On 6th April 2009, in the middle of the night, an earthquake devastated the town of l’Aquila. More than 300 people were killed, thousands were wounded, and half the inhabitants of this town of 70,000 were left homeless.

This cold description hides even more tragic realities. A great number of historical monuments were damaged or destroyed in this 1,000 year-old city, with its 99 squares, churches and parishes, a wealthy wooltrading centre since time immemorial. Having found refuge in hotels, tents or with friends, without having been able to go back for their belongings since the authorities declared that the risk of buildings crumbling was too great, these unfortunate people live from one day to the next and will take years to recover from this cataclysm.

For the musicians of l’Officina Musicale in l’Aquila, the situation is tragic: some lost their houses, some their instruments and others a loved one. Their director, Orazio Tucella, only had seconds to save himself by jumping through a second floor window. Badly wounded, he and his wife were taken in at a hostel in the village of San Stefano di Sextantia, whose owner had to lend him a shirt, for they had lost everything.

This disc aims to bring new life to the musicians of l’Aquila, to enable them to restart their activity, to claim that hope never dies, even when misfortune strikes. The main part of the profits from this disc will go to these musicians to help them acquire the bare necessities.

Our friends have chosen a light and charming repertoire, accessible to the larger public but of exemplary quality, to conjure sadness and bring back joy.

L’Officina Musicale is established in L’Aquila and is resident in the medieval villages of S. Stefano di Sessanio and Rocca Calascio, in the Gran Sasso National Parc.