ITALY
Melded from Greek, Etruscan and Roman civilizations, Italian (Roman) culture has influenced Western thought, art, music,literature and civilization more than any other.
The senses almost reel from exposure to history, architecture, art (Italy is the repository of a large percentage of the world’s greatest art), and beauty unequaled anywhere else in Europe. The creativity, craftsmanship, artistic energy that made Rome great is still in full evidence in the New Millennium.
American orchestras, choirs, and wind ensembles are very popular in Italy. The American Celebration of Music in Italy provides performance opportunities in churches, piazzas, theaters, concert halls, and archaeological ruins, for American performers to share our own vibrant musical culture with enthusiastic Italian audiences.
A concert and music festival experience in Italy is a return to the roots of Western Civilization. Italy presents a glorious feast of all the senses – sound, sight, smell, taste and touch. Regardless of one’s musical tastes – classical, church, ballad, opera, chant, symphonic, Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Romantic, Baroque – these roots are all found in Italy. Our musical heritage certainly was born in Italy. Italians, with help from the French, invented the system of musical notation used today.
Cremona produced violins by Stradivarius and Guarneri; the piano is an Italian invention. Palestrina, the master of polyphonic music, single-handedly saved sacred church music and composed over 93 masses and many madrigals. Italian composers like Verdi, Gabrieli, Monteverdi, Paganini,Vivaldi, Puccini and Rossini are household names. Select music ensembles are invited to share their talents with appreciative audiences in glorious venues and spectacular settings throughout Italy as part of this unique concert series.
“Everything was very well run and very professional. It was a lot to do in eight days and we were all happily exhausted! My personal highlight was the “moment” of having just the choir ushered beyond the barricade at St. Peter’s Basilica before the mass. It gave me goose bumps to watch my students proudly walking back behind the incredible art work and structure of the Basilica to go and sing in the most historic church in the world. It was surreal.
Joanna Hart, Director
Bosque School Choir
Albuquerque, New Mexico
