Naturally, the Corse Matin could not evade the performance of Grand Corps Malade with I Muvrini in Bastia, last Monday. Yesterday there was a sort of review of the concert in the newspaper. There were about 1,500 visitors who attended the concert. With the encores Grand Corps Malade suddely entered the stage to “slam” with I Muvrini ‘Una Terranova “. After that Grand Corps Malade and Jean-François Bernardini read the poem “Tu seras un homme mon fils” from Kipling, as you can see in the picture accompanying the article. Grand Corps Malade read a line in French, Jean-François reiterated that line in the Corsical language. It is a long poem and it made quite an impression, because everyone was deathly quiet during the reading.
Once again I Muvrini is at the moment gaining lots of success with the concerts of the Giru in Corsica. In the meanwhile the amateur members of the choir who have subscribed for the event to participate in the concerts in Poitiers in February next year are busy with the rehearsals for the concerts. They come together once a month to sing under the direction of the excellent conductor Jacky Locks. Jean-François Bernardini sometimes performs with them, as is shown in this video. It is certainly going into the right direction, and the concerts on 12 and February 13 promise to be a real happening.
Recently the Dutch translation of Jean-François’ book “Carnet pour Sarah” has been published. The translation was made by Marlene Lokin. The visitors of the Dutch concerts know her already as the lady who translated the texts of Jean-François on stage. The first reactions to the book are positive. Marlene Lokin has succeeded in making a natural translation, and this book is certainly an original way to learn more about Corsica than what you can learn about the island by reading the travel books. You can order it here. Do not be fooled by the fact that Marlene Lokin is named as the author of the book. That is really the one and only Jean-François Bernardini!
The French broadcaster RTL gave again attention to I Muvrini. In the attached video you can see an extensive interview with Jean-François Bernardini about Gioia, Corsica and…. I Muvrini! Click here to watch it.
“The forest of chestnut trees in Pianello is one of the most beautiful in Europe, according to a study by many specialists. It consists of over a thousand remarkable trees. It is an ornament of exceptional beauty, which is near the heart of the people of this county.
The depopulation of villages and the abandonment of the culture resulted in the emergence of diseases such as “ink disease” and cancer on the bark of trees, which have little means to defend themselves.
To bring this precious heritage to the attention of the public was initially the subject of a baseline study, conducted by the Odarc. In addition, the ASL Bertecchie, founded in 2007, has made in cooperation with the agricultural board an assessment of the work that has to be performed.
To save a chestnut forest of this magnitude demands a huge investment that owners cannot come up with.
Last year, the association had signed a multi-year agreement with a farmer who was eager for renovating more than ten acres, a project funded by the CTC. This year, a second young producer signed an agreement for an area of twenty hectares with an area sponsored by the Fundazione di Corsica, chaired by Jean-François Bernardini.
The ASL Bertecchie proposed to the Foundation to support a “remarkable sector both from an ecological perspective as regards to the chestnut cultivation”. The area also contains a wealth of architectural works of high cultural value, such as fountains, drying racks or even mule paths.
“This sponsorship fits and reinforces the general program of the rehabilitation work that started last September with the pruning of trees, and the construction of a pathway of over a mile,” emphasizes Jean-François Bernardini.
An agreement has been signed between ASL Bertecchie and its director Mathieu Agostini and the AFC, in the meeting hall of the town hall of the village.
In it’s willingness to support this ambitious project, Fundazione di Corsica pledged to the ASL Bertecchie the sum of € 12 500 ($17,900) for the rehabilitation of 50 chestnut trees. An initial check of € 6 250 ($8,950) has been given to the association. A second, with the same amount, is promised for the completion of the rehabilitation.”
The pupils of Purticciu were lucky: they were invited to visit the Alma studio. The invitation was rewarded for the correspondence with the group due to the involvement of I Muvrini with a day at the school dedicated on the openness of Corsica to the world. I Muvrini participated there as the ambassadors of the language and singing. Schoolgirl Caroline Pierre wrote a poem to Jean-Francois Bernardini and expressed in it her solidarity with with the cultural way the band has taken, and this was the reason I Muvrini offered the students a glimpse into the studio.
