Press Release
Venice: an exemplary case-concert
As part of the solidarity campaign for Venice promoted following the damage caused by the exceptional high water event that occurred on November 12th 2019, the Italian Cultural Institute in Abu Dhabi and the Embassy of Italy to the United Arab Emirates hosted yesterday a string quartet concert with voice.
The concert, under the patronage of H.E. Sheikh Nahayan bin Mubarak al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance for the UAE and the Emirates Red Crescent, and under the auspices of the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation was held at the Abu Dhabi Theatre, one of the historic sites of the city, near the Abu Dhabi Heritage Village.
The event was a great success seen the number of the audience and the great appreciation with a standing ovation at the end of the concert.
The Ambassador of Italy to the UAE, H.E. Nicola Lener, opened the evening with a welcome speech where he described the institutional frame of the event, emphasizing from one side the damages of the artistic and cultural heritage of Venice and on the other the promptness of the Italian Government and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in launching a campaign of solidarity in all countries to support the Canal city to raise awareness of the emergency and to promote fundraising.
The note of thanks to the UAE institutions who granted the patronage and to the audience present at the event was part of a few words said by the Director of the Italian Cultural Institute in Abu Dhabi, Dr. Ida Zilio-Grandi. On this occasion she thanked, H.E. Ahmed AlKhouri, a true friend of the Institute and H.E. Muhammad al-Suwaidi, true lover of Venice, a man of letters, a renowned poet, one of the innovators in the vernacular Gulf Arab language and literature and Founding Secretary General of Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation & Founder of the Electronic Village. A special thanks also to the sponsors of the Institute itself, Montalbano Contract Furniture, iGuzzini Middle East, and Ms Luana Zillio with Arte Veneziana.
During the performance, the composer Silvia Colasanti, – one of the most appreciated Italian composers awarded twice by the Presidency of the Italian Republic -, conducted the Guadagnini Quartet, – Fabrizio Zoffoli violin, Cristina Papini violin, Matteo Rocchi viola, Alessandra Cefaliello, cello -,one of the most renowned European chamber music groups with a classical and romantic repertoire. A voice of excellence, the famous actor and director Elio De Capitani, read poems by Mariangela Gualtieri inspired by the ecological theme and environmental emergencies. The title of the concert, “Earth, I walk upon Thee”, was inspired by a verse from Gualtieri (“Earth, I walk upon Thee”).