|
Maestro Riccardo Muti issued a severe yet heartfelt appeal to Villa Verdi, in Sant'Agata di Villanova sull'Arda, demanding an immediate acceleration of the restoration of the composer's historic villa, which has been closed since 2022 and was recently acquired by the State. Muti, in the presence of ministers Alessandro Giuli, Gianmarco Mazzi, and Tommaso Foti, did not mince words in condemning past delays and neglect, calling the home of the "Michelangelo of music" a sacred place for the entire world that must be restored to its former glory as soon as possible. The government's response was quick. Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli defended the government's actions, stating a total allocation of around €20 million for acquisition, expropriation, and financing for construction and landscape rehabilitation. Following the ministerial decision and the fulfillment of the appropriate bureaucratic procedures, construction on the consolidation and safety of the structure may now commence, and it will soon be open to tourists again. The evening concluded with a moment of exceptional artistic intensity, as Muti, on the Fazioli piano, accompanied the voices of prominent opera vocalists in an entirely Verdi repertoire, culminating in the performance of the renowned Notturno. This landmark event refocused attention on a worldwide history that, via music and institutional devotion, is finally poised for revival.
|