On the picture you can see Alain Bernardini far left. Next to him you can see just the head of Stéphane Mangiantini. Fourth from left is Jean-Francois Bernardini. On the front seat, with a schoolgirl on his lap, is sitting keyboardist Achim Meier.
In the meanwhile, the Corse Matin has also published an article about the exhibition I Culori d’Umani in Brussels. A good opportunity to show the signed invitation of Jean-François Bernardini here too:
Corse Matin: I Culori d’Umani in Brussels 4-12-2009
Invitation I Culori d'Umani Brussels signed by Jean-François Bernardini
If you are in Corsica in the first half of December, you’re lucky. Besides the concert in Biguglia on Friday, December 11, you can also hear Jean-François reading from his book Dicocorse. He will do so on Monday, December 14 at the theater in San Angelo, in the Rue Angelo in Bastia. The lecture will start at 21.00 hours. Tickets are available at Boutique Alexandre in Bastia and at the theater itself on December 11. The tickets cost 12 euros.
Take a look at the website of Dicocorse and deliver there your own special contribution as a real Dicocorseur!
As stated in my post about the new album of I Muvrini, I said I have met Jean-François Bernardini on Tuesday in Brussels in the building of the European Economic and Social Committee. He was there as the president of the “Associu pè di una Fundazione Corsica “(AFC) for the opening of the exhibition “I Culori d’Umani”.
This exhibition consists of paintings made for the AFC by 130 painters. During 2010 they will be auctioned in Paris (Hôtel Marcel Dassault, Rond-point des Champs-Élysées 7, 75008 Paris). Many of them are now exhibited until December 4th on the 6th floor of the institute, located on the Rue Belliard 99, 1040 Bruxelles. It is worth the effort to take a look. There is a wide variation in the paintings and sculptures and I can not imagine there is not anything that you will not like.
On the website I Culori d’Umani you can also view the paintings, but of course that is never as beautiful as in real life. Remember to take your identity papers with you and be prepared that you are examined for not having any suspicious metal objects with you, because you will have to pass a gate that is checking this. Jean-François made a beautiful speech that lasted about fifteen minutes. Some well-known people from the Giru passed by. As his centenary friend Vincent, a sort of father figure for him, and the bumblebee with which he has a good relatioship, and the German scholars who have translated “Carnet pour Sarah” which will be published soon there. But also the adolescents who met child psychiatrist Marcel Rufo at the l’Università di L’Omu and discussed with him how it is like to live as a 17-year old adolescent on Corsica. This meeting was sponsored by the AFC. Click here to read a French report of the Corse Matin about it.
And then the camera stopped filming (#*$%*^$!). I quickly pressed once again on the recording button to be able to show the end of the speech too. I have thus missed onl 5 seconds. In this piece he talks about the silence of the village where he comes from, Tagliu-Isulacciu, and that from this silence an incredible strength rises up. Anyone who has ever been there, and has been sitting on the stone bench in front of the studio, will confirm this. It is wonderfully quiet, but not lethargic or quiet meaningless. I think a ’strong’ silence is the best title to describe it.
After this there was a beautiful table covered with all kinds of delicious snacks.It did not take much time to make it all empty. Then we all returned home, inspired by the words of Jean-François and with stomachs filled with Corsican delicacies.
The title of the new album of I Muvrini is "Gioia". The new single "Una Terranova" is a cooperation with Grand Corps Malade. The release of both items is scheduled on Monday, March 22. Click here to find more info about "Gioia" and how to order it online.
You can listen to sound bites of the I Muvrini songs on the websites of Fnac , Virgin and Apple's Itunes store. You can also buy their albums, books, and t-shirts in their digital shop. Click here to get there.
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