The Other Italy
Sundays, 5:00-7:00​​
This show is an adventure into the folk music of Italy, a little known realm.  Imagine the melodic quality of Anglo-Celtic music with the rhythmic dynamics of Latin music.  Songs sung with passion and dance music played on large tambourines, guitars, mandolins, violins, whistles, accordions, and bagpipes.  This is not "O Sole Mio", but tarantellas, love songs, lullabies, serenades, and work songs.  A musical world waiting to be discovered.

Previous Programs​

Christopher Sblendorio began playing music on the accordion as a child, growing up in the home of his Italian grandparents.  He was a programmer on college and university stations before joining WBCR in the first year it was created.  He  spent more than twenty years researching the folk music of Italy by making annual visits to his relatives there.  He has played in concerts, toured, and recorded with musicians and bands from various parts of the country, playing the 'organetto', button accordion, and thus acquired an extensive repertoire of tunes and a huge collection of recorded music and in-depth knowledge of the traditions. ​