Istalia

[XanderOne]

The 37th edition of FOMAT: a triumph of musical excellence and artistic refinement

The great international musical event hosted in the magnificent Arena Seluciana of Argintera came back to shines in Istalia

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28 November 5649 (OOC: backdated)

ARGINTERA - After twenty-one years of absence from Istalian soil, the Festival of Musical Arts in Terra, known to all as FOMAT, has returned to the Bel Paese for its 37th edition, after Narikaton & Darnussia renounced organizing it, and this year the organizers have chosen a stage of excellence, hosted last night in the evocative setting of the Arena Seluciana, the famous ancient amphitheater of Argintera, the ancient historical and artistic center of the Cisavugli Region founded in ancient times by the Selucian colonists. It is expected to be an edition that will remain in the annals not only for the very high musical level, but also for the spectacular nature of the organization and the atmosphere of international elegance that pervaded the entire evening.

The Arena Seluciana, a masterpiece of stone and history, with its majestic arches and its arena that is already regularly used for various shows, first and foremost for the city's opera season, was masterfully transformed into an exceptional stage to host the FOMOT thanks to the work of SIRAN, the Istalian state television, which took care of the event down to the smallest details. The lights danced on the ancient steps, the visual effects enhanced the beauty of the archaeological site, and the clear sky of Argintera gave a clear, almost theatrical night.

Among the most anticipated and applauded presences of the evening, the Emperor and the Empress consort undoubtedly stood out, who took their places in the grandstand next to the President of the Federal Republic of Dundorf Juliane Offenbach and her consort, who came to Istalia to support their country's representation in the competition. Before the show, the Emperor wanted to pay homage to the illustrious guest with a private reception at Villa Principe di Nacosia, a historic royal residence from the times of the Kingdom of Nicoma, now owned by the Municipality of Argintera and magnificently restored for institutional events. In an elegant and relaxed atmosphere, the guests, including some of the highest officials of the State, were delighted by the finest wines of the Istalian oenology and the refined specialties of the North-Alarian cuisine, while the two Heads of State conversed amiably in the frescoed halls. The Minister Secretary of State, Valeriano Giunio, took the opportunity for a brief conversation with the President of Dundorf on issues of international politics and diplomacy: a cordial and informal exchange, in line with the festive context of the evening, the contents of which were not disclosed.

Then, the lights went up on the FOMAT stage, kicking off the eagerly awaited evening. Nine songs were competing, chosen from the best proposals of contemporary, pop, electronic, soul and experimental music. The artists were able to involve the audience with profound interpretations, refined arrangements and a scenography worthy of the greatest global events. Here are the contestants in order of performance:

Stan Guapxs – Rosa Mística (Egelion)

Luthorian Idiot – Red Dawn band (Luthori)

Duranggi – Goho (Bianjie)

Goodbye, Last Love – Kamienski (Nadiya)

I won't Let you Down '50 – Garrett Phillips (Kalistan)

Κύκνειο Άσμα – Haroula Florou (Kalopia)

Skarnvald – Ljothamar (Kazulia)

So what if I was there? – Evžen Kubát and Augustýn Stehlík (Kundrati), notably written by veteran of 1st and 2nd Kundrati wars Boris Kozár.

Wasted Hope – Johannes Artsch (JA) (Dundorf)

Each performance was accompanied by immersive scenography and by an international orchestra, conducted by the Istalian maestro Corrado Revaldi, who was able to give depth and expressive strength to each interpretation.

After a long wait and the joint vote of national juries and international audiences, the final ranking was unveiled before a breathless public:

9th. So what if I was there? – Evžen Kubát and Augustýn Stehlík (Kundrati) - 27 points

8th. Wasted Hope – Johannes Artsch (JA) (Dundorf) - 41 points

7th. Luthorian Idiot – Red Dawn band (Luthori) - 51 points

6th. Duranggi – Goho (Bianjie) - 53 points

5th. Goodbye, Last Love – Kamienski (Nadiya) - 56 points

4th.  I won't Let you Down '50 – Garrett Phillips (Kalistan) - 61 points

Then, with the whole Arena plunged in a silence full of trepidation, finally came the podium:

3rd place: Stan Guapxs – Rosa Mística (Egelion) - 64 points

2nd place: Skarnvald – Ljothamar (Kazulia) - 65 points

1st place (WINNER): Κύκνειο Άσμα – Haroula Florou (Kalopia) - 77 points

The winner was greeted with a standing ovation. Visibly moved, the Kalopian artist, with a decennal carrer on the backs and among the most appreciated singers and songwriters of her country, thanked the Istalian audience for the warm welcome and the magical energy of the Arena Seluciana. The song was widely praised for its lyrical beauty and musical craftsmanship, with critics and audiences alike moved by the artist’s stunning performance, in which she masterfully wove emotion into every note, delivering a rendition as intimate as it was powerful. 

This year's edition kept spectators in suspense until the very last moment, as the final ranking was revealed in a crescendo of tension. The artists at the top of the ranking found themselves enclosed within a margin of just a few votes, a testament to the very high level of the competition, so that second and third place saw a close fight between Egelion, Kundrati and Kalistan, cne of the favorites on the eve who, however, eventually failed to climb onto the podium by a handful of votes, finishing in fourth place.

Making the event even more unique was the presence of numerous national and international celebrities from the worlds of cinema, music and fashion, who attended the event to support the delegations of their countries together with the rest of the public, who came from all over the world, especially from Kalistan, Egelion, Kalopia, Kazulia and Dundorf.

Thanks to the excellent work of SIRAN, the live broadcast reached hundreds of millions viewers worldwide, recording a record peak in audiences in several countries. The organizational success confirmed the image of Istalia as a great host country of international cultural events, in the name of elegance, history and modernity.