Even outside of Italy there is a beautiful Italy! Maestro Jonathan Cilia Faro, an Italian tenor, a great internationally renowned artist, demonstrates this with his talent, grit and passion that emerge very strongly not only when he sings, but, in everything he does.
Maestro you are a tenor, yours is a powerful voice that often sings in Italian. You are a promoter of the Italian language abroad, an ambassador of bel canto. How much and how did your cultural baggage and your Italian origins affect your artistic training and your career?
I think my origins have influenced a lot in my artistic career. Being accustomed to observing and fully enjoying what Italy offers us with its immense heritage, including singing, have accustomed me to wanting to share this reality with the whole world and to try, in my own way, to know this wealth abroad.
You live in America, you are an American citizen, but you never miss an opportunity to talk about your Italian identity. What value do your Italian, Ragusan roots have for you?
Sicily is the land of the sun, of tradition, of passion and therefore I think I have internalized this "natural" radiance and I hope to be able to convey it through my voice, my resourcefulness and positivity.
You represent the Italian who has won, who has been successful, but we don't forget those who have had a different path. You have always done good and have even received a special honor from the Mauritian International Academy. How is it born and how does she nourish her attention towards others?
I was not born into a comfortable environment. I started working at the age of 14 to pay for piano and singing lessons, and then left Italy at the age of 15. I have experienced moments of great difficulty but, in that context, I have always promised myself that, if I was ever successful, I would make myself available to the "less fortunate". I also had splendid examples of "generosity" such as Franco Giorgio, Salvo Pulvirenti, the industrialist Siro Brieda, the producer Kip Dodson, Mario Messina and Vincenzo Bagnara, the Sicilian entrepreneurs Infantino and Roberto Zanta, Men who work behind the scenes but who have done so much charity.
His single "L'Incredula rosa" composed by Sergio Cammariere and written by Roberto Kunsler, is getting an excellent response from the public. How did this collaboration come about and how did you manage to tell, in such a delicate and careful way, such a strong and unfortunately still topical theme?
Italy is full of artists with whom I have always wanted to collaborate, being able to do so makes my work priceless but unfortunately this concept of mine is not always shared.
The collaboration with Sergio and Roberto was born out of a series of coincidences that I always interpret as signs to follow. I wanted to offer the public something refined, delicate, with authors who knew how to skilfully carve words and set them to music.
I wanted a song that spoke of Love in a non-obvious way and I immediately thought of them who are two wonderful people, not at all venal and with whom I share the pure passion for made in Italy music. The single "The Incredulous Rose" it has only been out for two months and is already enjoying great success.
His videos are beautiful! They evoke emotions, are fun, interesting, capture the attention of those who look at them and listen to them. In the video "La Dolce Vita in Rome" in which she sings together with Donny Most, we see Rome, the Colosseum, the Vespa, the 500 with the old license plate, all iconic symbols of the Bel Paese. How much fun did you have making this video?
I love cinema very much, I adore Sergio Leone and Federico Fellini, I grew up with the music of Nino Rota and Ennio Morricone. In recent years, I have actually paid more attention to my videos, I have surrounded myself with valid collaborators, who have been able to best express my ideas, sometimes a little crazy and/or going against the trend. I love experimenting, making people dream but, especially lately, also provoking, making those who follow me think. I don't expect to be understood by everyone.
In "Vesti la Giubba" his powerful voice is enriched by a great interpretative expression. What satisfactions did interpreting this very famous piece give you?
As an artist and a man, I have also chosen to take a stand on delicate issues such as the current one of violence against women. I have always felt close to Ruggero Leoncavallo, also because "Pagliacci" is an autobiographical work in an operatic key. I prepared a lot to interpret this piece, trying to identify myself, to "live" this story and trying to give the best of me.
Maestro, you launched your Christmas single with Mari Burelle which is getting a resounding success. Among the many Christmas songs, why did you choose this one and how did the collaboration with the extraordinary Mari Burelle come about?
Every year at Christmas, with the "Studio 11" and "Stradivarius Classic" record labels, a single is produced to celebrate this event involving artists of great depth. This year I sang the piece "Santa Claus coming to town 2022" with Marie Burell, a Latin American singer with an rousing voice and internationally known. In 2019, however, "Grown up Christmas List" was produced with the Tom Brooks and Alan Parsons project. Finally in October 2022 I had the honor of sharing the stage with José Feliciano and many other Latin American stars. I really care about this "Christmas event" because it brings out the child in me, the desire to let myself be carried away by the emotions, by the magic, by the amazement that this tradition gives us.
What are your plans for the near future?
In 2023 I will be on tour with two shows: "Romantico tour" with the voice of Veronica Liberati and "Godfather" to make viewers understand that we Italians are not just mafia, pizza and mandolin.
Riccardo Cocciante in his "Our Italian language" defined it as "new, divine, universal". I find myself in this concept. We are the cradle of Greco-Roman culture, abroad they talk about our excellence and in the future I would like to create "an army of artists" capable of continuing to enhance our country which politics has, alas, abandoned. I am concerned for the new generations and I always hope for a collective "cultural awakening".
italiani.it promotes the beauty of Italy and is the network of all those who have "Italy in their heart". Talking about Maestro Cilia gives strength and value to our mission and makes us feel proud of our contribution to spreading the Italian spirit around the world. Thank you teacher.
Featured photo by David Dobson
