Wedding at Castello Chiaramonte (Siculiana)
A wedding at Castello Chiaramonte in Siculiana becomes even more magical when the bride is a musician. And not just any musician: a professional harpist who wanted to give her guests an unforgettable moment, performing a duet with Salvo of Sarabanda on “Cocciu d’Amuri” by Lello Analfino. A moment of pure Sicilian emotion, within the walls of one of the most evocative castles in the Agrigento area.
A headland on the “gateway to Sicily”
We know Siculiana well: a medieval village just a few minutes from Sicilian wonders of enormous historical value, such as the Scala dei Turchi and the Valley of the Temples. And its Castle is, rightly, a much sought-after destination for Sicilian couples, and not only those from the Agrigento area. So it’s no surprise that we at Sarabanda have been the guests of so many couples who chose this timeless setting for their reception.
What is surprising, and decidedly out of the ordinary, is a bride who is a professional harpist deciding to bring her wonderful (and demanding) instrument to the Castle on her wedding day, specifically to perform a duet with our Salvo on Lello Analfino’s beautiful and deeply Sicilian “Cocciu d’amuri”, a modern classic of the Sicilian love song.
An exclusive version of the serenade
And that’s not all! Francesca wanted to write her own arrangement of the serenade, a dress tailored for two, an enraptured dialogue between voice and harp that immersed everyone there in an enchanted atmosphere, almost bringing back to life the sumptuous splendor of the castle’s past millennium and, like a brief foray into 1310, a dreamy memory and a fleeting image of the famous wedding between Costanza and the Genoese Doria.
A bit over the top, you say? Maybe… but you had to be there. What alchemy the harp creates as it weaves through the voice in a medieval setting!
In any case, even if you weren’t there with us, you can still get an idea by watching the video of the whole performance in our gallery or through this direct link: Cocciu d’amuri
Or, if you’re in a hurry but still want a quick taste, there’s a short clip of the finale on our Instagram channel.
A grand finale with a waltz
It has often happened that a bride or groom who is a musician chose us for their wedding. Here, for example, we tell another of these stories: Wedding at Villa Bordonaro. We’re always delighted when it happens, for two reasons: because we’ve been chosen among so many bands by an expert in music, and because we know we’ll find an attentive, knowledgeable audience, full of “colleagues” in our beloved art.
This time was no exception: a perfect choice of repertoire, lots of attention, applause, and even a surprise moment with a final waltz, which Salvo introduced masterfully and theatrically with a little skit carefully planned with Francesca a few days earlier. And what a dance! A carefully studied choreography and moves: the two of them had prepared well and left everyone open-mouthed. Is there anything you two can’t do?
In short, when the bride and groom are not only musicians but also funny, resourceful and full of irony, a surprise is guaranteed! Definitely one of the most original weddings we have ever had the pleasure of playing at.
