Singing in Puglia, Easter 2025

Singing and cultural immersion with locals

"Come and join us on this singing extravaganza in Italy with good food, good song, good wine and make new friends."

We're drawn to the incredible culinary wonders of southern Puglia, Italy, which we've heard so much about. While we eagerly watch captivating cooking shows like "Searching Italy" with Stanley Tucci and Gino D'Campo's "Italian Escape," but have you ever wondered about the region's music traditions and other cultural aspects?

During this journey, you'll not only savor delicious food but also delve into the raw and passionate sounds of the ancient Greko dialect, music, songs, and dances like the pizzica and the tarantella. Additionally, you'll experience the somewhat eerie ancient processions held during Easter.

Everyone welcome. 

Highlights of the tour include

• Daily singing sessions
• Savouring delicious Puglian food
• Delve into the raw and passionate sounds of the ancient Greek dialect, music, songs and dances like the pizza and the tarantella
• We will be hosted by the warm hearted musical Avantaggiato family who are known as passionate about preserving the traditional music of the area
• Staying in Bari, Corigliano d’Otranto, Matera
• And explore Lecce, Otranto and more

Bari

14 April, 2 nights – Staying in a hotel 

• Exploring this vibrant seaside town 
• Enjoy a delicious welcome dinner

Otranto region

16 – 22 April,  6 nights – Staying in a "agriturismo" farmstay close to the Village of Corigliano

• Visit Ostuni en-route to our Masseria
• We will be hosted by the warm hearted musical Avantaggiato family 
• Daily singing sessions with choir director/ "un maestro straordinario" (Edoardo Materassi from Florence)
• Sing in our own onsite amphitheatre
• 2 x Singing sessions with Enza & Dario

This small village has –

• beautiful and historic places of interest
• a generous and wonderful open hearted community that will be happy to talk with you regardless of language barriers
• places to enjoy food, coffee and 'apertivo' around the piazza
• enchanting cobblestone alleys

Tours will include –

• taking the little single carriage train from the station just near our accommodation to visit Otranto by the sea and Lecce
• a trip to see the Easter procession in Gallipoli
• a visit to Enza's village and enjoy a festa with her family

Matera

22–23 April. Staying in a beautifully restored town 

Matera, a UNESCO World Heritage site in southern Italy, is famous for its ancient cave dwellings carved into limestone cliffs, known as the Sassi. With winding streets and panoramic views, it offers a unique glimpse into Italy's rich cultural past.

• piazzas and restaurants 
• shops and galleries

Bari

23 - 24 April. Our last night back in Bari.

Pictures

See pictures below of our Masseria, Matera and one of an easter procession in the streets 

Edoardo Materassi

"It was around 2004 when I first met Edoardo through mutual friends outside Florence, but it was to be another 13 years before I got the chance to really see him in action as a choral director. It was an easy decision to commission him as co-director of our annual Tuscany singing holiday events from that year on. He is a real master of his craft with an ability to tune into a group whether they are young or old, experts or beginners, and extract the very best in a fun and non-confronting style. He always delivers exhilarating results!"  Jennifer Richardson, curator. 

BIO: Edoardo Materassi, guitarist, composer, choir director and teacher. 

Edoardo has an impressive log of concerts both in Italy and abroad. His compositions have been performed in Italy, France, Germany, Holland and Australia. 

He has collaborated with musicians and actors such as: Vars Music, Faye Nepon, Luca di Volo, Claudia Bombardella, Annamaria Castelli, Alessandro Lanzoni, Giorgio Guiot, Carlo Pavese, Monica Bauco, Ivano Bini, Zeta Archive, Maurizio Maggiani, Ernesto De Martino Institute, Orchestra AgimusArte, Sunrise Orchestra. He collaborates as a teacher with the Cantascuola di Torino association.

Edoardo teaches harmony, choral exercises, ensemble music and guitar at numerous schools in the province of Florence. He is artistic director of the School of Music of Calenzano and is a member of the artistic commission of the Cori della Toscana Association.

He is passionate about community singing and directs the choirs: Animae Voces, Mulieris Voces, Sesto in Canto, the choir of the "P. Calamandrei "and the choir of the" Cavalcanti "Inferior Middle Schools of Sesto Fiorentino. With the choirs Animae Voces and Mulieris Voces he has been awarded at various competitions. He also directs youth choirs "Na' Ara Vocal Ensemble" and "Menura Vocal Ensemble" and often works with the successful childrens' choir Piccolo coro Melograno from Florence. (piccolocoromelograno.it)  

The Cornwall International Male Choir 2024 Festival announced Edoardo's composition was voted best overall and the Winner of the International Festival.

We have invited Edoardo to work with us as a choir director on multiple singing holiday events in Italy since 2017

"I have had the great pleasure of participating in a number of The Create Escape Singing events in Italy over the years.  A highlight was singing under the directorship of Edoardo Materassi. His vocal warm-up techniques and his passion for choral singing is truly infectious. After just a few short days, he had us singing Italian, African and Macedonian songs, all taught with encouragement and ease. He is nurturing and just a bundle of positive energy and FUN!  Can't wait to sing with him again!"

"I'd go anywhere in the world to sing with Edoardo again"

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