A musical homage to Vasari

In the 2011 edition of one of Winter’s rare festivals, the masses that were once heard by Giorgio Vasari alternate with contemporary music; Neapolitan songs unite with flamenco and tango in the splendid re-visitation of the Flamenco Tango Neapolis ensemble; the elegant musical architecture that once accompanied the evenings of the Granduca Pietro Leopoldo will now accompany a surprising Festa della Toscana; the Christmas Concert will magically have all the sounds of the world, those of Celtic harps in fusion with modern orchestral instruments as well as the trombone and spectacular voices of Mr. Bucci and Ryoko Kashima. And then a great honour for us: Salvatore Settis, archaeologist and art historian, will present the book “Paesaggio Costituzione Cemento”. The author will be interviewed by Riccardo Chiaberge, director of the cultural column of the “Fatto quotidiano”.

 

The 2011 edition of the “I Grandi Appuntamenti della Musica” Festival is dedicated to Vasari in occasion of the 500^th anniversary of his birth and throughout the concerts a selection of artwork by Vasari will be illustrated with the intention of uniting different voices and art forms under the common denominator of a glance to the contemporary.

 

This year the theatre will host the inaugural concert “Le piace Brahms?”, some works by Brahms for two pianos entrusted to the duo Matteo Fossi and Marco Gaggini. Followed by one of new Neapolitan music’s most enthralling groups: Flamenco Tango Neapolis (Teatro di Anghiari, 11^th December 6pm).

 

A new event area, a real greenhouse located among those that hold the Ca de’ Frati nursery in the elegant surroundings of the Residence and its sophisticated garden. The “Events Greenhouse” will be a glory of national and international sounds and artists starting with the Festa della Toscana, or rather the concert of the Auser Musici (Serra Eventi Residenza Ca’ de Frati, 30^th November 6pm).

The Greenhouse will also host the best Christmas Concert of recent years, that of the Celtic Harp Orchestra & Choir, in Tuscany for the first time. (Serra Eventi Residenza Ca’ de Frati, 23^rd December 6pm).

 

The Grandi Appuntamenti della Musica Festival has always honoured Arezzo’s churches with concerts that valorise their religious dignity, architectural beauty and the ability to sound the highest pieces of music of Western culture. This year there will be three concerts in the churches of Arezzo linked to the art and life of Vasari, the Church of SS. Annunziata and the Abbey of St. Flora and St. Lucilla. The first will be the concert of the De Labyrintho ensemble with the soloist trombone player Mauro Morini. (Church of SS. Annunziata, 19^th November 6pm). The second concert will be of some quartets of one of Tuscany’s best musicians, Luigi Cherubini. (Church of SS. Annunziata, 2^nd December 9pm). Finally, the young Swiss Terpsycordes quartet will debut in Tuscany (Abbey of St. Flora and St. Lucilla, 24^th November 9pm).

 

One of Italy’s most important and renowned intellectuals, the archaeologist and art historian

Salvatore Settis will present his book “Paesaggio Costituzione Cemento”, introduced and interviewed by Riccardo Chiaberge. (Circolo Artistico, 6^th December 9pm).

And the event would not be complete without an Homage to the 150^th Anniversary of the Unification of Italy with the “Solo Musiche Italiane” programme entrusted to the glorious Italian Guitar Trio with music by Vivaldi and Gragnani (Circolo Artistico, 16^th December 9pm).

 

The music project for schools, which until today distinguished the programming of the Festival di Arezzo this year has three partners, for three different concerts all to take place in the Aula Magna of the ITE “Buonarroti”. (Istituto Tecnico Economico “Buonarroti”, mornings of 19th25^th and 30^th November).

 

Of the twelve events only five are at a charge: the two concerts in the Teatro di Anghiari (euro 7.00), the two concerts in the Serra Eventi of the Residenza Ca’ de Frati (euro 5.00) and the Italian Guitar Trio Concert in the Circolo Artistico (euro 5.00). All children under the age of 18 enter free.

 

The special offer of Arezzo as the City of Vasari also regards the guided tours to the churches hosting the concerts which will be held half an hour before the concerts by the art historian Barbara Rossi.