French-Italian tenor Roberto Alagna grew up in a family that instilled in him a love for opera and traditional Sicilian song. Although he devoted himself exclusively to the former for many years, a few years ago he rediscovered the rich musical repertoire of his father's native island. This led to the creation of the album Sicilien, released in 2008. Given the album's success, Roberto Alagna and Yvan Cassar decided to adapt it into a stage show. In August 2009, the tenor performed at the Arena of Nîmes in a show that combined popular music and classical art.