Mar. 9 – What better than music can introduce new ideas of freedom, independence and love of a country? Giuseppe Verdi’s compositions, written between 1842 and 1849, all had a strong patriotic and were enthusiastically received by the Italian people. His music spoke to the hearts and consciences of an entire generation, quickly becoming the soundtrack of the Italian Risorgimento. On Verdi and the role of music to serve the national cause, Canada is getting ready to host a conference: “Music and national awakenings in Europe and the Mediterranean during the Nineteenth Century: the role of music and patriotic-revolutionary movements in Italy.” The event is scheduled for March 17 at 7pm in Montreal, at the École de musique Vincent-d’Indy (salle Marie-Stéphane – 628, chemin de la Côte-Sainte-Catherine). The meeting is promoted by the Italian Institute of Culture in Monteal within the programming of the Institut d’Etudes Méditerranéennes de Montréal, and sees the participation of the Consul General of Italy, Enrico Padula. The conference will focus on the role music played in the nineteenth century to express revolutionary movements and the struggle for freedom. Indeed, during this century, European music expressed great political and idealistic aspirations; in the Mediterranean and especially in Italy, these ideals of freedom were conveyed by music and were incorporated in many musical creations. (Red)
