Art Against the Rifle: Songs of War, Work and Love

An artistic project offering a contemporary reinterpretation of folk songs from Northern Italy, researched and reshaped by Silvia Tarozzi and Deborah Walker.

On 9 August 2025, the Church of St Valentine on Sabotino will host a musical-scene performance entitled Songs of War, Work and Love.

Artistic Ensemble:

• Silvia Tarozzi – viola, vocals,
• Deborah Walker – cello, vocals,
• Special guests: Vocal Quartet Slovena Voices,
• Zvezdana Novaković - ZveN – vocals,
• Eva Poženel – vocals,
• Ana Čop – vocals,
• Patricija Škof – vocals,
• Incredible Bob – light effects.

The Songs of War, Work, and Love event presents a contemporary reinterpretation of folk songs from northern Italy, which have been researched and transformed into an innovative soundscape for many years by artists Silvia Tarozzi and Deborah Walker. The repertoire includes songs of war, work, and love, enriched by the power of female polyphonic singing. This special performance will also feature members of the Slovena Voices quartet from Slovenia, under the artistic direction of Zvezdana Novaković - ZveN. Together, they will intertwine voices and languages into a powerful artistic statement of peace, solidarity, and humanity. The songs included in the project originate from different historical periods: from the early 20th century to the Second World War, with some tracing even further back in time. Through oral tradition, their lyrics and melodies have been adapted to social, geographical, and historical contexts.

The female perspective plays a vital role in the project. During times of war – and beyond – women often take on hard physical labor, replacing men, while also preserving cultural heritage and collective memory through song. Among the inspirations for the project are the songs of the "Mondine", the women working in rice fields, known for their strong polyphonic singing and expressive power. The sound design goes beyond tradition, grounded in contemporary interpretation and exploration, while still preserving the emotional core of historical heritage.

Join us for an evening of borderless art. After the concert, the organizers invite you to a gathering with refreshments in the former elementary school building in Štmaver.

The musical-theatrical event Songs of War, Work, and Love is part of the Art Against the Rifle project, an official program of the European Capital of Culture 2025 Nova Gorica - Gorizia, which will take place in a symbolic location – at the Church of Saint Valentine on Mount Sabotin, this time a meeting point of history and art. The event, organized by the Mink Association Tolmin as part of GO! 2025, is carried out in collaboration with the Walk of Peace Foundation, EGTC GO, ZRC SAZU, PromoTurismo FVG, the Municipality of Miren - Kostanjevica, and the èStoria Association within the project "Beyond Walk of Peace: from Cross-border Historical Research and Cultural Heritage to European Trail and Stories" (BeWoP), co-financed by the Interreg Italy–Slovenia Program.

The event is free, registration is required at this form. You can find the Facebook event here.