city. Even in this last concert the room, with 170 seats,
was full, with such an enthusiastic audience that the musicians
had to play two encores. PA office is already receiving calls
from Modena by citizens who did not attend the event but heard
about the beauty of the music and are interested in obtaining a
recording or CD of the group.


5. The performances have been widely covered by local press,
which stressed the beauty of the new sound of the
Arab-Appalachian music and the message underlying the strength
of the intercultural dialogue. The music has been described
as"magic, surrounding atmosphere where the Arab and American
cultures merge to grow together and explore new, undiscovered
paths, at the same time delivering a message of peace" (il Resto
del Carlino - Bologna). Headlines: "American and Islamic beauty
in concert" (Il Corriere di Siena); "Fusion Music brings
together United States and Islam" (Il Cittadino Oggi); "Success
of the Kantara Group: the musicians who build the dialogue
between the United States and Islam" (Metropoly Day); "An event
to support dialogue among peoples through the music"
(Sienanews.it); "Two cultures, one music" (Il Resto del Carlino
- Bologna). Other articles appeared on La Nazione, L'Unita'-
Firenze, Valdelsa.net, Il Resto del Carlino - Modena, and
Gazzetta di Modena.


6. The Florence Consulate effectively reached out to not only
the local Muslim communities throughout the district, but also
to Italian citizens and local cultural and political
institutions. Best of all, the initiative appears to have
raised awareness among the citizens and authorities of the three
cities of the need to explore new ways to approach a dialogue
with the Islamic community as well as to get to know the Islamic
culture. The consulate staff has been impressed by the number
of request for CDs and enquiries about the possibility to repeat
the performances in the future.
DEMPSEY