A summer of wine and song.

COVER STORY: Despite a tourism crisis felt throughout the region, this year's arts festivals offer a range and diversity never before seen in Tuscany.| by staff writer

Posted August 1, 2008

Crete Senesi '08


Wayne Shorter, the Chieftains, Paolo Conti and Andrea Boccelli were the big ticket items in a season of outdoor/special venue entertainment that made the Val d'Orcia feel like one big performance space, this summer.

While the usual suspects, chamber music and opera, were to be found in virtually every town, what differentiated this year's season and will hopefully be the bellweather for future years was the diversity of offerings in all genres: jazz, blues, bebop, rock, narrative, improvisation, big band, gospel and so much more.

Here are a few highlights:

The unique and powerful architecture of the Fortezza became the stage and backdrop for the Montalcino Jazz & Wine Concerts: eight nights of Italian and international performers including Mike Stern and the YellowJackets and Bassinstinct. Under a starry sky, atop one of Tuscany's tallest hills and under the shadow of the medieval fortress, this was no picnic . . . literally! Tables, chairs and waiters ensured listeners were able to enjoy not only the music and ambience but also Montalcino's crown jewel: the Brunello.

THE DURGAS. photo: Mark Abouzeid

International recording artists, The Durgas, performed two concerts in Montisi as part of the festivities for the Giostra di Simone. The first, a live show 'delivering high-energy rock/blues/pop with blends of raggae, African and Eastern European folk' took place under the stars amid the Crete Senese. The second was a much more intimate indoor 'unplugged' setting; the unplugged refering to the lack of lighting and ventillation, I believe.

Despite the stiffling heat, this second performance was without question one of the summer's highlights. With Nora Mertens adding her talent and beauty on bass, this was a unique opportunity that left the crowd with a feeling they had just sat in on a living room jam session . . . by candlelight, to boot.

At times, choosing the evening's program became near impossible having to choose from the eclectic offerings of the Festival delle Crete Senesi '08 and the similarly powerful offerings of the XIII Festival of the Val d'Orcia coinciding with the XXIX International Festival of Montalcino. The latter culminated in an evening Paolo Conti possibly Italy's best and most well known canta-storia artist, once again, at the fortezza of Montalcino..

Considering that the area in question, the Val d'Orcia, represents only one fifth of the region of Tuscany and does ot include any major city, one can only imagine the number of musical, theatrical and performance shows an offer all over greater Tuscany. I only hope that this is the beginning of a positive movement towards building diversity and uniqueness in Tuscany's summer tourism offer and will not be abandoned in light of the current poor economic environment.