«Four Altars, so the celebration will become international»

From local to international. The objective of the Mennella administration and the artistic director of the Municipality is ambitious, Gigi Di Luca which, in full harmony, are working to relaunch and bring back to Greek’s tower there Feast of the Four Altars, suspended for fourteen years. The 2024 edition will take place in three steps: 25 and 26 May – with the identity village and the involvement of all the city schools; 1 and 2 June – with a conference and concert show on Corpus Domini; 19, 20 and 21 July, with the display of altars and carpets. The 2024 event will have its feet firmly planted in tradition and its eyes focused on youth and innovation. But the challenge of the artistic director appointed just under a month ago will be to internationalize the festival and take it beyond provincial and regional borders.

Director, what is your idea?

«The Feast of the Four Altars needs to recover the identity of memory in the wake of tradition. For this reason the altars will be made with the same painting technique and the carpets with colored sawdust. The works will be exhibited in historic places and churches. We are trying to understand if it is possible to use the old lights too.”

What do you mean by innovation?

«We must listen and support young people and contemporary artists. We are about to sign an agreement with the Academy of Fine Arts. With the university students we want to create a mural that will be exhibited outside the Giovanni Mazza school, in the center. The Degni kids will also be involved in training: they will be taught how to build altars and carpets.”

Making the Feast of the Four Altars international is another objective of his and that of the administration. Will there also be foreign artists on the bill?

«I have already made contact with an internationally renowned Iranian artist who I would like to ask to represent peace – the theme of the party – in a street art work which will then be exhibited in the port area. But it is not the only initiative. We want to connect this festival to others that are celebrated in Europe on the occasion of Corpus Christi. We have already made contact with a foreign association: we will host a delegation that will bring the tradition of their festival here to us.”

You have been appointed artistic director of the Municipality, responsible for all the events that will be held in Torre del Greco in 2024. Any previews?

«There will be no spot initiatives but paths destined to become consolidated events. Following the example of last year, all the amateur companies in the area will be involved but with some new features. We want to organize music, dance and theater shows, enhancing historical sites and public spaces without forgetting the most degraded areas.”

What space will be given to young people?

«We will have a festival dedicated to them».

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