(12 May 2017) From "Tu si na cosa grande" to "Te vojo bene Assaye" for "Na sera e maggio": Italian music is in the spotlight in Seoul thanks to Elena Somarè, the famous "melodic whistler" will be performing for the first time in South Korea on Tuesday, May 16, from her latest album, "Incanto". The event, which will take place at the residence of the Italian Ambassador, is organised by the Italian Institute of Culture of Seoul and will see Elena Somarè, one of the greatest whistle artists. She is also a multimedia artist, photographer,and video maker and will perform accompanied by pianist Gianluca Massetti. The repertoire of the Seoul concert will be inspired by the great folk tradition of Italian music from the 16th century to date, which is also featured in the latest album by Elena Somarè titled "Incanto". Throughout her artistic career, Elena Somarè has shown that the melodic whistle can reach the highest levels of interpretation, like any other classic instrument. Somarè in fact frees it from the prejudice of being a minor musical form that is confined to cabaret or to the ending of certain funamboli of the pentagram. The whistle, too, in its executions, is a magnificent instrument that demonstrates unexplored expressive possibilities. Between tradition and innovation, there arises a challenge that has no precedent. The result is innovative and experimental, because among all the sounds, the whistle - in its mysterious uniqueness and power - recalls a primitive sensibility. It is a simple sound that radiates directly from the body, utilising the body as an instrument and sounding board. In this project the whistle - retaining its primordial vocal charm, exploiting its full potential - becomes an instrument that merges into a sophisticated musical search. (Red)

THE ARTIST

Elena Somarè is one of the rarest and best-known whistlers on the international stage. In 2016, she released the album "Incanto", with the collaboration of Lincoln Almada, from Paraguay. The uniting theme of the album is great Italian music - from Naples in particular - from the 16th century to date, proposed in an unprecedented fashion. Photographer, Video Maker, and Musician, Elena Somarè lives in Rome but often works while travelling the world. In her career as a photographer she has produced several reportages in India, Nepal, Thailand, Cambodia, Australia, Indonesia, Mongolia, Mexico, Cuba, Guatemala, Morocco, Oman, Montenegro, USA, and Canada and other countries.