ROSSINI'S LEAP YEAR BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS
Pesaro (Marche) has a double celebration this year. Not only has it been elected Italian City of Culture 2024, but Leap Year date on the 29th February allows it to celebrate the birthday of one of its most illustrious sons, the great 19th century musician Gioachino Rossini, born, in fact, on the 29th February 1792.
A special Settimana Rossini (Rossini “Week”) is being held between the 18th February-8th March with a packed programme of over 30 events and 10 concerts. These will include the classic “Balcony Recital” from the balcony of Rossini's house, played to the crowd in the street below, a new commemorative postage stamp from the Italian mint, a parade of vintage motorcycles from the local historic Benelli factory, the donation of a pianoforte by the local Lugli family of designers and entrepreneurs to enrich the Rossini Gallery Museum, and, most important of all, the inauguration of the new Scavolini Auditorium concert hall.
A birthday must have a cake and Pesaro has a Super-cake: it was part of the scenery constructed for the performance of “Adina” at the Rossini Opera Festival in 2018. The monumental cake will be part of the opening ceremony of the Auditorium on the 29th February. Rossini, with his quirky sense of humour, would have loved it!
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STENHOUSE
Info: Tel. +39.0721.3800202 www.rossinioperafestival.it
