Ritual Mediterranean Evening
Ataraxia - live in Brasov, Reduta Cultural Centre, The 20th of September 2008

Was it only a mysterious dream?

The 20th of September went by as well... A Ritual Mediterranean evening in its true sense! Perhaps boring through the lack of dynamism for some, perhaps attractive and even fulminating for those who knew what they for in for.

ATARAXIA performed a show like no one else could perform, in an exceptional way and with an incredible sense of giving. The tracks enjoyed some fair acoustics for a theatre hall, the Visual concept was molded after the bands wishes and requests, the abundance of decoration elements found on stage managing to match the resonance of Francescas’ voice and the concept approached by the band.

The fact that the four of them have presented in Brasov both new and old tracks proves that the band prepared enormously to transform a typical concert into a truly Special Evening. The imposing feminine voice resided above it all, Vittorios’ masterly guitar created an unique Mediterranean aura, Giovannis’ keyboard gave the sound, in a very balanced manner, that bombastic sort of atmosphere, while Riccardos’ percussion, a bit timid and less present (unfortunately) managed to often change, in a dynamic manner, a rhythm that stubbornly decided to stay slow, but in the same time mysterious, full of pagan aromas.
Francesca, with a wardrobe just as varied as attractive to the eye, elegantly combined the roles of musical performer with a drama, theater performer, staying focused though on symbolic movements that define, from the point of view of the band, the Ritual Mediterranean concept.

The over 300 spectators applauded the performance of the Italians, the encore having them play another two tracks that were not mentioned in the shows' program that every audience member received on the moment of entry into the venue.
It was impossible for the track „Aperlae” not to mesmerize, especially as the live version was giving off a totally special atmosphere, different from the one perceived on CD. In fact, this is ATARAXIA: a music that needs to be first listened to in studio version and then savoured, even completely assimilated while on stage.

Considering that the number of CDs that the band brought over sold almost in total (despite an even larger demand on a particular number of releases), some of them selling off before the gig, I'm inclined to believe that I wasn't the only one who has enjoyed this evening.... a mysterious night, pagan, ritual like, Mediterranean, dream like and even transcendental and most definitely an ataraxic one...

Thank you ATARAXIA... see you in Lost Atlantis!

September, 2008

P.S.: Message from the band (we were asked by ATARAXIA to publish the following words):

It would be great if you could thank from our part all the people who worked so passionately for the show, the girls who created that beautiful scenography, the sound and light technicians, the warm public and of course DonisArt and Kogaionon.