Biography

Since 1981 to 2000

The band was born in autumn 1981, paying particular attention to ethnomusical studies in Veneto, which were in that period extremely unusal. The researches began thanks to Roberto Tombesi and, in the second half of the Eighties, Marina Dalla Valle and Guglielmo Pinna. Calicanto also began the recovery of some musical instruments, one of these was the piva (an ancient veneto-emilian bagpipe) that somehow rebirthed thanks to Massimo Fumagalli. The first LP has been published in 1983 and its title is De là dell’acqua.

Calicanto's first photo 

The particular and unusual musical offer of the band and the encouraging reactions of the critics made Calicanto one of the most important band in the italian movement of folk-revival. The tours abroad: Belgium (1983), Spain (1984 and 1985), Switzerland and Iugoslavia (1986) and the publishing of others two works, the good performance at the most important festivals in Europe Lorient (F), Dranouter (B) in 1987 and Farnham (GB) in 1988, drove Calicanto famous all around Europe.

In July 1989, after an evening of rehersal, violin player Riccardo Sandini dies in a car accident: an empty space still impossible to be fulfilled.

In 1997 Calicanto joins recording label Compagnia Nuove Indye which will produce the CD Venexia, that moved enthusiasm on public and critics. A poll by magazine Folk Bulletin pointed out that Venexia was one of the five best cds of the year.

The collaboration with the world of movies (La ragazza sul ponte, Les enfants du siecle...) and with theatre (Labirintomare, Visioni, I due gemelli veneziani...) became deeply rooted in Calicanto's activity and new productions are defined: Trio Adriatica, Il sogno di Dolasilla (with A. Cuni, W. Durand and P. Schutze), Ciuma-Salvi-Tombesi Trio, Ottavio!, Piripicchio e la Contessa (for children), Alpen Folk Orchestra, underlines the will of exploring of the band.

Vanessa Paradis 

Since 2000 to nowadays

Calicanto starts again researching in the italian communities of Istria and Dalmazia and, celebrating 20 years of activity, the project Labirintomare is defined and brings 25 artists to collaborate and work together at the cd.

Labirintomare brings Calicanto in 2002 to various festivals and events, the most important of which, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival held in Washington D.C. organized by The Silk Road project was directed by great cello player Yo-Yo Ma.

Yo-Yo Ma 

During 2004, the researches on the Euganean Hills became deeper and wider also thanks to the collaboration of Giuseppina Garro and Guglielmo Pinna. During 2005 the work finally is completed and published. The title of the cd, with an 80 pages booklet, is Isole senza mar, and it will be prized by Academie Charles Cros with the Coup de Coeur as one of the most interesting work worldwide.

The most recent years are characterized by a continous effort in many directions, that brought the band to realize many different projects. We want to mention the collaborations with Carlo Muratori Trio, Jan Mari Carlotti, the Monks of Praglia's Abbey, Dominique Paris, the Grande Orchestra delle Alpi, the artistic deep friendship with galician folk band Milladoiro.

Milladoiro 

Calicanto takes part to the organization of Festival of Popular Music and Culture of Veneto, Ande Bali e Cante, that is usually held every year, in September, in Rovigo. Roberto Tombesi, since the first edition of the festival, is the art director of the event.