One Christmas concert, will be broadcast all over the world by the broadcaster Padre Pio TV.
For the first time Martina Franca (Taranto), the capital of the Itria Valley, will be the protagonist of Christmas, welcoming the singer who performed in front of two Popes, Hongmei Nie, the Chinese soprano who sang in front of Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI.
The International Christmas Concert, produced by Events & Promotion of Rome and organized by Antonio Rubino Organizations, with the patronage of the City of Martina Franca, will be held on Thursday 23 December at 20:00 in the Pontifical Basilica of San Martino in Martina Franca.
The event, which is a charity, intends to support the orphanage of very young children “The Congo Children’s Garden “ strongly desired by Father Laurent Falay Lwanga and for years also supported by the association of Antonio Rubino.
Great expectations that crossed national borders for the participation of the aforementioned Chinese soprano, who in addition to having sung in front of the two Popes, is also known for having duetted with great international artists such as Pavarotti, José Carreras, Miriam Makeba, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Tom Jones, Renzo Arbore, Albano, D’Alessio and many others. With Renzo Arbore he recorded a record of Neapolitan songs that the singer born in Xian is in love with. With Albano, however, he sang the Ave Maria.
Hongmei it is not new to Martina Franca. The famous soprano was already in the same Basilica years ago, brought by Antonio Rubino himself, on the occasion of an event wanted by the well-known entrepreneur Lino Cassano, who died prematurely, to whose memory the concert will be dedicated.
Hongmei will be accompanied on the piano by the well-known Roman pianist Ida Iannuzzi of the Santa Cecilia Conservatory of Rome which has collaborated with Music Festivals both in Italy and abroad (September Musica-Turin; Festival dei Due Mondi – Spoleto; International Film Festival – Sorrento; Festival de Musica de la Vila de Rialp – Spain) . The repertoire will be lyrical and Christmas.
The well-known singer-songwriter Renzo Rubino, born in Martina Franca, consecrated by the Sanremo Festival and then by music critics, will do the honors. The artist has just returned from the success of Porto Rubino, which has become one of the key events of the musical summer, together with Vinicio Capossela, Edoardo Bennato, Francesca Michelin, Mahmood, Francesco Bianconi, Giovanni Truppi, Margherita Vicario, Motta and Gino Castaldo. The event, conceived by the Apulian singer-songwriter, in the edition preceding that of 2020 with the participation of the likes of Giuliano Sangiorgi, Noemi, Ron, Diodato, Morgan became a documentary film projected during the 15th edition of the Rome Film Festival and broadcast then by Sky Arte.
In the International Christmas Concert in addition to presenting some Christmas songs arranged by him, Renzo Rubino will duet with Hongmei.
Beppe Convertini will present the concert, also from Martina Franca, one of the best known presenters of RAI on TV, who has performed in various television programs.
The concert takes on international interest as it will be broadcast all over the world both on the eve, at 19:00, and on Christmas day at 15:30 on Padre Pio TV. The broadcaster broadcasts through the digital terrestrial television service on the national territory in the Dfree mux on the LCN 145; via satellite in Italy (Tivùsat and Sky Italia), throughout Europe and in the countries of the Mediterranean basin via Eutelsat Hot Bird 13D satellite; and via the internet around the world.
The event will have a double taste of sweetness as, to all the participants in the concert who have made a donation for the orphanage, a package of Sicilian cannoli will be donated by Palmisano srl, an Italian company (also from Martina) which produces and exports all over the world.
“This event – declared the organizer Antonio Rubino – has a double objective: the first is to excite all those who will attend it, both directly in the Basilica and in front of the TV and perhaps become an international event that can be held in different Basilicas, not only Italian; the other is to be able to complete Father Lauren’s project, or to complete the structure for the children of the Congo. With the Martina Franca event we would like to be able to buy bunk beds. With the help of the Lord we will succeed ”.
It will be a nice Christmas that, for a few hours, will make us forget everything else.