Vinicio Capossela

Singer-songwriter, poet, writer and phantasmagorical entertainer, VINICIO CAPOSSELA (Hannover 1965) debuted in 1990 under the aegis of Renzo Fantini (Paolo Conte, Francesco Guccini) with the record Alluna e trentacinque circa, which won him the Targa Tenco, which he was awarded three more times in the years to come. His first pre-biographical records, Mod (1992) and Camera a sud (1994), consecrated his genius both in Italy and abroad with a prestigious sold out at Theatre de la Ville in Paris in 1995. Il ballo di San Vito (1996) marked Capossela’s first musical derailment: Macedonian fanfares and Marc Ribot’s guitar mingle in a record that is rife with visionary and personal references, which the artist dubbed Coliche di immaginazione (Imagination colics). In 1998 during a non-stop two-year tour Capossela recorded his first live album Liveinvolvo, conceived with the complicity of Neat Veliov and his Kocani Orkestar. This firstemperiod of his career was also marked by his forays into the world of theater, where he worked with Paolo Rossi’s theatre company at shows like Pop e rebelot (1993) and Milanin Milanon (1994). With Paolo Rossi Capossela also made his television debut in the TV show Scatafascio (1997-1998), for which he wrote the track bearing the same name. From the album Canzoni a Manovella (2000) on, Capossela has focused on more universal themes often inspired from the great literature from Melville to Celine, from Dante to Homer while his concert activity, in Italy as well as abroad, has increasingly morphed into a theatrical representation of his work and has been marked by a series of exclusive events with no reruns. Nonetheless there is no want of recurring appointments, like the Concerti per le Feste that have invariably taken place every year from 1998 to 2013 at Christmas at Fuori Orario in Taneto di Gattatico (Reggio ilia). Capossela’s passion for Santa Klaus Orthodox ancestor, Saint Nicholas, and for the Christmas tale led to a decade-spanning commitment which resulted in threeChristmas-themed radio stories: the 2001 Canto di Natale (A Christmas Carol), the 2008 I cerini di Santo Nicola (St. Nicholas wax matches) and the 2009 Il gigante e il mago (The giant and the wizard). In 2003, following two years of intense concert activity, Lindispensabile, his first greatest hits album was released, including his first cover Si spento il sole by Adriano Celentano. His later works, Ovunque Proteggi (2006), Da Solo (2008), Marinai Profeti and Balene (2011) became acclaimed shows and provided the cue for a documentary, the same goes for the two live shows Nel niente sotto il sole (2007) and Solo show (2009). In thiSemperiod, besides his recording projects, Capossela also worked at new projects, like the one conceived in 2007 with the cellist Mario Brunello on occasion of the Genio Fiorentino, dedicated to Michelangelo’s Rime (Rhymes) and going under the title Fuggite, amanti, amor Radio, writing and Cinema have often converged in Vinicio Capossela artistic career, the hallmark of an artist who has always transcended the barriers between different art forms. From his first novel Non si muore tutte le mattine, published in 2004, he drew inspiration for a shadow theatre show and for the Radiocapitolazioni aired by Radio 3.In 2009 Feltrinelli published his In clandestinit written with his friend, poet Vincenzo Costantino, alias Cinaski. The book became a reading that the two presented across Italy, where, instead of the stage, there were a ring, a judge, a piano and the two of th flinging words and songs, instead of punches, at each other in an unlikely, yet realistic boxing match. To Greece and to the Rebetiko, more than a music genre, a way of life, Capossela has dedicated the record Rebetiko Gimnastas (2012), the movie Indebito (2013) directed by Andrea Segre, premiered at Locarno film festival, screened in the theatres and highly acclaimed by the audience and critics alike as well as the book Tefteri, taccuino dei conti in sospeso (2013), published by Il Saggiatore. In the Summer of 2013 Capossela worked at several projects: a show in the enchanting scenario of Villa Adriana: Il Carnevale degli Animali e altre bestie damore, where he played with Trio Amadei and the Vianiner Philarmoniker’s soloists. The show was rerun the following summer at the prestigious Ravenna Festival and on other occasions. In 2013 he also debuted as producer of the record Primo Ballo by Banda della Posta, a wedding music album with which he went on a tour including over fifty dates. The first edition of Calitri Sponz Fest (2013), a festival Capossela conceived and of which he is artistic director, also focussed on the topic of the wedding. The 2014 edition of the festival revolved around the theme of departure: Mi sono sognato il treno (I dreamt of a train), while the theme of the 2015 edition was Le vie dei muli i sentieri dei miti (Mules trails, myths/pathways). In April 2015 Feltrinelli published his forth book Il paese dei Coppoloni, which won him a Pr io Strega nomination. In June 2015 he was the most voted author at Dante al Pr io Strega and was awarded the prize by the literary circles of the Italian and international committees of Societ Dante Alighieri. On August 29th, at Sponz fest, he celebrated his Notte dargento (Silver Night) for his 25 years in music: a big gig with special guests that lasted over 7 hours at the station of Conza in Alta Irpinia: a prelude to the celebratory tour QuArt de Sicle that will take him across Italy (Catania, Milan, Rome and Venice) and to the main European cities (Paris, London, Berlin, Brussels, Zurich, Bern, Thessaloniki) in a series of concerts/shows for guests and repertoire.The book Il paese dei Coppoloni has inspired the documentary movie Vinicio Capossela Nel paese dei Coppoloni produced by LaEffe, directed by Stefano Obino and premiered at the Cinema in January 2016. The film’s soundtrack is taken from the artist’s new studio album, Canzoni della Cupa. The record, divided into two sides (Polvere e Ombra), was released on 6th May 2016 and a long presentation tour (organized by F&P Group) will ensue. The tour is divided into two parts: a summer session named Polvere (Dust), set in open spaces, and an autumn one named Ombra (Shadow), set in Italy’s main theatres. The tour will also land abroad, starting from France, where from 7th to 9th July, Capossela will be the guest of honour at the prestigious Festival Nuits De Fouirviere in Lyon.