1996 - "CULTURE OF THE SEAS"

BARI- Mousik�, the Art of Muses

For a short but significant time Bari was even the capital of an Arab emirate. The subsequent Norman domination, followed by the rule of Suevians, Angevins, Aragoneses, Spaniards and French, and the costant trade and contact with all other Mediterranean civilizations have been important premises for the development of initiatives (such as the famous Bari Trade and Industrial Fair and the next Mediterranean Games which will take place in Bari in 1997) which still today offer new chances for a rich cultural exchange. Furthermore, Bari is the seat of Comunit� delle Universit� del Mediterraneo (the Community of the Universities of the Mediterranean Area).
The Mousik� Festival was set up for the first time in 1995 as a side-project of the Bari Mediterranean Games mentioned above and is one of the very few international festivals which are totally devoted to the ancient musics of the Mediterranean area.
The programme of this year (1996) has been drawn up with the aim of presenting an ideal and unusual route through Reinaissance and Baroque and includes a series of performances which will be carried out in Bari and in some other suggestive historical towns of Bari's province (such as Bitonto, Castel del Monte, Molfetta, Trani) from 1st to 30th June. Among the performances it is just enough to mention the concert of ancient Greek musics interpreted by the "Antonio Il Verso" ensemble of Palermo and the premi�re of the first modern execution of one of the very first Neapolitan works, Stellidaura vendicante by Francesco Provenzale (1674).
Granteatrino of Bari will be responsible for the scenery of the latter, which will also see the participation of the ancient musical instruments ensemble of Neapel "Cappella della Piet� dei Turchini" conducted by Antonio Florio (for this work a coproduction with Siracuse Festival has been proposed).
The Symphonic Orchestra of the Province of Bari, in particular, will present a special programme based on three different aspects of the Mediterranean culture and including some noteworthy parts of the Retablo by De Falla presented both at Sassari Festival and at Pescara Festival.
All collateral initiatives of the project enhance the considerable cultural level of the festival itself and its declared aim of laying the foundations for an international cooperation on a scientific basis.
The programme foresees the preparation of an archeological and iconographical exhibition on "Musicians in Apulian vase paintings" and the organization of an international study congress on "Musicians in the Mediterranean Area. History and Anthropology" which will see the participation of 40 experts from 12 different countries. All performances will take place in ideal seats - such as the historical centre of Apulian towns and cities and in particular the Castello Svevo (Suevian Castle), the cloister of Santa Maria and the Vallisa Church (a masterpiece of the XI century) in Bari.
The Centro Studi Arti dello Spettacolo nel Mediterraneo Mousik� (a Centre for the Study of Performing Arts in the Mediterranean Area) is responsible for the organization of all initiatives on behalf of the Administrative Body of the Province of Bari, the official promoter of the festival together with the City of Bari. The Centre intends to turn the Festival into a prestigious international annual date and a reference point for the whole musical research in the field by fostering its own research centre located in the Conservatory of Bari.

Promoted by the Administrative Bodies of the Province of Bari in cooperation with the City of Bari
Organization: Mousik�, Centro Studi Arti dello Spettacolo nel Mediterraneo

All initiatives will take place between 31st May - 30th June 1996