A refined design of lights, an orchestra, then again percussion, guitars, piano and accordion.

Mario Incudine, actor, singer and storyteller, conquered the audience of the Teatro Lirico di Cagliari last night at the national premiere of the new orchestral version of "Mimì. From south to south on the notes of Domenico Modugno".

A co-production of the Opera and Jazz Theater in Sardinia, which made its debut in Cagliari amid long applause and ovations.

A song theater show, in the wake of the Sicilian "cunto" tradition, between songs and stories, in a continuous interaction with the spectators.

Conceived by Incudine, with lyrics by Sabrina Petix and directed by Moni Ovadia and Giuseppe Cutino, the show kicked off the four days of the European Jazz Expo which brings the likes of John Scofield, Dave Holland, Avishai Cohen, Chano to the stage. Dominguez, Antonio Lizana, Emmet Cohen.

At the helm of the Orchestra del Lirico, Valter Sivilotti has created a score with arrangements designed to emphasize the magic and recreate the atmosphere of unforgettable songs.

"An unpublished Modugno emerges, little known - explains Mario Incudine - that of his first repertoire, linked to Sicily, which perhaps for the first time is presented in an organic way".

Here among the many Minaturi, Lu frasulinu, Chicory, Sciccareddu mbriacu, La donna riccia, Lu pisci spada. Then the encore, for a tribute to Domenico Modugno with his great successes. Starting from the highly anticipated "Volare", whose notes have been proposed "a cappella" and at the end in an instrumental version. But before that, a moment of magic for two other intense interpretations: "God as I love you" and "The man in tails".

At the end of the show a very long applause, a tribute to Mario Incudine and to the great Modugno, "a universal voice that, starting from the story of his south, with its popular traditions, has 'flown' beyond all borders", Moni Ovadia emphasized.

This evening he repeats it at 7 pm.

(Unioneonline / vl)