Elio in Le Sottilissime Astuzie di Bertoldo

A musical fairy tale blending history and music, this performance alternates between comedy and 17th-century music, creatively reimagined. On stage, Elio, the storyteller and main performer, is joined by the seven-piece ocarina ensemble of the Gruppo Ocarinistico Budriese and the crossover group Soqquadro Italiano, led by the irresistibly charismatic singer and dancer Vincenzo Capezzuto, with live electronic arrangements by Fabio Fiandrini.

Synopsis

The adventures of Bertoldo, the common man, offer a timeless portrayal of the poor but free individual, who, armed only with the insights of a practical intelligence, manages to outwit the traps and deceptions of arbitrary power, ultimately saving himself from an unjust death sentence.

Giulio Cesare Croce once told these stories, accompanying himself on his lyre in Italian squares and courts, entertaining and educating his audience with the wit of his direct, spontaneous language. His lively style has resonated through the centuries, still fresh and relevant today. Maurizio Garuti has brought this timeless tale into a contemporary context, translating its humor, intrigue, and farce into a fresh, pop-inspired language.

The musical score for the show will feature a mix of songs, arias, and dances from both the sacred and secular repertoires of the 16th and 17th centuries, reinterpreted with a special focus on the works of Bologna’s composers from that period.

The performance, created by Fondazione Entroterre in collaboration with ATER, with the support of the Emilia-Romagna Region under Law 2/2018, is a production of the “Reboot” project line, within the Ocarina Factory framework.