MITO Settembre Musica 2010

This year’s festival includes over 200 events, most of which are free, at more than 100 different locations: an artistic offer covering the whole range of musical styles, from classical to jazz, symphonic to folk-rock, pop and ethnic.

Each day, for 21 days, music lovers can choose from a rich series of concerts and at different locations selected from among the most beautiful and culturally representative of the two cities. The Festival will also stage important events beyond the cities, thanks to an increasing commitment of the territory of the two regions.

Once again this, the fourth, edition of MITO Settembre Musica has put together an exceptional programme that maintains the standards set in the past. Of particular note this year:

- The bicentenaries of Chopin and Schumann will be remembered for one hour each day with 40 recitals in the two cities. The pianists involved will be free to play their favourite pieces in tribute to music that for two centuries has moved and excited the hearts and minds of audiences everywhere.

- Part of this year’s Festival is dedicated to contemporary German music. A homage to Germany that can be summarised by the formula “German Music Today‘ with a dual portrait of the work of Helmut Lachenmann and Wolfgang Rihm. Two generation, face to face, in concerts by the Ensemble Modern, the Hilliard Ensemble, the RAI National Symphony Orchestra and the Community Symphony Orchestra of Madrid.

- The “guest‘ country of MITO 2010 is Turkey, a natural crossroads between Europe, Asia and Africa, where - over the centuries - peoples and cultures have met and exchanged ideas. MITO selected the wonderful musical traditions of this magical and contradictory country and will feature a range of films, shows for children and concerts of different kinds (contemporary music, pop and rock), all part of the big FocusTurkey project.

 The Programme (only italian version) (1,650 Kb)

As part of the MITO Settembre Musica 2010 Festival, Eni is the main partner of the "African Day" event, which was held on 13 September 2010 in Milano, at the Elfo Puccini Theatre: a homage to Africa, its peoples, cultures, and its music.

Africa is a continent in which Eni operates by establishing deep and lasting relationships with its stakeholders and contributing to sustainable development projects of a social and economic nature.

The day has been dedicated to three concerts by African artists: Anour Brahem –Tunisian musician, Tony Allen –Nigerian drummer, Idir –Algerian singer

Anouar Brahem is a representative of the profound and complex transformations in Arab culture and the originality of his music defies labels. A specialist on the oud, a sort of Arabic lute, he was trained at the National Conservatory of Music in Tunis, where at the age of 15 Brahem became a regular member of local orchestras and developed a broad knowledge of the styles, subtleties and secrets of classical Arabic music. Today Brahem has expanded his field of interest to include other musical expressions ranging from the Mediterranean to Iran and India. This artistic development, from jazz to world music, bear witness to a total freedom of expression and thought.

Tony Allen, widely considered the father of Afrobeat, the rhythmic pulse of 1970s Africa, will take the stage. With his funky-jazz sound, he is one of the most imaginative assemblers of tribal and hypnotic African rhythms.

Idir, is famous for the quality of his voice and an ability to keep the language and culture of the Cabilia alive and for the cross-fertilisation with other cultures, thanks to his many international projects and collaborations. Since 1974, when the Berbero party was defeated, the most well established Cabilo singers had their right to perform withdrawn. Idir moved to France, where he recorded a number of albums. Far from his home country, this great supporter of Berber culture continues his battle using only music and poetry as his weapons. His fame derives mainly from his debut, A vava inouva, which has been translated into many languages.