National Opera & Ballet | 20:00
DRAGAN AND RATKO DAUTOVSKI
N. Macedonia
Dragan Dautovski, an ethnomusicologist, musician, composer and scientist, was born in 1957 in Rusinovo, Berovo. He is a professor at the Faculty of Music in Skopje and member of the International Council for Traditions of music and dance. Traditional music and its instruments are his tour-de force in five decades of his work. The sound qualities from the richness and depths of Macedonian musical heritage, often upgraded with modern influences, are the main artistic value of Dautovski. In the year of 1992 he formed the “Mile Kolarovski Ensemble”, in 1995 the group “DD Synthesis”, in 2000 “Dragan Dautovski Quartet”. He took part in the creation of the music for the film “Before the Rain”. Dautovski wrote music for numerous theatre, ballet or multimedia pieces, and released a dozen of albums and compilations. A true workaholic in the promotion of Macedonian music throughout the world. His scientific work includes six books of great importance and rarity. Dragan Dautovski plays another meaningful role - he initiated the music passion for his son, Ratko Dautovski. Ratko dives into the music from early age and all of his professional life revolves around research of the melo-rhythmic structures in the Macedonian folk music, as well as of the world music heritage. Ratko Dautovski is collaborating with many relevant Macedonian music groups and is a regular member of the “Tanec” Ensemble.
National Opera & Ballet | 22:00
CANZONIERE GRECANICO SALENTINO
Italy
50 years of pulsating and healing rhythms of Taranta by Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino (CGS). That’s half of century of thrilling music and live performances. Founded in 1975 by the Durante family, and now led by their visionary inheritor Mauro Durante, CGS continuously nurture their Southern Italian roots and bring their traditional heat to the stages all over the world. The writer Rina Durante vivified the idea then, and now Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino is regarded as the leading and longest standing traditional music ensemble in Italy. Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino are restless, and constantly reinventing their music, yet always loyal to their deep roots from Salentino. Today, the group is a living example of how performers can rejuvenate the Southern Italy's pizzica musical and dance traditions for the global audience. CGS resonate the energy of the ancient ritual of pizzica tarantata, said to cure the taranta spider's bite with its frenzied trance dances. This stunning career with 20 albums and countless shows led to the Best group award on the Songlines music awards in 2018. CGS are on a special tour to mark their 50th anniversary, going back to Skopje 9 years after their fantastic set at OFFest!