With 'Occhi Turchini' the inspiring singer, instrumentalist and actor Pino de Vittorio has returned to the recording studio, fixing his sights on the musical culture of the Italian region of Calabria.

For this new recording for Glossa, Franco Pavan and his Laboratorio ’600 have been researching the rich, historical musical texture of the region, known as the 'toe' of the Italian 'boot'. Most recently, singer and ensemble worked together on the 'Siciliane' recording, also for the Spanish label. This new programme embraces traditional songs, examples of the adulteration of local language for comic effect in Baroque Neapolitan opera, and even a parody of the text for the Te Deum in the same Calabrian; but also reflections of Byzantine, Greek, Albanian and Arabic cultures which have permeated the region over the centuries.

Pino De Vittorio, a veritable powerhouse of mood, is the ideal vocal interpreter for this multi-layered chequerboard of the region’s cultural history, with Pavan and his ensemble imparting colourful accompaniment for De Vittorio or spirited solo playing in instrumental works such as the 'Tarantella ’nfuocata', 'La calabrisella', and especially the 'Canzona a morto', played on the harp by Flora Papadopoulos. Pavan, as well as playing theorbo and the Calabrian chitarra battente, also acts – through his booklet essay – as guide across this rugged, isolated, but immensely rich cultural terrain.

Tracklisting:
1. Occhi turchini
2. La scillitana
3. Frasca
4. La fija du marinaru
5. Tarantella ’nfuocata
6. Si parti la Madona
7. A spuntunera
8. Xaccara calabrese, spagnuola
9. Arietta grica
10. Matajola
11. Te deum de’ calabresi
12. Canzona a morto
13. Sonata dopo la canzone
14. Amicu, hai vintu
15. La calabrisella
16. Capiddi di sita
17. Veni sonne di la mntagnella
18. Romaica calabreisa
19. Kopile moj kopile

“Wow, what a voice... a disciplined natural voice with an experienced actor’s dedication to the projection of words and meaning, and boy, can he put a song across. And bang in tune, I might add... these Sicilian traditional songs are simply wonderful... its astonishing good” - Early Music Review, August 2013 (GCDP33001 Siciliane: The Songs of an Island)