Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Italian Republic

06/11/2026 | News release | Distributed by Public on 06/11/2026 05:46

Damascus, concert for the Republic Day

On the occasion of the Italian Republic Day, musicians Francesco Bearzatti and Gianpaolo Rinaldi performed together with the Syrian National Symphony Orchestra at the Damascus Opera House.

The concert opened with a piece from Giuseppe Verdi's La traviata (The fallen woman), before moving on to contemporary Italian compositions, including Estate by Bruno Martino, a piece renowned for its themes of longing and nostalgia.

Speaking during the event, Bearzatti described music as a bridge between cultures, stating that his composition was intended as a message of hope.

Rinaldi, attending his first event in Syria, expressed his delight at taking part in the concert and praised the Syrian National Symphony Orchestra for its artistic approach.

The orchestra then performed a selection of Italian opera classics, including Rossini's Il barbiere di Siviglia (The barber of Seville), as well as excerpts from Puccini's Gianni Schicchi and Turandot.

The evening concluded with works by Syrian composer Nouri Al-Rahiban, including the traditional songs "Tal'a Min Beit Abuha" and "Bint Al-Shalabiya", highlighting the musical dialogue between Syrian and Italian cultural traditions.

The concert was organised by the Embassy of Italy in Damascus. Ambassador Stefano Ravagnan subsequently hosted the celebrations for the National Day at the Residence of Italy.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Italian Republic published this content on June 11, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on June 11, 2026 at 11:46 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]