| The
Enchanted Land: Puccini's Landscape, Light and Colours
Mitchell Library, North Street, Glasgow.
Giuseppe
with John Bellany
and his partner
|
Referring
to the fact that he had promised not to outdo the
Italians who were present in the fashion stakes by
wearing his kilt, Scotland's First Minister, Jack
McConnell, opened a major new exhibition in Glasgow
on Thursday 15 April 2004. Entitled, The Enchanted
Land: Puccini's Landscape, Light and Colours,
the roots of the exhibition are in a visit by former
Lord Provost of Glasgow, Alex Mosson, to Barga last
year, where he found not only a vibrant tradition
of local visual arts but a thriving support for contemporary
artists like Scotland's John Bellany, who now calls
Barga home. |
Bellany himself has five paintings in the exhibition
and was present at the opening event, as were the
Mayor of Barga, Sig.Umberto Sereni (curator of the
exhibition), Glasgow's Lord Provost, Liz Cameron
(a true italophile) and many of Scotland's best-known
Italians, such as gallery owner Richard DeMarco
and Archbishop Mario Conti. The exhibition is co-ordinated
by Massimo Marsili, Director of Culture for the
Province of Lucca.
Following
the launch was a reception and concert of Arias
by Puccini, performed by soloists Antonia Cifrone,
Orfeo Zanetti and Luca Salsi, accompanied by the
Festival Puccini Orchestra. The event celebrated
the warm and enduring links between the Scotland
and Tuscany and was supported by the Fondazione
Cassa di Risparmio di Lucca, by local restaurants,
Fratelli
Sarti and La
Fiorentina as well as Cosmo
Ceramics and Filipo
Berio olive oil, which is produced in Lucca.
|
Glasgow's
Lord Provost
Liz Cameron |
Glasgow's
former
Lord Provost
Alex Mosson |
|
Click here to see an article from the local Barga
newspaper about the previous visit of Alex Mosson,
Lord Provost of Glasgow to Barga. |
|
