Photo by Massimo Bianchini

“The veglia is an evening spent in company, a convivial gathering offering the chance to listen to stories and good music. But veglia also means the state of being awake, it is a synonym for attentiveness, a reminder not to let our guard down.”

With this statement, the company Menoventi, alias Gianni Farina and Consuelo Battiston, introduce the performance VEGLIA, hosted in the courtyards of Capannori during the summer of 2025 for the theatre festival Tempi Moderni, organized by SPAM/Aldes. Dancer Giselda Ranieri completes the circle with a series of choreographies that move between contemporary and popular dance.

Stefano Giannotti, the composer/performer invited to provide the soundtrack for the performance, moves between mock folk tunes, vintage quotations, free improvisations, counterpoints, and songs in gramelot, activating a complex one-man-band sound system made up of Farfisa organ, toy piano, melodica, percussion, kazoo, voice, monochord, and banjo.

The result is the composition VEGLIA A CORTE, which underscores, punctuates, and playfully counterpoints the stage action.