The New Year's Concert of the Italian Embassy in Paris is dedicated to Giacomo Puccini, an appointment for the promotion of Italian culture now in its third edition and conceived by Ambassador Emanuela D'Alessandro to celebrate the start of the New Year with personalities from the institutional, economic and cultural world of the French capital that contribute to the strengthening of bilateral relations between the two countries.
Held yesterday evening in the Sicilian Theatre of the Embassy, the concert was organised in collaboration with the City of Viareggio and the Puccini Festival of Torre del Lago - Viareggio, to symbolically conclude the celebrations in France of the centenary of the death of the great Tuscan composer, to which the entire Italian diplomatic-consular and cultural network present on transalpine territory contributed with over 20 events.
The Puccini Festival of Torre del Lago - Viareggio is the only event in the world entirely dedicated to Giacomo Puccini. Founded in 1930 and now in its 71st edition, the Festival is held every summer in July and August on the shores of Lake Massaciuccoli, at the enchanted places that inspired the Maestro some of his most famous melodies. Yesterday's event at the Embassy was attended by the Mayor of Viareggio Giorgio Del Ghingaro, the President of the Municipal Council Paola Gifuni, and the President of the Puccini Festival Foundation Fabrizio Miracolo.
The concert featured performances by pianist Monaldo Braconi, soprano Irene Celle and tenor Davide Piaggio, Italian artists already widely established on the national and international scene, who led the audience on a 'musical journey' through the masterpieces of the genius from Lucca, starting with one of his first compositions, when he was still a student at the Conservatory of Milan, and ending with arias from some of his most famous operas, in the reduced versions for piano and voice by the French composer Émile Tavan, who was also a student at the same time.
In her greeting, Ambassador D'Alessandro recalled the commitment of our diplomatic-consular and cultural network 'in promoting Italian cultural excellence and strengthening cultural exchanges with France. "Events such as this evening's," she stressed, "are essential to keep the legacy of our great artists alive and to stimulate new collaborations: Puccini's ties with France are numerous and deep, and by celebrating Puccini we are also celebrating Italian-French friendship and our common cultural heritage.
"Giacomo Puccini had a significant bond with France, both on a personal and artistic level," said Mayor Del Ghingaro. "We are here today to carry on, with the same cosmopolitan spirit as the Maestro, the very close cultural collaboration between our countries: a choral commitment that celebrates an extraordinary life and above all allows us to preserve the memory of timeless masterpieces."
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