Belgrade to host event dedicated to Pietro Mascagni

Belgrade - Belgrade will host a meeting and concert dedicated to the Italian composer Pietro Mascagni. The event, to take place on 20 February, has been designed to pay homage to one of the major Italian opera theatre composers, Pietro Mascagni (Livorno 1863-Rome 1945), considered to be the founder of the Verist melodramatic opera. Mascagni himself performed several times at Belgrade's National Theatre, between 1924 and 1926, for several editions of his 'Cavalleria Rusticana' and Verdi's 'Aida'.

The event has been organised by the Italian Cultural Institute in Belgrade, in collaboration with the National Theatre and the Fondazione Teatro Goldoni of Livorno, the composer's hometown. Livorno has been successfully pursuing over the last several years a special project entitled "Verismo Opera Studio". It is dedicated to Mascagni's production, and also features a high-level training programme for young voices for the composer's repertoire and the Veristic operas. The lecture-concert is yet another sign of the cooperation between the cities of Belgrade and Livorno, which began in the Fall of 2016 at the Teatro Goldoni for the opening performance of the 2016-2017 Opera Season, under the direction of Dejan Savic, superintendent of Belgrade's National Theatre.

The event seeks to focus on the diverse themes of Mascagni's operistic works, ranging from Naturalism, Romance to Decadence. The event and the concert will feature a renowned Serbian soprano, Olivera Mercurio, a major lyrical voice, and one of the most famous young Italian tenors, Dario Di Vietri, whose talent was discovered and educated by the 'Progetto Opera Studio' of Livorno's Teatro Goldoni. Di Vietri has recently successfully performed at Naples' San Carlo, at the Arena di Verona and Athens' National Opera Theatre. The two artists will be accompanied by Srdjan Jarakovic's piano. (AGI). .