This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 FLORENCE 000027 
 
SIPDIS 
 
ECA FOR ROMANOWSKI, SCHUMAN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OEXC OPRC SCUL EUN
SUBJECT: ARAB-APPALACHIAN FUSION MUSIC CONCERTS 
 
¶1.      On the first week of March 2006, the U.S. Consulate 
General in Florence organized three fusion music concerts in 
Colle Val D'Elsa (Siena), Bologna and Modena, targeting local 
Muslim communities, high school and university students, 
authorities and representatives from local community 
institutions. The group named "kantara", composed of four young 
American talents and three renowned Tunisian artists, started 
its first-ever tournee' in Italy in front of large appreciative 
audiences. Kantara is the name of the enlarged "Le Minaret et La 
Tour" group, which performed in Florence and Colle Val D'Elsa in 
November 2005. The past success of this unusual blend of 
Arabic-Appalachian music convinced the Consulate in Florence to 
request the Department of State's support for a new performing 
arts project targeting, principally but not exclusively, the 
Muslim communities residing in the rest of the consular 
district. 
 
¶2.      The concert in Colle Val D'Elsa had been organized for the 
second time in light of continuous requests by the local 
government, eager to repeat the November success and to 
co-sponsor a cultural initiative favoring integration between 
the moderate Muslims and the citizens of Colle. The performance 
took place on March 3, at the S. Agostino Theater, before almost 
300 people, mostly young Muslims and high school students, but 
also local authorities and common citizens from neighboring 
towns. In the words of the mayor, this event is a step forward 
to "fight ignorance" and a means "to support the knowledge of 
different cultures" on the path to "dialogue and integration, 
based on values like civilization, solidarity and democracy". In 
his speech Imam Jabareen, who actively contributed to the 
initiative, reminded the audience that for those who wish a 
mutual and better understanding through dialogue "no effort is 
small, no commitment is useless". Finally, the hosting Catholic 
priest, Father Daniele welcomed the concert as the best evidence 
that, notwithstanding what the Italian media say, there is no 
clash of civilizations. 
 
¶3.      The concert in Bologna, the first Florence PA event in the 
city in years, took place in the prestigious Fifteenth Century 
Farnese Chapel, one of the most sought-after venues for public 
events, inside the ancient Town Hall. About 200 people attended 
the concert, presented by CG Dempsey and by the chairperson of 
the Interdepartmental Center for Islamic Studies of the 
University of Bologna, who gave welcome remarks in Arabic and 
Farsi for the members and students of the Islamic community. 
Among the audience, there were also the director of the 
conservatory, several academicians, the president of the City 
Council and representatives of the business and cultural 
institutions. The chapel was standing room only. Some students 
who wanted to listen to the concert in spite of the lack of 
available seats, agreed to sit on the floor. This performance 
has been a result of an enthusiastic support of the local 
institutions, namely the Town Hall, the University of Bologna/ 
University of Denver, and the "Luciano Finelli" cultural 
institution. This cooperation went beyond the Consulate's 
expectations, and paves the way to future new PD projects. 
 
¶4.      The third and final concert was held on March 5 in Modena, 
at the headquarters of Rossini Chorale, a musical institution of 
renown in the region, which includes Luciano Pavarotti among its 
members. Together with CG Dempsey, the performance was 
introduced by the President of the Chorale and by the mayor of 
the city. Even in this last concert the room, with 170 seats, 
was full, with such an enthusiastic audience that the musicians 
had to play two encores. PA office is already receiving calls 
from Modena by citizens who did not attend the event but heard 
about the beauty of the music and are interested in obtaining a 
recording or CD of the group. 
 
¶5.      The performances have been widely covered by local press, 
which stressed the beauty of the new sound of the 
Arab-Appalachian music and the message underlying the strength 
of the intercultural dialogue. The music has been described 
as"magic, surrounding atmosphere where the Arab and American 
cultures merge to grow together and explore new, undiscovered 
paths, at the same time delivering a message of peace" (il Resto 
del Carlino - Bologna). Headlines: "American and Islamic beauty 
in concert" (Il Corriere di Siena); "Fusion Music brings 
together United States and Islam" (Il Cittadino Oggi); "Success 
of the Kantara Group: the musicians who build the dialogue 
between the United States and Islam" (Metropoly Day); "An event 
to support dialogue among peoples through the music" 
(Sienanews.it); "Two cultures, one music" (Il Resto del Carlino 
- Bologna). Other articles appeared on La Nazione, L'Unita'- 
Firenze, Valdelsa.net, Il Resto del Carlino - Modena, and 
Gazzetta di Modena. 
 
¶6.      The Florence Consulate effectively reached out to not only 
the local Muslim communities throughout the district, but also 
to Italian citizens and local cultural and political 
institutions.  Best of all, the initiative appears to have 
raised awareness among the citizens and authorities of the three 
cities of the need to explore new ways to approach a dialogue 
with the Islamic community as well as to get to know the Islamic 
culture.  The consulate staff has been impressed by the number 
of request for CDs and enquiries about the possibility to repeat 
the performances in the future. 
DEMPSEY