Whisper Sounds

Made Kuti performer

Società Filarmonica di Solomeo

Francesco Verzieri conductor

MUSICA EN PLEIN AIR

Africa: Cerimony, Song and Ritual - R.W. Smith

Water No Get Enemy

Trouble Sleep Yanga Go Wake Am

I Wont Run Away

‘97

Sorry Sorry

Pray

Life As We Know It

Story

Truth don Die

Two people from distant parts of the world, belonging to extremely different cultures, yet deeply connected through the roots of their ancient traditions. A profound union that weaves together the melodies of refined Western wind orchestras with the lively and vibrant Afrobeat vibes. For the first time, the Solomeo Philharmonic will meet Made Kuti, one of the most interesting and eclectic musicians on the contemporary global music scene. Kuti is a direct descendant of a family central to Nigeria’s and Africa’s musical, social, and political landscape during the 1970s. The collaboration between Solomeo’s Philharmonic wind orchestra and Made Kuti has given rise to an innovative project brimming with intriguing elements. New pieces have been composed and arranged specifically for this project, blending the popular sounds of jazz and funk into an explosive mix of sound and groove, with the wind instruments taking centre stage.

Made Kuti

Made Kuti is a Nigerian singer, multi-instrumentalist, and composer born in 1995. As Femi Kuti’s son and Fela Kuti’s grandchild, Made represents the third generation of one of the most influential families in the Afrobeat scene. He was raised in The New Afrika Shrine in Lagos, absorbing the energy and political passion conveyed through his father’s and grandfather’s music from a very young age. Kuti is a music prodigy. He started to play the trumpet when he was three, and over the years, he developed the ability to master numerous instruments, including the saxophone, piano, drums, and bass. After studying at Uxbridge College in London, he continued his studies at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire, the same school attended by Fela Kuti. Since a very young age, Kuti has performed on international stages with the father’s band – Positive Force – touring already at the age of 8. In 2020, he released his first single, Free Your Mind, followed in 2021 by his debut album For(e)ward, a political manifesto about freedom, justice, and change. This solo album was entirely produced by Sodi Marciszewer (Fela’s former collaborator) and released for Partisan Records, in a double project shared with his father called Legacy+ (Stop the Hate by Femi and For(e)ward by Made). He blends afrobeat, jazz, highlife, rock and reggae sounds, carrying forward his family’s musical legacy with vision and originality. With his band – The Movement – Made keeps developing an autonomous committed, and contemporary voice that unifies profound roots and innovative spirits.

Solomeo Philharmonic

The Solomeo music band was founded by Father Ruggero Margaritoni, who introduced his students to the basics of music in 1925. After its first maestro Ducci, from Romagna, Aroldo Pedini was appointed, who raised the group's level thanks to his talent for arranging tracks suited to the potential of various elements. The maestros Piero Vincenti, Eleno Orazi, Roberto Castellani and Enrica Picciafuoco are also particularly worthy of mention, as they led the band over time. For two decades and until 2015, the band was conducted by Mauro Basiglio, who worked on the quality of performances and implemented the musical repertoire. Today the band is conducted by maestro Verzieri, who also coordinates the "Mousiké” school of music and arts of the eponymous association.Thanks to Verzieri, the Band has perfected its technical and interpretative skills while expanding its musical repertoire. Maestro Andrea Angeloni was appointed to support Maestro Verzieri in his work and conduct the band at its various performances away from home. The most significant events in which the band has performed include the Christmas Concert at the Cucinelli Theatre, the End of Year Concert at the Sala dei Notari, Perugia, religious celebrations and processions in neighbouring towns and musical exchanges with bands from other regions in Italy and European countries. In the last few years, the Solomeo Philharmonic Band has also participated in festivals such as the Band Festival of Città della Pieve, La bacchetta d’Oro, Fiuggi, and in 2024, at the Flicorno d’oro, Riva del Garda. At the Cucinelli Theatre on 18 December 2022, the maestro and composer Lorenzo Pusceddu presented and conducted the new track written for Solomeo and its band for the first time, entitled Solomeo dreams. In summer 2023, the band performed on the prestigious stage of the Villa Solomei Festival in “Sounds of China”, with Maestro Guo Gan.For a long time, the Solomeo Philharmonic organised the Aroldo Pedini band festival, an event promoting band music, with the participation of bands from Italy's variegated scene. Today the Solomeo Philharmonic band is made up of around 40 members and its repertoire ranges from classical music to jazz and blues.

Francesco Verzieri

Born in 1975, Verzieri graduated in clarinet in 1997 from the Perugia Conservatoire, under the mentorship of maestros Zampognini and Scarponi. His mentorship continued under Maestro Garbarino and once more with Master Scarponi. In 2002 and 2003 he participated in numerous educational initiatives organised by the Umbria Region and by ANBIMA, directed by illustrious maestri including A.M. Freschi (music education), A. Carnevali, M. Livi, F. Creux (training course for orchestral conductor). In 2003 he attended the course taught by Maestro C. Pirola (gesture and communication). In 2008 he participated in the conduction course held by Maestro S. Acquaviva. Francesco Verzieri has executed numerous intense and acclaimed concert performances as a soloist, in piano duets, various chamber formations and important symphonic orchestras, recording numerous CDs as a clarinettist. From 2004 to 2006, he was the director of the “V. Puletti” Philharmonic of Ponte Felcino (PG), with whom he recorded the CD Armonie di Capodanno, and conducted for the Municipality of Perugia in 2004 and 2005 at Sala dei Notari, on occasion of the prestigious New Year's Eve Concert. He works with numerous associations as an expert in education, sound and music. In 1998, he was appointed director of the “Michele Taddei” School of Music in Cannara and in 2002 maestro of the “F. Morlacchi” Musical Concert of Cannara, delivering a highly acclaimed performance. In May 2006 he went to Augsburg (Germany), for the festival of Italian Emigrants in Germany, and in April 2010 to Genk, Belgium, for 25 April formal celebrations. Under his guidance, the F. Morlacchi Musical Concert qualified for the national finals in Florence, ranking among the top 10 bands in Italy at the Energia in Banda competition organised by Enel and ANBIMA. Additionally, in April 2009, they came sixth in the third category at the 11th edition of the Flicorno d’oro competition in Riva del Garda. From 2009 to 2014, he was vice director of the Corciano Festival wind orchestra, from 2010 to 2018 he conducted the Caduti per la Patria Philharmonic of Mugnano (PG), from 2015 has been conductor of the Solomeo Philharmonic Company, with whom he participated in the La bacchetta d’oro Competition in 2017, in Fiuggi (FR).