Nov. 25 - On the occasion of the 90th anniversary since Puccini’s death, which took place in Brussels on 29 November 1924, the Belgian capital hosts two days of initiatives to commemorate the great Italian composer. The event was organized by the Lucchesi nel Mondo Sede Centrale and its president Ilaria Del Bianco. The first tribute to Puccini will take place on November 28 at the Bozar with the Opera Gala "Puccini 90 - Vissi d'arte". On that occasion the sopranos Francesca Cappelletti, Myrto Bocolini and Han Ying Tso, baritone Pedro Carrillo, and Levent Gündüz, the main tenor of Turkey’s Izmir, accompanied on the piano by Massimo Morelli, will perform Puccini’s main arias. On November 29, the Friends of Manneken-Pis and the Lucca delegation will greet the Manneken-Pis dressed in Puccini's title role of Gianni Schicchi. The small bronze statue, symbol of the city, received its first clothes gift from the Sun King, who had donated the magnificent robes to gain the favor of the people of Brussels. Since then, the statue receives costumes that, after being worn in different occasions, end up in her official wardrobe. The Association Lucchesi nel Mondo donated to the Manneken-Pis three costumes: that of Schicchi, one of the famous Lucca banker Arnolfini and the traditional "figurine" dress in memory of a particular migration trend that brought Italians throughout Europe at the end of 15th century. At 2pm, celebrations will move to the Royal Church of Sainte-Marie Doyen where in 1924 Puccini’s funeral was celebrated. The same songs that accompanied the funeral of the master will be performed: Gounod's Ave Maria, Panis Angelicus by Cesar Frank along with some Puccini compositions, including the funeral march from "Edgar", "Addio mio dolce amor" and "Vissi d'arte. "(Cle)

THE ORGANIZATION

The initiatives was designed and brought to life by Lucchesi nel Mondo, organized with the Brussels Regional Branch, chaired by Sergio Scocci, the Italian Institute of Culture in Brussels, by the Lucca institutions linked to Giacomo Puccini, including the Puccini Festival and the Teatro del Giglio of Lucca. The events are also sponsored by the Puccini Foundation and by the Italian Embassy in Belgium. The artistic organization was curated by Vivien Hewitt, head of the musical events of the association and director of the Puccini Festival.