(February 17, 2017) Pietro Mascagni frequently performed at Belgrade’s National Theatre between 1924 and 1926 various editions of ‘Cavalleria rusticana’ and ‘Aida’. More than ninety years after those performances, the Italian Cultural Institute of Belgrade, in collaboration with the Fondazione Teatro Goldoni of Livorno and the National Theatre of Belgrade is hosting a lecture/concert dedicated to the Italian composer, scheduled for February 20 (at 20:00). "Mascagni in Livorno and Belgrade" is a both a lecture and a concert that pays tribute Mascagni’s presence in the Balkan cities. According to the ICI, "the event was organised in collaboration with the Fondazione Teatro Goldoni of Livorno, the hometown of the composer, which for many years successfully carried out a special project devoted to its production, accompanied by an initiative dedicated to the advanced training of young voices in the Mascagni and verismo repertoire of 'Verismo Opera Studio'. The lecture/concert is yet another sign of cooperation between the cities of Belgrade and Livorno, already enshrined in the autumn of 2016 by the presence of Maestro Dejan Savić, superintendent of the National Theatre in Belgrade, at the Teatro Goldoni for the inaugural show of the 2016-2017 Stagione Lirica". The event aims to explore in-depth the various themes in Mascagni's opera, suspended between naturalism, romance and decadence. Olivera Mercurio, an accomplished soprano, will be featured in the lecture/concert, as wel as one of the most successful Italian tenors, the young Dario Di Vietri who was discovered and shaped by Teatro Goldoni of Livorno with the Opera Studio Project and who was previously affiliated with the San Carlo Theatre in Naples, the Arena di Verona and the National Opera of Athens, accompanied by pianist Srđan Jarakovic. The speakers are: Dejan Savić, superintendent of the National Theatre in Belgrade; Marco Leone, managing director of the Fondazione Teatro Goldoni of Livorno; Alberto Paloscia, artistic director of the Stagione Lirica of the Fondazione Teatro Goldoni of Livorno. (Red)

THE ICI

The Italian Cultural Institute in Belgrade was founded in 1940. After a long interruption due to conflict and the post-conflict era, the ICI resumed its activities after a long period of inactivity in 1965. It was originally located in the centre of the city (Obilićev venac) then moved to 47 Njegoševa street – a 1920s ‘Liberty’ architectural style building in the heart of Belgrade. In January 2006, it moved once again to a temporary location at 9 Krunska road before its final and current location at 56 Kneza Miloša (the former Albanian Embassy), now known as ‘Palazzo Italia’. Davide Scalmani is the director of the Institute.