Giovanni Sollima opens the 10th edition of Animaphix

1 July 2024

#AFF24 OPENING NIGHT
WITH GIOVANNI SOLLIMA

SONÁMBULO an exclusive cine-concert
visuals by Theodore Ushev

The tenth edition of Animaphix will be opened by the world-renowned cellist Giovanni Sollima, who will perform the original cine-concert Sonámbulo in the stunning setting of Villa Cattolica. This musical and visual journey explores the pictorial works of Bulgarian-born Canadian director and artist Theodore Ushev, featuring sounds that range from baroque to rock and metal, promising an exhibition of extraordinary energy, combining art and music into an immersive experience.

The project, named after Ushev’s homonymous short film, sees the works of the director, already nominated for an Oscar with “Blind Vaysha” in 2017 and “Physic of Sorrow” in 2020, intertwining with new compositions, adapting to the different nuances of sound. Sonámbulo is, indeed, the encounter between two exceptionally versatile artists: on the one hand Giovanni Sollima, a “reckless virtuoso”, a master in exploring different genres using ancient, oriental, electric and original instruments, playing in the Sahara desert, underwater or with an Ice Cello; on the other Theodore Ushev, a “punk director” whose poetics feeds on figurative art, music and cinema, creating a metalanguage that communicates directly with the art itself and the audience.

Villa Cattolica – Museo Guttuso
S.S.113 – Via Ramacca 9, Bagheria (PA)
July 22nd 2024, 9 p.m.

Free admission subject to availability

Giovanni Sollima

Giovanni Sollima is an internationally renowned Italian cellist and composer whose works are most performed worldwide. He has collaborated with Riccardo Muti, Patti Smith, Stefano Bollani, Paolo Fresu, and with orchestras such as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Manchester Camerata, Liverpool Philharmonic (Artist in Residence 2015), Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Moscow Soloists, Berlin Konzerthausorchester, Australian Chamber Orchestra, Il Giardino armonico. He has composed music for Peter Greenaway, John Turturro, Bob Wilson, Carlos Saura, Marco Tullio Giordana, Peter Stein, Lasse Gjertsen, Anatolij Vasiliev, Karole Armitage and Carolyn Carlson. Giovanni explores different genres using ancient, oriental, electric and inventive instruments, playing in the Sahara desert, underwater, and with an Ice Cello. He has brought to light the 18th century musician, Giovanni Battista Costanzi, of whom he has recorded the Sonatas and Symphonies for cello and basso continuo for the Glossa label. Giovanni Sollima plays a cello by Francesco Ruggieri (Cremona, 1679)