Launched in 2021, the project now presents its debut album ne sveleremo l’essenza (“we will reveal its essence”), created with the valuable collaboration of Matteo Ricci, a musician and sound engineer at “Studio 77” in Genoa, and under the artistic direction of Fabio Zuffanti, a key figure in tahe Italian progressive rock scene.

Through symphonic instrumentation, omnipresent yet never intrusive odd time signatures, evocative arrangements, and refined melodic sensitivity, the album opens with “oriental” hints (including, perhaps for the first time in the genre’s history, a Tibetan bell solo), then explores classical music, rock elements, touches of minimalism, and experimentation - the very blend that defines progressive rock.

The concept album transforms the theme of love into a journey articulated in five stages (five tracks, including, at Zuffanti’s suggestion and under his supervision, a long final suite) that elevates the experience to a philosophical ascent. The choice of genre is no coincidence: the nature of prog, with its contrasting, evolving, and transcending themes, musically mirrors the path of Eros itself.

A dialectical journey that begins with the uncertainty of the opening track (primi passi), passes through the fire of unrequited infatuation (sento calore), opens to eternal passion (luci a mandorla), confronts its possible finitude (i contorni dell’alba), and culminates in the revelation of Platonic-Socratic Eros (ne sveleremo l’essenza): desire, born of lack, is revealed here as the driving force of a journey toward a higher form of knowledge.

This musical vision is brought to life by an ensemble consisting of twelve performers. Among the solo voices, sometimes alternating and sometimes overlapping in harmonic dialogue, are Fabio Cinti, one of the most elegant and sophisticated singer-songwriters in Italy and a renowned interpreter of Franco Battiato, and Irene Manca, a promising young Genoese vocalist with a clear and intense tone, capable of modulating her expressiveness between lightness and strength.

Pegoraro, in addition to composing the music and lyrics and contributing rich keyboard textures to every track, also shaped the arrangements. These were further enriched by Ricci’s experience and eclectic taste; he also contributed electric guitars, soundscaping, meticulous mixing, and the recording of the other musicians.

Among these, standout contributions include the lyrical and seductive grand piano of Luca Scherani and the ingenious, conversational drumming of Andrea Orlando. A constant and essential presence is Giulio Gaietto on bass - delicate or energetic, depending on the musical fabric, with a special arco (bowed) touch at the end of the fourth track - and in some sections on keyboards, complementing and interacting with Pegoraro’s own. Adding further richness to individual tracks are the harmonious and incisive guitars of Massimo Montarese and Marco Topini, both classical/acoustic and electric/distorted; Osvaldo Loi with gentle commentary on violin and viola; Mauro Serpe caressing the first track with his flute; and finally, in the last track, almost as if to close the circle, the flamboyant Jacopo Gabutto, who performs all parts of a small wind ensemble (bassoon, flute, and clarinet) within the broader ensemble.

The result? A “romantic” progressive rock work that stands out for its artistic and intellectual depth. A creation capable of guiding the listener and capturing their attention through sonic seduction and original twists. Destined to leave a mark for its ability to celebrate the tradition of Italian prog while reimagining it in a fresh, soave (graceful, like the dancing legs sung in the second track), and enveloping form.