Algiers - The Opera House of Algiers was filled to the last seat over the weekend as the Arena di Verona Foundation made its highly anticipated debut on the Algerian stage. More than 1,400 people attended a concert entirely devoted to the great tradition of Italian opera.
Performers Eleonora Bellocci, Francesco Meli, Marta Torbidoni and Gezim Myshketa took the audience on a musical journey through some of the most beloved masterpieces in the repertoire, including arias from La Traviata, La Bohème, Aida, Tosca and Andrea Chénier. The artists were accompanied at the piano by Cecilia Gasdia, superintendent of the Arena Foundation.
The evening reached a particularly emotional moment when Gasdia surprised the audience with Billahi ya hamami, a traditional Algerian melody performed at the piano as a tribute to the host country. The gesture was met with a long and heartfelt standing ovation, marking the concert not only as a cultural event, but also as a powerful moment of connection between two musical traditions.
The event was organized by the Algiers Opera House in cooperation with the Italian Embassy and the Italian Cultural Institute, with support from Italy’s Ministry of Culture. Among the guests were the President of the Algiers Opera House Farid Khaous, Italy’s Deputy Head of Mission Simone Ievolella, the Director of the Italian Cultural Institute Antonia Grande, and representatives from Algerian ministries, diplomatic missions and cultural institutions.
During their stay in Algiers, Gasdia and the visiting artists also led a masterclass for young students aged between six and seventeen who are already studying opera singing and piano, offering them a valuable opportunity to learn from internationally renowned performers.