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Michéal Castaldo
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By Lucian
If you are a fan of Southern Italian music and language then you’ve probably already heard of Michéal Castaldo. Fusing the music of his native Calabria with other traditional Mediterranean and modern styles, Michéal sings in his ancestral tongue with passion and purpose. His pride reminds us that his regional heritage reaches back for centuries, predating Italy as we now know it, and his new release, Bergamot, Like a Breath of Fresh Air, transcends American expectations of Italian music.
Some Americans might be wondering what bergamot, the oil essential to the flavor of Earl Grey tea, has to do with Michéal Castaldo’s new CD, and the answer is — everything. The source for the oil is the skin of the bergamot orange, and Calabria has been the world’s primary supplier of this commodity for several centuries. The trees that bear the fruit do grow in other places, but the soil and climate particular to Calabria produce a superior product. The small fruit is yellow in color and also used in fragrances. The product is so entwined with the region that Reggio Calabria is sometimes called “The City of Bergamot.”
Like bergamot, the essence of Castaldo’s music is Calabrian. I can try to describe it but the best way to understand is to experience it. With this in mind I played the Bergamot CD for several of my friends and coworkers, and received very positive responses. One of my colleagues is very familiar with the recording industry, so I was especially eager to see his reaction. As soon as he heard the beginning of the first track, Na Muri (Un Amor), his eyes lit up. He turned to me and said “Great voice, solid recording, this guy knows what he’s doing.”
