EXALTING, EXCITING, EXULTANT & EXUBERANT
Last night, May 16, Alessandra Belloni and John T. La Barbera led a transcendent 90-minute concert titled Mystic Rhythms & Sacred Chants for 7 Black Madonnas at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. More than a performance, it was a ritual journey—spiritual, historical, and profoundly musical—tracing the veneration of the Black Madonna across Spain, France, Southern Italy, and Brazil.
Photo by Diego Morzillo.
What is the Black Madonna? Scattered across Europe and other continents is a series of medieval paintings and statues known as Black Madonnas who have dark or black features. Many are well-known pilgrimage shrines. Typically, it is a reference to the icon, statue or painting of the Virgin Mary with the Christ child, associated with the catholic church. Some say the image began as representative art of the peoples of a particular region, just as European Madonnas are white-skinned. Some have hypothesized that certain white Madonnas became black over time from soot. It’s a fascinating subject to research. Regardless of the definitive origin, Black Madonnas today, according to U.S. Catholic, “roots Mary in the struggle of her Black and brown sisters for justice. Even more than a connection through skin color, the Black Madonna reveals a dimension of the sacred feminine as one who is able to stay present with us through our own times of holy darkness.” For more info on this fascinating legend, see Belloni’s writeup.
Alessandra Belloni, Giovannangelo de Gennaro, John T. La Barbera,
Mara Gerety, Christa Patton, Vincenzo Scialla.
For this concert, narration by Juliet Gentile offered a mystical context to each of the seven Madonnas represented, framing each region’s musical contribution with reverent storytelling. What followed was a lovingly curated selection of traditional medieval folk music, performed with authenticity and passion.
Giovannangelo de Gennaro
Belloni, Artistic Director of I Giullari di Piazza, the ensemble-in-residence at the Cathedral since 1980, infused the performance with a grounded presence on percussion and vocals, while La Barbera–composer and music director–provided masterful accompaniment on guitar, mandolin, and the chitarra battente, a folk guitar from Southern Italy. They were joined by an equally talented ensemble: Mara Gerety (vocals & violin), Christa Patton (harp, oboe & recorder), percussionist Vincenzo Scialla (riqq, drums & bells), and, from Italy, Giovannangelo De Gennaro (vocals, flutes, percussion & vielle (aka “medieval fiddle”). Each musician played with finesse, weaving a soundscape that felt both ancient and alive.
John T. LaBarbera
The visual component was equally passionate and committed. Dancers Francesca Silvano, Amara, Ms. Gentile, and stilt-performer Mark Mindek added physical poetry to the evening. Flowing silks, golden shawls, and illuminated blue wings gave the performance an ethereal visual language, while one especially memorable moment featured a live snake, used symbolically as a dance partner—a nod to earth-centered spiritual traditions.
Francesca Silvano (as The Moon), Alessandra Belloni
The concert unfolded in two parts: the first comprising 14 musical pieces, the second, after intermission, offering 7 more, culminating in the exuberant Pizzica Tarantata—a trance-inducing healing dance historically linked to the Southern Italian tarantella tradition.
Amara and snake
At its heart, the concert was a devotional offering—honoring the Earth Mother Goddess and African Mother through music predating Christianity. Belloni and her ensemble channeled this ancient spiritual lineage with reverence and vitality, making the distant past feel alive and accessible.
Francesca Silvano, Alessandra Belloni, Giovannangelo de Gennaro
The evening closed with a heartfelt acknowledgment of I Giullari di Piazza. In that final gesture, one could feel the performers’ profound dedication—not just to preserving tradition, but to keeping sacred music viscerally alive.
Amara
photos by Jonathan Slaff
Mark Mindek
Mystic Rhythms & Sacred Chants for 7 Black Madonnas
I Giullari di Piazza
Cathedral of St. John the Divine. 1047 Amsterdam Ave @ 112th St
reviewed on May 16, 2025
for more info, Alessandra Belloni
Mara Gerety, Christa Patton, Vincenzo Scialla
Gregory Fletcher is an author, a theater professor, a playwright, director, and stage manager. His craft book on playwriting is entitled Shorts and Briefs, and publishing credits include two YA novels (Other People’s Crazy, and Other People’s Drama), 2 novellas in the series Inclusive Bedtime Stories, 2 short stories in The Night Bazaar series, and several essays. Website, Facebook, Instagram.
