Next Friday, October 4, the Assisi Centre in Melbourne will host a performance by the Sardinian folk group Hostumenes from Oliena.
This special event offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the musical traditions of Sardinia ahead of the group’s larger performance at the Melbourne Italian Festa on October 5-6 at the Royal Exhibition Building.
Hostumenes is made up of four tenors and a guitarist, all performing in traditional Sardinian costumes, providing the audience with not only a musical but also a visual and cultural experience.
The October 4 event will begin at 10 a.m. with an informal gathering at the SCA premises, located on the second floor of the Assisi Centre.
It will be a chance to share stories over coffee, tea and biscuits, where group members and guests can exchange insights on Sardinian culture.
At 10:30 a.m., there will be a guided tour of the Assisi Centre’s aged care facility and the ‘Sardinian Lounge’, a space specifically dedicated to Sardinian culture.
The concert itself will take place in the Assisi Centre Chapel at 11 a.m. and will last for about an hour. It will feature short opening and closing speeches by representatives from the SCA and the Assisi Centre.
After the concert, which is expected to finish at around midday, there will be a brief social gathering where the artists will mingle with the audience before the official close of the event.
“I’m truly excited that we’ll soon have a talented group of musicians representing Sardinia here in Melbourne,” said Paolo Lostia, president of the SCA.
“The October 4 concert will be a wonderful chance for the elderly at the Assisi Centre to reconnect with their roots and, for a few hours, return to our beloved Sardinia.”
As mentioned, this concert serves as an intimate preview of Hostumenes’ participation in the Melbourne Italian Festa, one of the most anticipated events for the Italo-Australian community and lovers of Italian culture.
The Sardinian group will bring the enchanting melodies of their homeland to the Exhibition Building stage, offering the audience the evocative and ancient sounds of the island region.
Their performance will help make this year’s festival even more diverse and vibrant, with the musical lineup featuring other special acts from Italy - all from various regions.
For anyone who loves traditional music or is simply curious to discover one of Italy’s most fascinating cultural expressions, the concert at the Assisi Centre and the performances at the Melbourne Italian Festa are not to be missed.
