(9 June 2016) Work is in progress to define new and lasting partnerships, promoting the Umbria system and what it has to offer along with the music and culture: the “zero” edition of Umbria Jazz in China consists of 18 concerts in ten days between Beijing, Shanghai, Qingdao and Guangzhou who have seen performances by Danilo Rea the Funk Off and the Fabrizio Bosso quintet, attended by more than 18,000 spectators, has already produced important results. Representatives from some of the promoting and organising institutions of the Umbrian festival’s “first time” in China draw a budget, during a press conference, indicating the prospects that have opened up. The event was held from 27 April to 8 May this year and was organised by the Umbria Jazz Foundation with the support of Regione Umbria, the Italian Embassy, the Italian consulates in Shanghai and Guangzhou, the Italian Cultural Institutes of Beijing and Shanghai, with the support of the Ministry of Culture, ICE Shanghai, the Italy-China Foundation, and the “main sponsor” Farchioni (Italy’s third food group), Lifestyle Italy, the University of Perugia Flavors. The meeting with journalists was attended by the Regional Minister for Culture, Fernanda Cecchini; Stefano Lazzari from the Umbria Jazz Foundation and its artistic director Carlo Pagnotta, the director of ICE Shanghai Claudio Pasqualucci, Andrea Canapa from the Italy-China Foundation, and Livio Rotini representing Farchioni group. It was pointed out by all, the audience’s interest and the “surprising” attention during the concerts including families and children, some of which were included in the program of the JZ Shanghai Spring Festival. (Red)
