I don't know if anyone saw this:  http://

05/15/2011 - 09:13

I don't know if anyone saw this: crying

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=the9_fs1Za0

This is a clip showing Riccardo Muti halting an opera to declaim his shame at the state of Italy and its reputation today and his desire to rediscover all that is beautiful about the country, its history and its culture.  It's very moving. I find Và pensiero very moving anyway but his is stunning. If you are not a fan it gets interesting about 7 minutes in.

Some background (nicked from Youtube)

His doctors absolutely forbade him to conduct Nabucco in Rome following surgery to repair facial injuries sustained in the fall and to have a pacemaker implanted. They wanted him to have two more weeks of rest. It was very important to him. He wanted to do it at all costs. Unusually for him, he repeated the Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves, the theatre was on its feet, many singing along with the on-stage chorus. Surveys show that many Italians want to adopt “Và pensiero” as the national anthem.

 

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