Zubin, Roberto and Pino at Piazza Plebiscito
If you happened to visit the brand new, cleaner Naples this July, angels were by your side! I am referring to the magnificent and exceptional three-night majestic and illuminated Piazza Plebiscito held under the stars.
The first evening, I had the privilege in assisting, with friends among an elegantly dressed Neapolitan audience of 10,000 comfortably seated spectators, conductor Zubin Metha presenting the public not one, but two prestigious orchestras. Not an everyday occasion!
The Maestro’s, baton conducted 350 musicians on a stage where the orchestra complex of the Teatro San Carlo the peak of Neapolitan culture, and choirs of Maggio Musicale Fiorentino from Florence harmoniously united to give life to the execution of one of the greatest compositions ever written: The in B Minor, Op. 125 by Ludwig van Beethoven, otherwise known as “The Ninth“.
Finmeccanica as the sole sponsor of the concert served also to finance the restoration of the San Carlo opera house.
Many government figures were present including Sandro Bondi, minister of cultural affairs, Antonio Bassolini, president of the Campania Region, Dino Di Palma, president of the Province of Naples, Rosa Russo Lervolino, mayor of Naples and Crescenzio Sepe, archbishop of Naples, along with celebrities from the entertainment world including Renzo Arbore, who introduced the concert, Roberto Bolle, Carla Fracci and Maria Grazia Cucinotta.
The Piazza symbol of the city, looked impressive, through time a stage for political and cultural events this year it speaks of a desire for rebirth - “A stage in the heart of Naples” with the intent of bringing the city back to its ancient spirit: the cultural appreciation of music and the capital of international arts, a difficult task in view of the city’s current problems.
While arps and other instruments of the orchestra played their tunes, you could hear the noise of some occasional plane above the piazza, dog barking from far on houses nearby, where owners invited their friends for drinks in their balconies for this special occasion. Every fifteen minutes sharp, the clock on the beautiful Neo-classical facade would with exact precision remind us of time.
The mix of these sounds and the invisible touch of the fresh evening breeze would remind me of Proust when he wrote about time being an illusion ” The time we have at our disposal everyday is elastic: The passions we feel expand it, the ones that inspire us contract it, and the habits are the ones that fill in what remains.”
There was a vivid performance of a legendary work, which Beethoven composed when he was completely deaf - a rare combination of strength and beauty that reaches its apex with the “Ode to Joy“, the anthem of the European Union which rose in a great crescendo to symbolize the brotherhood of all peoples. The applause at the end of the performance was interminable.The conductor offered an encore by acclamation: the Intermezzo from “Cavalleria Rusticana” by Pietro Mascagni.
After emphasizing the significance of the event and explaining it was not possible to leave Naples - which was his first stop in Italy when he arrived in Europe from India - without playing something “from Naples”, the finale of the evening was a rendition of “O Sole Mio ” made rollicking by the powerful chorus and the emotion of the piazza. ( listen live) . It was a wonderful combination of “cultured” music and popular sentiment, another challenge in an event that certainly did not lack ambition, leaving everyone with the wish that the storm will be followed by an “aria serena” - a time of peace.
” It will be a hymn for the rebirth of a marvellous city,” declared Zubin Mehta shortly before the concert while speaking of Beethoven. He said that music cannot resolve problems - but culture, beauty and art can be important allies in confronting it. Definitely to remember!
On July 5, ballet major star Roberto Bolle also performed in Piazza Plebiscito. The San Carlo theatre opened once more to the city with a new event for the very vast public and for young people.
“Roberto Bolle and Friends” Gala event united ballet dancers of international fame, who came from the best ballet companies of the world, all around Bolle, the magnificent dancer, an evening of union governed by the great art and by beauty with some of the most beautiful and famous music pieces of the 17th and the18th century repertoire.
In the same soiree and on the same stage, the most famous ballet stars of the moment, “challenged” each other in a friendly way, in the name of the art of dance, in an extraordinary confrontation of techniques, schools and styles. Absolutely unique!
Finally, in front of a delirious crowd of 40,000 twenty-seven years after having done his first show in this same square a symbol the crossroads urban Bourbon-Catholic belly of the city, Pino Daniele, the king of as he defines himself “Taramblu “, a mix of tarantella, blues and rumba whose songs are characterized by a free intermingling of English, Italian and Neapolitan passages reigned supreme.
It is the reality that now has changed. The sun, sea, but the landscape is dominated by dark colors dell’immondizia (Litter) and degradation. But the singers also serve as this: to revive the colors, the desire to ransom in the rubble. singers also serve as this.
The most beautiful song and celebrated by Pino Daniele the singing all together, like a languid “we’re the world” Parthenopean in this evening taste cathartic for Naples: The protagonist, the public and then Nino D’Angelo, Avion Travel, Giorgia, Irene Grandi, Chiara Civello and even Gigi D’Alessio.
Pino with his fabulous old band, the one with James Senese, Tony Esposito, Rino Zurzolo, Joe Amoruso and Tullio De Piscopo singing ” Je so ‘crazy“, ” Yes I know my way” (watch) and then the musicians who have accompanied him in thirty years of songs. One thing is certain, Pino Daniele still sings “Napul’è one thousand culure” and he is so right!
References: La Rebubblica It. Napoli Nino Gastaldo ” Pino Daniele un coro di felicita”—-Finmeccanica communications-Teatro San Carlo press Release– Photos courtesy Riccardo Siano
Joelle’s tips:
Watch and listen the videos live:
” Vento di Passione” Pino Daniele and Giorgia (Beautiful!!) ” Yes I know, my way ” Pino Daniele
Zubin Metha: Listen live ” O Sole Mio” with the choir of Maggio Musicale Fiorentino and Teatro San Carlo
Wode Paint Boudicca & Wode Scent Boudicca
