Looking at the history of the literary festival Incroci di Civiltà and the career of singer-songwriter Noa, one can’t help but be surprised that this collaboration hasn’t happened sooner. There are numerous intersections between Noa’s commitment to breaking down cultural barriers and the festival’s focus on cultural dialogue. Noa emphasizes that the changes in the cultural landscape reflect broader societal transformations, often not for the better. She notes a decline in people’s ability to engage in meaningful conversations, embrace complexity and diversity, and prioritize processes over immediate results. These dynamics, exacerbated by social media, hinder society’s ability to bridge differences and improve the condition of the global “human family”. On March 29, Noa will perform at the Teatro Goldoni accompanied by Gil Dor (guitar), Ruslan Sirota (piano), Omri Abramov (sax and EWI), and Daniel Dor (drums) in an event organized by the Fondazione di Venezia in collaboration with Incroci di Civiltà and Veneto Jazz. The following day, she will participate in a public discussion on peace and dialogue among peoples together with Giovanni Dell’Olivo, General Director of the Fondazione di Venezia.

The Israeli performer’s memorable duet at the recent 75th Sanremo Festival, where she sang Imagine with Palestinian singer Mira Awad, is still fresh in our minds. This collaboration united two cultures through music, delivering a powerful message of peace and solidarity, and was celebrated by a standing ovation. This performance preceded the release of her new album, The Giver, which she composed with Gil Dor and Ruslan Sirota. Noa explains that the current crisis has pushed many, including herself, to extremes of emotion – pain, loss, anger, and frustration – but also resilience and courageous leadership. This challenging period has fostered deep reflection and has inspired her to express her feelings and vision through music. In this album, she embraced greater creative freedom and took significant steps toward independence, crediting Gil and Ruslan for their invaluable support in co-writing, arranging, and producing. Noa’s voice and artistic integrity have captivated music legends like Quincy Jones, Sting, Stevie Wonder, and Pat Metheny, who produced her first international album in 1994. Her global recognition solidified in 1997 when Roberto Benigni chose her to perform Beautiful That Way, a centrepiece song in Benigni’s Oscar-winning film Life is Beautiful.