Al Qantarah
Biography Al Qantarah
Al Qantarah
The ensemble Al Qantarah was created in 1990 to develop a project on Sicilian music, based on the comparison between the medieval repertoire and the oral tradition still alive, and which also includes Arabian and Middle Eastern Music repertoires. The musician of Al Qantarah have considerable experience not only as musician but also musicologists and teachers. They are members of important medieval and ethnic music groups, with whom they have performed both in Italy and abroad, recorded numerous CDs and performed on radio and television.
From 1992 Al Qantarah have performed on tour in Italy and abroad (Germany, Austria, France, Croatia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Morocco, United States, Australia).
In September 1999 the group was invited to give concerts and conferences at the prestigious Wellesley College (Massachussets, USA); in April 2003 Al Qantarah took part in Ten Days on the Island Festival (Tasmania – Australia).
In July 2003 Al Qantarah staged the play Lapilli in collaboration with the actor Leo Gullotta (performed in Rome, Ercolano, Terni, Nora Pula, Cento)
In August 2004 the group performed in the 5th International Festival of Volubilis (Morocco). In the same year Al Qantarah performed on a concert tour in the Baltic countries and took part in Dvigrad Festival (Croazia)
In 1999 Al Qantarah recorded for the italian label Fonè the CD Abballati, abballati – Songs and sounds of medieval Sicily
In 2006 the italian label Promo Music produced the CD Troparium de Catania – Feasts and songs of Norman Sicily
In 2007 Al Qantarah staged the play Amicu di cento anni conosciutu ora in collaboration with the actor Moni Ovadia, celebrating the sicilian poet Ignazio Buttitta (performed in Gibellina, Orestiadi)
