Exercises for Voice and Cello
on Divine Comedy by Dante
voice Chiara Guidi
cello Francesco Guerri
sound Andrea Scardovi
organization Elena de Pascale
in dialogue with Simona Barducci, Cristina Ventrucci
production Societas
photo Nicolò Cecchella
Dante’s words are full of sound even before they are understood. They do not need the sound of a voice, nor, even less, a cello.
Any sound that accompanies them is destined to fail, because to verses by Dante no score can be written.
And yet, between the voice and Dante, a space is always created.
Here, then, is where we decided to practice, to put the cello and the human voice to the test.
To transform them.
One after the other, we will make our way through all of the cantos, and taking one step at a time
they will be our school.
We will need time.
Upon entering Purgatory, our research changed with respect to our work on Inferno.
In the first cantica, the solo voice, in its torment, gives body to the souls of the damned. Here, instead, while ruminating on the words of the second cantica, we felt the need for a poetic chorus. With its presence, it would act as a backdrop against which other voices would emerge, those inclined towards intimacy and confession.
In May 2018, we staged the 5th canto of Dante’s Purgatorio in the Sant’Anna prison in Modena, with a poetic “chorus” made up of a few inmates. In January 2019, in Cesena, we looked for this chorus in a school.
Each show is made up of five Cantos.
HELL
Canto I, Proem
Canto II, Dante’s doubts
Canto III, Ante-Inferno
Canto V, Circle II: Paolo and Francesca
Canto VI, Circle III: Ciacco
Canto VII, Circle IV and V: Plutus
Canto XII, Circle VII: Flegetonte
Canto XIII, Circle VII: Pier della Vigna
Canto XXVI, Circle VIII: Ulysses
Canto XXXIII, Circle IX: Ugolino
Canto XXXIV, Circle IX: Lucifer
PURGATORY
Canto I, Proem
Canto V, Ante-Purgatory: second ledge
Canto XV, second and third terrace: the envious and the wrathful
Under preparation
HELL
Canto XVII, Circle VII: Gerione
Canto XVIII, Circle VIII: Malebolge
Canto XIX, Circle VIII: Malebolge
PURGATORY
Canto II, Ante-Purgatory: Casella
PARADISE
Canto I, Proem
For an audience of teens and adults.
Duration 75 minutes.