Eclectic, genre-defying fusion band Ensemble Sangineto performs at Boulevard Music on Saturday, so Caterina Sangineto told the News about what they have in store for Culver City…
When did you start playing and performing? How did this band form?
Ensemble Sangineto is a long-standing project, originally formed by the entire Sangineto family, whose core—the Sangineto twins Adriano and Caterina— are still active members today. The band had four family members who played string instruments (psalteries and harp) crafted by the father, Michele Sangineto, a luthier with over 40 years of experience building traditional European string instruments.
Formed in 2000, the group has undergone several changes over the years, both in terms of its lineup and its repertoire. The band originally focused on early music and renaissance repertoire, performing at festivals and concert series dedicated to these genres. Over time, the group shifted towards Celtic music (particularly Irish and Breton styles), and after the Covid pandemic, they began focusing on new, innovative arrangements of Italian folk music.
The strength of Ensemble Sangineto lies in this rich, multilayered experience across various music genres and styles, which converge in the arrangements of their latest work. The current lineup consists of Caterina Sangineto (psaltery, flute, and lead vocals), Adriano Sangineto (Celtic harp, vocals), and Jacopo Ventura (guitar, bouzouki, and vocals).
Describe your sound/style?
The current sound of the ensemble is always vibrant and dynamic, drawing from the individual members’ musical experiences and influenced by a variety of styles: from Celtic music (Irish and Breton) to early music (medieval, renaissance), from classical music to musical theater, from pop to jazz influences. All these styles are harmoniously combined, enhancing the melody, and despite their complexity, they remain catchy and accessible to a wide audience, both specialized and casual listeners. The Ensemble has always aimed to include a range of influences, rather than confining itself to rigid folk genres. For this reason, the label “folk music” is difficult to fully apply to the Ensemble’s work and performance. It transcends the folk and world music genres.
What are your career highlights so far?
Ensemble has completed a two-month tour in New Zealand, with a live performance in front of the Italian Consul in New Zealand at an official concert for the embassy at the Old St Paul Cathedral in Wellington. They’ve also done two West Coast tours, one in the Midwest, and one on the East Coast. After being selected for FAi 2024, the group was invited to Canada, in British Columbia, where they made important connections, and a broader tour of Canada is now planned. The group has performed at major world music festivals in Italy and Europe, including one of Italy’s historic opera venues, the Sferisterio in Macerata, as well as a live radio concert for the national broadcaster Radio 3 in Rome. Each of the three members has toured the United States, Canada, Australia, and performed in various parts of the world (India, China, Peru), as well as in multiple European tours across Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, and the UK.
What recorded music is available — particularly the most recent?
In 2022, we released an album titled Grand Tour Vol. 1, the first part of a musical journey that explores a traditional song from each of Italy’s 20 regions. The CD was produced by Folkest Dischi, one of Italy’s most well-known World Music labels, associated with the prominent Folkest festival. The CD’s artwork was created by Italian artist Giulia Gioacchini, who made small miniatures of historic buildings representing the regions featured. Just as in the 18th century, European nobility had to undertake a Grand Tour of Italy to complete their artistic and cultural education, through our music, we aim to guide the listener on a linguistic and musical journey that is diverse, multifaceted, and fascinating. The group also has a side project called LyraDanz (with the same formation and instruments), where the artistic and technical experiences of the members converge in original compositions based on rhythms from traditional French and Italian dances. The latest CD in this project is called Carosello (2023).
Additionally, for lovers of lever harp in all its forms, there are the two most recent releases by Adriano Sangineto: Synantys (2017) and Finisterra (2022). All the mentioned CDs are available in physical copies at concerts and on all digital platforms.
Have you performed at Boulevard Music before?
No, we’ve never performed at the venue. But we’re looking forward to hitting the stage!
What can the audience expect from the set this time?
The Ensemble’s concert is mainly based on a musical journey through Italy’s regions, taken from the CD Grand Tour. The deep arrangements the group has made give new life to each piece, creating a unique atmosphere inspired by the sounds and melodies passed down through tradition, which are often monophonic songs accompanied by rudimentary harmonies. Each piece’s sonic setting draws from various European traditions (Irish, Breton, French, Italian…) and is recreated through vocal polyphonic arrangements, sometimes a cappella, and original instrumental inserts that blend different musical genres (folk, classical, musical theater).
Each song tells its own story and often in its own language or dialect, exploring a wide range of phonetic nuances that take the listener on a journey through a rich, colorful land that stretches from the Alps to the Mediterranean.
Alongside arrangements of Italian folk songs, the group will also perform original compositions from the LyraDanz project, where French and Italian folk influences meet modern sounds and rhythms, with hints of jazz and manouche. In these pieces, the three instruments—especially the more unusual ones, like the Celtic harp and the bowed psaltery—are pushed to their technical limits and explored through experimental playing. The compositions are lively, dynamic, with engaging rhythms that captivate listeners.
What else do you have coming up?
We’re eagerly awaiting final confirmation for a concert at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC, next May.
Ensemble Sanginetto performs at 8 p.m. on Saturday, December 14 at Boulevard Music. Go to boulevardmusic.com for more information.
Elsewhere this week
The Culver Hotel will be hosting the likes of Sylvia & the Rhythm Boys, and Scotty Bramer. Go to culverhotel.com for more info.
There’s a full program of music at the Cinema Bar this week, as usual. The Hot Club of Los Angeles plays every Monday, and Wednesdays are singer/songwriter and open mic night. Other artists performing this week include Bruce Ray White, Ginger Merkin, The Dreamboats, Shine, and the Shamus Twins. Go to thecinemabar.com for more info.