Quarte&Graal and the music of King Ruggero

On the occasion of the European Year of the Normans 2027, the association Les Prieurales and its ensemble Quarte&graal propose an original musical project that puts the Norman heritage and the Arab-Norman heritage in dialogue.

The project is based on a valuable Norman medieval instrumentation, created over the past twelve years with the support of the City of Le Havre, including numerous instruments reconstructed from the sculptures of the Abbey of Graville.

One of these instruments was made by the Sicilian luthier Giuseppe Severini, also known for his work in reconstructing the musical instruments depicted in the paintings of the Palatine Chapel in Palermo, one of the emblematic places of the Arab-Norman heritage. Through his work, Severini brings life and sound back to the instruments represented in the precious decorations of the muqarnas ceiling commissioned by Roger II of Hauteville in the 12th century after the Norman conquest of Sicily.

The project involves the meeting of three musicians from Quarte&graal – including a British musician – and two Sicilian artists. Together they will create a dialogue between instruments, repertoires, and voices from Normandy, England, and Sicily, echoing the cultural relations that have marked Norman history.
A performance is scheduled for the fall of 2027 at the Palatine Chapel in Palermo.

Additionally, concerts are planned in Normandy, in Barking, in the Greater London area, and in Copenhagen, giving the project a fully European dimension.

practical information

For everyone

Paid: Access to the Palatine Chapel requires a ticket