INTERVIEW: Matteo Ferrari’s new album celebrates early 20th century music
Photo: Matteo Ferrari’s new album is called Maramao. Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Gradella / Provided by Fortune Creative with permission.
Earlier this year Matteo Ferrari, an Italian singer and actor, released his debut album, Maramao, which celebrates music from the early part of the 20th century, specifically the time period between World War I and World War II, according to press notes. Compositions include “Ti parlerò d’amore,” “Mamma,” “Mille lire al mese” and “Ma l’amore no,” among others.
The singer, who is a native of Trento, Italy, is a graduate of the Bernstein School of Musical Theater in Bologna, Italy. He has worked at the Sistina Theater and the Olympic Theater in Rome, the Manzoni Theater in Milan, the Municipal Theater of Bologna and the Goldoni Theater in Venice, according to his official biography.
Hollywood Soapbox recently exchanged emails with Ferrari about the new album, which is out now from PS Classics. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
What was it like to record your debut album?
It was a new and very powerful experience because coming from musical theater I am not used to the process of recording in the studio. This album, in fact, comes from a concert, Maramao, canzoni tra le guerre (Songs Between the Wars), so I’ve always been used to have a certain elasticity in the interpretation of the songs. Beyond everything, I recognize that in a year of work I have grown a lot, both for the work I did on myself, and thanks to the collaboration I had with the creative team that I wanted to involve in the project.
How did you select these songs?
These are the songs that the audience loved the most when I performed them in concert. I wanted them to vary between dramatic and comic pieces, ballads and uptempo. The track list is very similar to the concert program, only shorter. My goal was to keep the listener stimulated, so I tried to vary as much as possible. Spreading the word on these wonderful songs is very important to me, which is why I also wanted to include songs for the most unknown but — in my opinion — of extraordinary beauty and which I felt the need to bring back to light after more than 80 years. Another fundamental aspect for me are the lyrics: There are two major themes that characterize both the record and the concert, namely the fear of being passed by and the pursuit of happiness, which lies in simple things. These are timeless themes, but, unfortunately, they are also current in our historical period.
Was Trento a very musical city to grow up in?
Yes, even if — as in almost all of Italy — an overall integration of the disciplines in the arts is lacking. Here there is a tendency for people to be very divided, so either you sing, or act, or dance. To study musical theater, I had to go to the Bernstein School of Musical Theater in Bologna, and then to the Guildford School of Acting in London. I’m glad I did, though, because it allowed me to open my mind and heart.
When did you realize you had a gift for singing?
I don’t know, really. I have always studied and played a lot with my voice (and, of course, I still do it!) because it makes me feel good. If it can also give pleasure to other people — make them think, cry and have fun — it makes me happy.
If someone is unable to speak Italian, will they still appreciate these songs?
I think so, yes. Even if they don’t understand the lyrics, I think American listeners can appreciate the originality of the music of that period. The Italian composers, in fact, collected the stimuli that came from America and integrated them with the Italian tradition of Neapolitan melodrama and song. I also think that the expressiveness of the voice can overcome language barriers and be appreciated everywhere.
Are you hoping to tour the United States with this album?
I’ve never been to the United States. It would be nice! For me, it would be a symbolic closing of the circle to bring the work of Italian composers and artists back to America, which had inspired them musically.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Matteo Ferrari’s new album is called Maramao, now available from PS Classics. Click here for more information.
