Berlin, an evening in honour of Giacomo Puccini

The Italian Embassy in Berlin hosted an evening dedicated to Giacomo Puccini in the framework of the celebrations for the 100th anniversary of his death. The event is part of a series of official events promoted by the National Committee for Puccini Celebrations, a body founded in 2022 and chaired by conductor Alberto Veronesi. Precisely for this occasion, on 31 March next, the Berlin Philharmonic's Popular Concert Season will dedicate the traditional Easter Concert to Puccini in the Great Hall of the historic Berliner Philharmonie.

After Ambassador Armando Varricchio's greetings, Mario Pardini, Mayor of Lucca and President of the Fondazione Giacomo Puccini, Maestro Riccardo Cecchetti, Artistic Director of the Festival Virtuoso & Belcanto, Maestro Alberto Veronesi of the Cominato Nazionale Pucciniano and Helen Müller, Director of Cultural Affairs of the German multinational Bertelsmann, took the floor. In her speech, Helen Müller presented for the first time the exhibition "Opera Meets New Media", curated by Archivio Ricordi.

Following this, a concert in homage to Puccini was held by the Festival Virtuoso & Belcanto of Lucca: the talented Anna Cimmarusti and Rosa Vingiani performed, with piano accompaniment by Maestro Cecchetti and the narrator Debora Pioli. Other stars of the evening were the composer's lands, in an exhibition of panels curated by the Camera di Commercio Toscana Nord Ovest.

In his opening speech, Ambassador Varricchio said: "Giacomo Puccini was a great composer profoundly influenced by his land, which shaped his character and left an indelible mark on his education, thus contributing to making him an influential figure in the musical and cultural scene of his time. Today we celebrate a personality who is associated worldwide with Italian culture, with his ability to innovate and at the same time maintain a close relationship with his roots. This beautiful occasion falls in a very special year, which saw Italy play a leading role during the Berlin International Film Festival as the focus country of the European Film Market and will continue at the Frankfurt Book Fair 2024, in which Italy will be Guest of Honour. It is a year of great events for Italy in Germany and Giacomo Puccini's music is a unique soundtrack for it."

Foto: ©PeterAdamik