On 19 November the Italian Embassy in Moscow hosted a concert of Mariinsky Theatre performers in support of Venice, which has suffered from the most disatrous flood in fifty years. The charitable evening provided the official start to a campaign to raise funds that will be dedicated to the restoration of the city's cultural legacy and the assistance of local residents. Italy's Ambassador to Russia in Moscow Pasquale Terracciano noted that "even before two days of the official start of the campaign, thanks to the efforts of maestro Gergiev, the Embassy has received several promises of donations amounting to more than a million Euros."
The charity gala featured leading soloists of the Mariinsky Theatre, among them Yulia Matochkina (mezzo-soprano) and Sergei Skorokhodov (tenor). The programme was compiled from works by Italian and Russian composers, in order to underline the unity of these national cultures. Works performed included the Neapolitan song by De Curtis "Tu che non piangi" and arias from operas by Verdi, Cilea and Rimsky-Korsakov.
"Everyone has been disturbed, worried and saddened at the news from Venice. If such a major cultural centre, important not just for Italians, but for the entire world, becomes flooded it will be an irreprabrable tragedy. Disaster has come; now we need human support, not just from the Italians," commented Valery Gergiev.
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