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Singing fraternities in Sardinia: Castelsardo, Orosei, Santulussurgiu |
 Sardinia is a Mediterranean island where traditional craft has been kept alive in many small village communities over centuries through continuing oral transmission. In dozens of villages, men still practise four-part polyphony – profane as well as religious – nourished by Christian Latin liturgy and agro-pastoral culture, and influenced by ancient pagan customs.
Following long-term research into Georgian singing, studies in Bulgaria and Greece, and after meeting Corsican polyphony in 2006, Teatr ZAR began a research process in Sardinia for its new project Anhelli, which will be completed as the third part of the Gospels of Childhood triptych.
 Following reconnaissance in June 2008, over the ensuing months the expedition passed through Bitti, Orosei, Dorgali, Santulussurgiu and Orune, meeting various fraternities and ensembles. The expedition reached its culmination in Castelsardo, where ZAR attended the ceremonies organised for the feast day of Mary and were invited by the fraternity to perform a concert in its Santa Croce Oratory. At the turn of November, Theatre ZAR documented the preparations for the celebration of All Saints’ Day and the ceremony in Orosei, including the novena of the Oratory of Sas Animas. Members of Theatre ZAR will present various materials collected during, and accounts of, the expedition, and will also present a number of songs live.
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