by InTrieste
Trieste’s opera house, the Verdi Theater, joined opera houses across Italy in raising funds to help the state buy Villa Verdi, the museum and former home of the celebrated Italian opera composer Giuseppe Verdi.
Supported by the culture ministry, the Viva Verdi initiative will see 14 opera foundations each hosting a performance of Verdi’s music and operas, between now and the summer.
Villa Verdi, which is in need of renovation, was put on the market last autumn following a 20-year dispute between the composer’s heirs.
The Italian state will exercise its right of first refusal and the government has allocated €20 million for the purchase of the landmark property in the northern Emilia-Romagna region.
However the sale price is expected to be in the region of €30 million, with the proceeds from the special concerts hosted by Italy’s opera houses helping the state to meet the shortfall.
Trieste’s Verdi theater will host a special concert on 19 April with the partcipation of world-famous soprano originally from Trieste, Daniela Barcellona.
