Meloni Joins Prestigious Group in Celebrating Italian Opera’s Global Recognition as a Cultural Treasure | Global News

Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni and a host of top political and cultural figures gathered at Verona’s ancient Arena amphitheater for a grand celebration of Italian lyric opera’s recent recognition by UNESCO as a global cultural treasure.

Conductor Riccardo Muti led an orchestra of 170 musicians from Italy’s opera houses, along with over 314 choral singers and a cast of renowned opera stars, in a spectacular performance that showcased the best of Italian opera, from Verdi to Puccini. The event also featured a mesmerizing dance performance by La Scala’s star dancers, Roberto Bolle and Nicoletta Manni.

Muti expressed his pride and enthusiasm for the recognition of Italian opera, emphasizing that this milestone is just the beginning of a new chapter for this rich cultural heritage. The ancient Arena, known for its popular summer opera festival, provided a fitting backdrop for the celebration, attracting a diverse audience of over 400,000 spectators each summer, with more than half being foreigners.

International opera stars like Jonas Kaufmann and Jessica Pratt joined Italian luminaries in honoring this achievement, underscoring the global appeal of Italian opera. The event was attended by key government officials, including Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano and Senate speaker Ignazio La Russa, signaling broad support for Italy’s cultural heritage.

As Europeans head to the polls for the European Parliament elections, the celebration of Italian opera’s UNESCO recognition takes on added significance, with Muti’s symbolic transition from the Italian anthem to Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” highlighting the broader European context of this cultural milestone.