Women’s Polyphonic Choir of Tonara

However, at the same time, the Choir holds a specific interest and focus on researching and promoting the local and regional folkloristic heritage of the Sardinian religious and women’s singing of the village of Tonara, in Central Sardinia (Italy). In 2003, the Choir recorded its first album, “Amores e Turmentos” (Love and Tribulation), pulling together a collection of traditional songs in Sardinian language (i.e. Sardo), written by the local poet Peppinu Mereu (who lived between the XIX and the XX Century in Tonara), and with some of the melodies being authored by the first Choir Director, Giovanna Demurtas.

In 2012, the Choir released the CD-DVD “Alidos de vida” (Breath of Life), with10 unpublished songs inspired by popular songs in the village of Tonara. The DVD offers a collection of short films set in Tonara, showing local women singing traditional songs about love, life, and death. The Choir has performed in multiple concerts and festivals in Sardinia, other Italian cities, and abroad (e.g. Austria, Spain, Switzerland, Czech Republic, France, Slovenia, Hungary). The Choir was also invited to join the Marian Vigil for the European Day of University Students in Vatican City, for two consecutive years. Further, the Choir has championed and organised a variety of festivals, such as the International Choral Festival taking place in Tonara, currently at its 6^th edition as of 2017. The Festival has hosted choirs from Spain, Finland, France, and Slovenia.

At present, the Director of the Choir is Mr Claudio Quirico Serra, a young and well-reputed director in the Sardinian provinces of Nuoro and Oristano.

PROGRAMMA CONCERTO

Conductor Claudio Quirico Serra

G. Demurtas.   Manos a chelu
Sanctus
O seraficu sustentu
Deus ti salvet Maria – “tonarese”
Rosario di Tonara

G. Animuccia    Laudate Dio

G. Carissimi    O felix anima

Anonimo    Quel Fanciullin

A. Lotta    Sette ispadas

C. Q. Serra    Gosos di San Francesco