From Dante to Renaissance, music, dance and culture have been integral to the Italian way of life. The Italian Embassy in New Delhi has been continuously bringing forth snippets from Italian art for us to enjoy. And this time it was like a bonanza of Italian heritage and philosophy for an eclectic cultural trip through Italy.

The Italian Embassy organised back-to-back events at various venues in Delhi. It was a melange of programs each depicting a unique part of Italian refinement. We were fortunate to have attended some of them and are most regaled.

Some of the events organised by The Italian Embassy Cultural Centre New Delhi that we were privileged to attend this year were:

String Quartet Concert Quartetto d’Archi di Cremona

An evening of Chamber Music Concert was held at India Habitat Centre. The orchestra comprised Quartetto d’Archi di Cremona (Cremona String Quartet) – Cristiano Gualco and Paolo Andreoli on Violin, Simone Gramaglia on Viola and Giovanni Scaglione on Cello. They presented compositions of renowned musicians such as Malipiero, Mendelssohn, and Beethoven of course.

Their presentation was extremely professional and impeccable. The melodious notes floated through all corners of the auditorium. So much so, the whole auditorium was super quiet… almost spellbound by the music. After the grueling work week, the music had a therapeutic effect. Very apt for a Saturday evening, the concert calmed o sore nerves.

Week of Italian Cuisine in the World (VII Ed) – Grand Finale Dinner

The grand finale dinner was hosted at Cafe Diva inside the Italian Embassy Cultural Centre at Chanakya puri Delhi. Michelin Star Chef Cristina Bowerman and celebrity Chef Ritu Dalmia curated the spread for the guests.

The menu comprised cold cuts, cheese, pasta, live grill, and the best of wine from Italy. We were attending consecutive weddings and related functions in Delhi. Therefore, the continental palette was a welcome change from Indian wedding food.

The evening was set to music by Ionica Aranea, a folk music and dance group from Apulia who performed live during dinner.

The candle-lit tables, laughter, conversations, and the music in the background, it was a heady concoction just perfect for the winter weekend Delhi evening.

Also Read: Italian National Day Celebrations at The Italian Embassy in Delhi 

“Sounds from Southern Italy”, a Pizzica concert and dance show

Bikaner House near Connaught Place is a beautiful piece of architecture in the heart of Delhi. Their amphitheater regaled to beautiful Italian folk music and dance – Pizzica. The performers were Ionica Aranea, a folk music and dance group from Apulia who had already given a delightful performance at Café Diva earlier last week. The flutes, guitar, and cello music reverberated in the open. So much, notwithstanding the bitter cold, the audience stayed on till the end.

There was another twist that evening. A group of Manganiyar musicians from Rajasthan also took the stage and participated in some of the last numbers toward the end. The exchange between folk musicians from Italy and those from Rajasthan was seamless. The jamming session kept the audience enthralled. It once again reiterated – music has no language.

Dante Beyond Borders – A Theatrical Performance

The 700th death anniversary of Dante, the iconic Italian poet-philosopher fell in the year 2021. Given the pandemic, the Italian Embassy in New Delhi had refrained from celebrating Dante last year. Therefore, they brought Dante’s philosophy to us in Delhi, albeit in a dramatized version – Dante Beyond Borders, in the year 2022.

But like Dante’s works, this was anything but simple. The production was a fusion of various artistic languages such as Italian theatre, Indian dance Bharatnatyam, cinema, video, electronic music, and so many other elements. Director Anna Dora Dorno combined so many diverse elements, including Mahabharata, and the final production was a spectacular essay, almost like a grand piece of poetry on stage.

The Department of Culture of the Italian Embassy in New Delhi concluded the year 2022 with this mind-blowing piece of theatre at India Habitat Centre. While we look forward to more amazing work by the Italian Embassy in times to come, you may look out for some of these performances in your cities. In fact, Dante Beyond Borders is going to be staged in Mumbai, Bangalore, and some other Indian cities in the near future. This is a must-watch.