After 16 years of absence, the historic Festa dei Quattro Altari finally returns to Torre del Greco, strongly desired by the municipal administration led by Mayor Luigi Mennella. This centuries-old celebration, which unites tradition, art and culture, is back with a rich and varied program, bringing the ancient traditions of the city back to center stage.
“How can we not be moved by our traditions, by the many memories we have had since we were kids?” declared the mayor Luigi Mennella. “We imagined a new Festival when no one believed in it. I have to thank all the artists who participated: we place Greek's tower at the center of culture, at the center of Campania, we bring our traditions to the knowledge of all the others. Our intention is to bring as many people as possible from outside the city. I have been receiving many phone calls for some time now, even from fellow citizens who no longer live here. It was wonderful to receive testimonials even from Little Italy, in America, they wanted to know the dates to join us and experience with us the return of this extraordinary experience.”
This year's Feast of the Four Altars is structured around four main themes: Corpus Christi, Identity, Tradition and Baronial Redemption. “These themes also characterise the broad programme of events,” explains artistic director Gigi Di Luca. “The celebration is joy, sharing, it is a new beginning of participation. In every sound, word, gesture, sign, color, embrace, there is a going and a returning. There is a journey of emotions that inevitably and fortunately leads us to reflect on the Body of Christ, on social redemption, on new identities, on the value of tradition and on peace and brotherhood.”
The Festival program, which began in May with activities in schools, will unfold through alleys, squares, historic buildings and the municipal villa. The event will include concerts, theatrical performances, aerial actions with stilts and fires, dance, tableaux vivants, musical bands, street parades, street artists, conferences, exhibitions and much more. A special tribute will be dedicated to the maestro and set designer Raffaele De Maio, who recently passed away, with exhibition panels in Via Roma.
The Altars and Carpets of colored sawdust, true symbols of the festival, will once again be protagonists. The Altars will be placed in Piazza Luigi Palomba, Piazza Santa Croce, in the external area of the Palazzo Baroniale and in Corso Garibaldi, created by the masters Alfonso Raiola, Filippo Romito, Antonino Ammendola and Francesco Scognamiglio. The Carpets of colored sawdust will be exhibited at the Church of San Filippo Neri, the Church of San Michele, the Church of the Santissimo Rosario and the Palazzo Baroniale, works by Raffaele Panariello, Antonio Caso, Vincenzo Borrelli and Sergio Eco.
This year, the Festival will also host a delegation from Barcelona, which will create a personalized installation of the Catalan Corpus Christi. Ample space will be given to local productions and territorial artistic realities, inviting young musicians, amateur theater companies and professional artists from Torre del Greco to propose original texts inspired by the four thematic points of this edition.
The Festival will open on Friday, July 19th at 19:30 pm at Palazzo Vallelonga with “Il Riscatto Baronale”, a musical theatrical reading based on the text by Gennaro Vitiello. On Sunday, July 21st, three amateur theatre companies from Torre del Greco will perform the Festival on stage in various parts of the city. Also on Sunday 21st, in the Villa Comunale, the saxophonist Daniele Sepe will present his show “Sepè Le Mokò”, followed by Ambrogio Sparagna with “I Canti del Corpo d'Amore”.
The musical program includes the concert of the Banda Cittadina – I Corallini on Friday, July 19th, followed by the Forum Young Festival. At 22 pm, in via Comizi, there will be a concert by Max Gazzé with the Calabria Orchestra. On Saturday, July 20th, at 22 pm, Enzo Avitabile & i Bottari di Portico will perform in via Comizi, preceded by the meeting “Meglio 'na tammurriata che 'na guerra”. On Sunday, July 21st, at 22 pm, it will be the turn of the live La Maschera, while the traditional fireworks at the port will close the great Festival.
Article published on 15 July 2024 - 10:24
