Iconoclastic Italian Musician Franco Battiato to make rare New York concert appearance

Multi-talented Italian singer, songwriter and composer Franco Battiato will make his first New York concert appearance in 10 years on Monday October 19, 2009 at (Le) Poisson Rouge. The 68 year-old, Sicilian-born musician will draw from a stunning repertoire spanning four decades: From his seminal 1971 prog-rock release "Fetus" (re-released in 2006 with liner notes by friend and avant-rocker Jim O’Rourke) to 2008’s "Fleurs 2" which features duets with New York’s Antony Hegarty (Antony and the Johnsons) and fellow Catanian Carmen Consoli. Battiato will present an intimate in-the-round show accompanied by a 7 piece group which includes the noted Italian string quartet Il Nuovo Quartetto Italiano. The following day, at 6:00PM, he will be present at the Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimò where he will have a conversation open to the public together with Stefano Albertini (NYU).