With the theme “The Italian Language on Stage,” the 19th edition of the Week of the Italian Language in the World kicked off yesterday at the Qatar National Library (QNL) with a lecture on the evolution of Italian opera by prominent Italian conductor and concert performer Maestro Adriano Bassi.
Maestro Adriano Bassi, who is also a known musicologist and journalist, took the audience on a journey through the history of Italian opera focusing on celebrated Italian opera composers including Giulio Caccini, Gioachino Rossini, Giuseppe Verdi, Claudio Monteverdi, Vincenzo Bellini, Pietro Mascagni and Giacomo Puccini.
While tracing the development of Italian opera, he touched on key elements of Italian opera tradition such as the operatic singing style of bel canto, opera genres including opera buffa and opera seria, and verismo –a post-Romantic operatic tradition. To cap his lecture, he regaled the crowd performing his own composition on piano.
Source: The Peninsula Qatar
Speaking on the theme for this year’s week-long celebrations, Filippo Perzola, Second Secretary and Head of the Cultural Section at the Italian Embassy said it was “aimed at exploring how the Italian language has contributed to the development of performing arts such as music and drama, but also the new “emerging stages” where the Italian culture can find expression nowadays.”
“Many activities are focused for instance on the Italian cuisine and chefs who are more and more frequently the protagonists of live cooking shows. Other initiatives will be dedicated to our breathtaking monuments and landscapes – sorts of theaters created either by nature or human genius, which can offer a unique “stage” for artistic performances. Our aim is to provide a comprehensive programme to allow people to approach our language in an interactive way,” added Perzola.
He underlined the indispensable role culture plays in further bolstering the ties between Italy in Qatar through the years.
“Cultural exchange contributes to build a fertile ground to strengthen the relations between Italy and Qatar. Our Countries are engaged in important bilateral projects, united by the common wish to explore new fields of cooperation and deepen our mutual knowledge. In this process, culture represents an important tool to make our friendship even more solid and enduring,” stressed Perzola.
He also thanked and welcomed Teatro dell’Opera di Roma and the talents of the “Young Artist Program” including soprano Erika Beretti, mezzo-soprano Irida Dragoti and pianist Edina Bak who will be performing tonight at Katara Opera House a selection of arias composed by Verdi, Puccini, Mascagni and Bellini.
The Italian Embassy in cooperation with QNL and Società Dante Alighieri has lined up events and activities throughout the week at QNL for adults, children and families interested in learning the basics of the Italian Language and discovering the Italian culture.
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