Two music groups have come together to commemorate the victims of last year’s earthquake in Italy. Abruzzo Symphony Institution and Foligno Folk Music Association have commissioned a suite of four works, one for each of the regions affected.
Titled Quattro Paesaggi Italiani [Four Italian Landscapes], the works will receive their world premiere on 26 August in L’Aquila, followed by a second concert in Foligno on 29 August. The regions of Lazio, Marche, Umbria and Abruzzo are all honoured, in a piece that hopes to create “mutual solidarity”.
“Our intent is to celebrate … the extraordinary love that people have for their places of origin, a love that overcomes even the most difficult moments,” said project co-artistic directors Luisa Prayer and Marco Scolastra in a joint statement. “These concerts will be an important opportunity for sharing.”
The four composers on the project are Marcello Filotei (Marche region) Lucio Gregoretti (Lazio), Andrea Manzoli (Abruzzo) and Riccardo Panfili (Umbria).
Almost 300 people were killed by the 6.2 magnitude earthquake that hit central Italy on 24 August, 2016. It is estimated that damages caused by the quake are in excess of €1bn.