Neapolitan act La Maschera won the 11th Andrea Parodi Awards, the only Italian contest devoted to World Music. The Critics’ Awards goes abroad, to Cypriot band Monsieur Doumani. The contest was held November 8-10, 2018 in Cagliari (Sardinia, Italy) at the Teatro Auditorium Comunale.
Giuseppe Di Bella was nominated for the Special Mention for Best Lyrics in “Ncucciarisi” (sung in Sicilian).
Special Mentions for Best Music and Best Performance went to La Maschera (who performed the song “Te vengo a cerca”, (sung in Neapolitan and Wolof), while Monsieur Doumani (with “Gongs”) was furthermore nominated for the Special Mentions for the Best Reinterpretation of a song by Andrea Parodi, the Best Arrangement and was chosen as best Artists by the young people present in the theater.
The International Critics Award went to the KOR vocal ensemble with “Albore” (in Logudorese). Finally, the Special Mention of the competitors themselves, was a draw between Feral Cor with “La Sajetana” (in Genoese) and Giuseppe Di Bella.
Aniello Misto also competed for the victory with “Aumm aumm” (sung in Neapolitan); Ararat Ensemble Orchestra with “Nietaan” (in Wolof); Dindùn with “L’amur” (in Piedmontese) and Terrasonora with “Padre vostro” (in Neapolitan and Swahili).
Before the winners were announced, there was a breathtaking jam session featuring the artistic director Elena Ledda, some of the artists in the jury and the Special Guests of the Awards, who had just performed, namely Peruvian Jorge Pardo, accompanied by the guitarist Francisco Rey Soto, Macedonian Stracho Temelkovski and, from Veneto, the D’Altrocanto Duo.
During the evening Daniele Cossellu, historical founder of the Tenores di Bitti “Remunnu ‘e Locu”, received the 2018 Hall of Fame Award. The award given each year to a prominent figure in the Italian cultural and artistic world.
The festival was created in honor of the distinguished Sardinian artist Andrea Parodi, who went from singer-songwriter with Tazenda to a highly valued solo career, of ethnic themes. Over the three-day events, all contestants and special guests performed one song from his repertoire.
Ottavio Nieddu and Gianmaurizio Foderaro presented the 2018 edition. The Grand Finale was broadcast live on the Facebook page of Rai Radio Tutta Italiana.
The winner of the “Parodi Awards” will have the opportunity to perform at the 2019 editions of the following events: the “European Jazz Expo” in Sardinia, Folkest in Friuli, the Negro Festival in Pertosa (Salerno), the awards of all awards – the Mei di Faenza, and at the Parodi Awards 2019, in addition to various other events and music programs to be announced. The winning group 2018, La Maschera will also get an 8-concert tour offered thanks to NuovoImaie (project financed with the funds of the art.7 L. 93/92), and a financial prize of 2,500 euros.
As Prize for the Critics Award, the winner will get a music video production offered by the Federation of Authors.
The finalists are the result of a thorough selection of the 220 contestants, coming from all over the world, from Mexico to Siberia, Senegal to Cyprus.
The Andrea Parodi Awards is organized by the homonymous Foundation thanks to: Autonomous Region of Sardinia (Founder), Department of Public Education, Cultural Heritage, Information, Sports and Entertainment and Department of Tourism, Crafts and Commerce; Fondazione di Sardegna, Cagliari City Council (patrons and sponsors), NUOVOIMAIE, SIAE – Italian Society of Authors and Publishers, Federation of Authors.
The Andrea Parodi Foundation can be supported through the 5×1000 destination and through cash contributions. All information can be found on the Foundation website: www.fondazioneandreaparodi.it.
headline photo: La Maschera – Photo by Gianfilippo Masserano
Author: World Music Central News Room
World music news from the editors at World Music Central
