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PRIMO CONCERTO DELL’ANNO<\/strong>
\na cura del GREENSLEEVES GOSPEL CHOIR<\/strong> \u2013 Direttore Fausto Caravati<\/p>\nThe Christmas events promoted by the Municipality of Varenna continue.<\/p>\n
On January 2, 2025<\/strong>
\nFirst concert of the year
\nwith the return of the GREENSLEEVES GOSPEL CHOIR<\/strong>
\ndirected by FAUSTO CARAVATI<\/strong><\/p>\nThey will offer intense emotions with the engaging rhythms of famous gospel and spiritual music!<\/p>\n
At the Church of San Giorgio<\/strong>
\nAt 9:00 PM<\/strong>
\nFree admission<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nFausto Caravati<\/strong>
\nBorn in Varese in 1971, Fausto Caravati is one of the most important figures in the Italian and international pop choral movement. He is a choir director, arranger, and cultural promoter who has dedicated his career to the diffusion of pop, gospel, and jazz choral music. He studied pop choral conducting with renowned teachers and groups, including Matthias Becker, Kirby Shaw, Fred Sj\u00f6berg, Jens Johansen, the King’s Singers, and the Swingle Singers.<\/p>\nFausto is the founder and director of successful ensembles such as the Greensleeves Gospel Choir, active since 1992 with over 1,000 concerts in Italy and abroad, the female ensemble Le Pop Up (formed in 2015 and internationally recognized), the children’s choir Blooming Kids, and more recently, the Vocal Experience, an innovative pop choir project for young people aged 18-30.<\/p>\n
He is the artistic director of Solevoci<\/em>, the organizing body of major events like the Varese Gospel Festival and the Solevoci Festival, Italy\u2019s first international festival dedicated to a cappella music. Fausto has collaborated with world-famous artists, directing the Solevoci Gospel Choir in Andrea Bocelli\u2019s “The Journey” tour in 2021, alongside Tori Kelly and the 40 Fingers Guitar Quartet.<\/p>\nHe is also co-founder of dovesicanta.it<\/em>, a portal and community for a cappella gospel, pop, and jazz choral singing. Thanks to his expertise and artistic vision, he is regularly invited to be part of international competition juries and to hold courses and masterclasses at prestigious universities and institutions. His educational work also includes school projects across Italy.<\/p>\nFausto is known for his innovation and energy in promoting pop choral singing, contributing to the artistic growth of young talents and spreading a contemporary choral repertoire, making him a key figure in modern choral music.<\/p>\n
\nGREENSLEEVES GOSPEL CHOIR<\/strong>
\nFounded in 1992 by Fausto Caravati to bring together young people who wanted to express themselves through the warm sounds of gospel music, the Greensleeves Gospel Choir (GGC)<\/strong> has performed in nearly 1,000 concerts in churches, theaters, and squares in Italy and abroad, as well as on major musical stages both in Italy and internationally.<\/p>\nIn December 1998, it performed for the first time in Italy the Gospel Mass<\/em> by Robert Ray. In December 2002, celebrating its tenth anniversary, it performed the Christmas concert Christmas is Coming<\/em>, accompanied by the New Garden Pop Orchestra. In September 1997, the choir released its first album, The Gospel Train<\/em>, followed by Everybody Let\u2019s Praise The Lord<\/em> in 1999. In 2001, the first compilation of Italian gospel was released, which included a track from GGC.<\/p>\nIn December 2007, the choir presented the album Live at Varese Gospel Festival<\/em> in celebration of its 15th anniversary. The choir’s latest album, A Gospel Heart<\/em>, was recorded in Varese in November 2015.<\/p>\nOn October 31, 2019, the choir was invited by the Don Gnocchi Foundation to perform for Pope Francis at the Vatican in Aula Paolo IV, singing before nearly 6,000 pilgrims.<\/p>\n
In May 2021, some of the choir’s singers were selected to join the 18 best gospel voices in Italy for a performance with Andrea Bocelli during The Journey<\/em> tour, which included performances at symbolic locations along the Via Francigena. At the stunning ruins of the Abbey of San Galgano, Fausto Caravati conducted the “Solevoci Gospel Choir” in a moving performance of Leonard Cohen\u2019s Hallelujah<\/em>, alongside Andrea Bocelli, Tori Kelly, and the 40 Fingers Guitar Quartet. The choir also accompanied Tori Kelly in two of her biggest hits: Never Alone<\/em> and Soul\u2019s Anthem<\/em>, the latter performed entirely a cappella.<\/p>\nThe choir\u2019s repertoire spans a variety of gospel styles, from traditional hymns to contemporary pieces, and their energetic and uplifting performances are well-loved by audiences.<\/p>\n
\nProgram<\/strong><\/p>\n