Brussels – The expressive power of traditional music will tell the story of Celle San Vito’s deep-rooted identity in the heart of Europe. This small village in southern Italy, a Francoprovençal linguistic enclave, takes center stage in Brussels today during the international presentation of “Matria: The Languages of Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow.” The project, launched by the Puglia Region, aims to promote and preserve Italy’s historical linguistic minorities.
As part of the official Puglia Region program, a special musical performance will be held, curated by the La Notte della Taranta Foundation, and attended by regional president Michele Emiliano.
Leading the ensemble are musicians Nico Berardi (winds, guitar, and musical direction) and Roberto Gemma (accordion), alongside dancer Lucia Scarabino. They’ll be joined on stage by two young ambassadors from Celle San Vito – children Sveva Bolognone and Davide Riccio – accompanied by their mothers Virginia Carosielli and Mariangela Genovese, both singers themselves.
The group will perform two traditional pieces: Inno a Celle San Vito and Tarantate – the result of a research and reinterpretation project that involved children in rediscovering their ancestral language and culture.
The initiative extends far beyond the borders of Puglia. In recent weeks, similar workshops were held with children in Oulx, a Francoprovençal-speaking town in Piedmont. The journey will continue at the pre-concert event of La Notte della Taranta on August 23 in Melpignano, marking the third edition of Matria following previous focuses on the Griko and Arbëreshë languages in 2023 and 2024.