Italian Premier joined top political and cultural figures at Verona’s ancient Arena amphitheater for an open-air celebration of Italian lyric opera’s recognition by UNESCO as a global cultural treasure. Conductor Riccardo Muti led an orchestra of 170 musicians from Italy’s 14 opera houses, along with over 314 choral singers and a cast of global star opera stars performing a selection of Italian opera classics.
Muti expressed his pride in Italian lyric opera's UNESCO recognition, emphasizing that this milestone marks a new beginning rather than an endpoint. He highlighted the significance of Italian opera as a cultural heritage that Italy has shared with the world.
The celebration took place at the Arena, a historic Roman amphitheater known for its summer opera festival that attracts over 400,000 spectators annually, with more than half being foreigners. The event aimed to showcase the unity of the Italian opera system and promote the global appeal of Italian opera.
Notable opera stars from Italy and around the world, including Luca Salsi, Francesco Meli, Jonas Kaufmann, Jessica Pratt, and Juan Diego Florez, participated in the gala. The absence of Russian soprano Anna Netrebko due to illness was noted.
The recognition of Italian opera by UNESCO, initiated by a previous center-left government, has garnered support from Italy's far-right-led government. The event was attended by Culture Minister and Senate speaker, both members of the ruling party, along with Italy’s nonpartisan president, who received a warm reception from the audience.
Muti's musical selection, transitioning from the Italian anthem to Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy,” symbolized a message against Euroscepticism, coinciding with the European Parliament elections. The outcome of the elections could potentially impact the influence of far-right parties within the European Union.
