On the evening of December 31st, 2023, thousands of music-lovers packed into the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall in Guangzhou, where the Italian Philharmonic Orchestra staged a New Year Concert. Under the baton of Italian conductor Nicola Marasco, the Orchestra delivered an unforgettable performance that delighted the concert hall.
The New Year Concert garnered much acclaim, with top-notch musicians showcasing their talents, including violinist Andrea Cardinale, tenor Gianluca Sciarpelletti, and soprano Venicia Sandria Rasmussen.
It began with Verdi's masterpiece, followed by a violin solo of the Chinese classic, "The Butterfly Lovers". The concert also presented some classic works of Austrian composer Johann Strauss with a lively, style and fresh rhythm. When "Tritsch-Tratsch-Polka" was played, the conductor encouraged the audience to clap along with the rhythm.
The concert reached its climax when the Chinese songs "I Love You, China" and "My Motherland and I" were performed, which received enthusiastic applause from the audience.
Mr. Valerio de Parolis, Consul General of Italy in Guangzhou, attended the concert and was amazed by the beautiful blend of Western and Eastern cultures showcased by the Italian orchestra and the memorial hall. At a time to ring out the old year and ring in the new, he summed up the cooperation and exchange between Italy and Guangdong in 2023 as fruitful, and revealed that many more events are in the pipeline for 2024, such as the commemoration of 700th anniversary of Marco Polo's death, an important figure for the relations between Italy and China.
Mr. Valerio de Parolis, Consul General of Italy in Guangzhou
The Italian musicians, including the Orchestra's Artistic Director Antonio Amenduni, soprano Venicia Sandria Rasmussen, and cellist Stojanović Dušan, were fascinated by the enthusiastic crowds in Guangzhou and the splendid Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, speaking highly of the hall's architectural style, stage, and acoustics.
Antonio Amenduni, Artistic Director of the Italian Philharmonic Orchestra
Venicia Sandria Rasmussen, soprano of the Italian Philharmonic Orchestra
Stojanović Dušan, cellist of the Italian Philharmonic Orchestra
This marks the fourth time that the Italian Philharmonic Orchestra has graced the stage in Guangzhou. Before Guangzhou, they also held a New Year's Symphony Concert in Shenzhen on December 27th, 2023.
The Italian Philharmonic Orchestra is one of the largest cultural organizations in Italy. Since its establishment in 1970, the Orchestra has received critical acclaim for its artistic excellence and has distinguished itself as one of the leading orchestras in the Mediterranean region.
Reporter | Monica
Photo & video | Qin Shaolong
Editor | Olivia, Steven, James
