The Contrasto is a type of improvised sung poetical verbal duel, performed in the context of festivals and events. Diffused today throughout the regions of Tuscany, Lazio and Abruzzo, in Italy, it is performed by pairs of artists, mostly males, called Poeti Bernescanti or simply poeti, “poets.” In the Contrasto two different figures, ideas, or things are contrasted, each is, in turn, defended and attacked, in an attempt to demonstrate the general inferiority of the one and superiority of the other. The performances are public, usually done during local events, including feasts organized by the various district units of the parties, or by the parishes. The arguments treated in a Contrasto, namely the “themes,” are chosen by the audience. They vary and are potentially limitless. Examples are Contrasti involving figures in the family (e.g. “mother-in-law vs. daughter-in-law”), popular characters (e.g. “nun vs. prostitute,” “priest, physician and undertaker”) or abstract concepts (“science vs. nature”); social and political Contrasti (e.g. “D’Alema vs. Bertinotti,” “Russia vs. America”); historical Contrasti and Contrasti between various Tuscan cities (e.g. “Prato vs. Pistoia”), etc. In addition, poets may choose to duel by simply insulting each other.
If you want to know more about Verbal Duels, and the Contrasto in particular, see the links to the right. If you would like information on my research, see here. If you want to try to make a Contrasto, see here.
You can also look at the Archive to see a list of Contrasti and listen to some of them.
