EU Day 2024 in Rome

The Delegation of the European Union hosted an event on May 7th to celebrate Europe Day, marking the historic Schuman Declaration of 1950 and honoring the ongoing journey toward European unity and peace. The event took place in the enchanting setting of San Gregorio al Celio, a significant location chosen considering Pope Gregory the Great's profound influence on Christian solidarity, tolerance, and his dedication to feeding the hungry. These values resonate deeply with both the European Union and the work at the UN Organisations in Rome, underscoring the commitment to a world free of hunger.

In her speech, Ambassador Valkenburg pointed to the enduring values of democracy, solidarity, and inclusivity that are fundamental to the European Union's identity. She also underscored the EU's unwavering commitment to human dignity, freedom, equality, and the rule of law.

In light of the upcoming European elections, the Ambassador emphasized democracy's cross-border importance and mentioned current challenges like foreign manipulation and disinformation. Furthermore, the Ambassador underscored solidarity within the EU and globally, citing EU humanitarian efforts in conflict zones like Ukraine, Gaza, and beyond. In this regard, she pointed to the EU support to multilateralism and the work of the UN Organisations in Rome and welcomed the dedication of the Holy See, and the Order of Malta. Finally, she addressed inclusivity, highlighting the EU's commitment to ensuring every voice is heard and fostering belonging and active participation among all members. 

The event started with a captivating concert featuring soloists and symphonic orchestra from the Conservatorio di Santa Cecilia. The performance was part of the Opera Out of Opera 2 (OOO2) project, co-funded by the Creative Europe programme of the European Commission. The orchestra delighted the audience with a rendition of Beethoven's "Ode to Joy," the official anthem of the European Union since 1985, symbolizing the values of freedom, peace, and solidarity that unite Europeans across borders.

THE SANTA CECILIA CONSERVATORY OF ROME FOR EUROPEAN VALUES

Since its foundation in 1585, the Santa Cecilia Conservatory in Rome has tirelessly promoted the European values of inclusion, diversity and multiculturalism through musical education at the highest level.

Production, teaching, third mission, experimentation and research involve more than 1300 students every year are also carried out through a vast network of international relations and projects co-financed by the European Union.

Among these, the Opera out of Opera 2 project stands out, which involves the Santa Cecilia Conservatory, the Mozarteum University Salzburg (Austria), the Oslo National Academy of the Arts (Norway), the Escola Superior de Música e Artes do Espetáculo do Porto (Portugal), the Teatro Nova Opera (Ukraine), the digital art company WallMuse (France), the Jeunesses Musicales Croatia HGM (Croatia) and the Association Européenne des Conservatoires (Belgium) united in a cooperation activity co-financed by the Creative Europe program of the European Commission.

Opera Out of Opera 2 aims to relaunch and help new generations rediscover opera by creating an agile and innovative format, consisting of a visually immersive and engaging performance, easily reproducible, and capable of attracting and involving the public young.

The project also involves the creation of a dedicated APP for smartphones, capable of personalizing the enjoyment of the show and guiding young audiences to understand the works. During five events in Rome, Porto, Salzburg, Oslo and Zagreb, works by W. A. Mozart and Giacomo Puccini will be performed

The Europe Day event also allowed guests to have a guided tour of the church chosen for the reception and concert. The impressive San Gregorio Church located on the Caelian Hill, in front of the Palatine and close to Circus Maximus, is a significant location. Pope Gregory the Great had a profound influence on Christian solidarity and tolerance and was known for his dedication to feeding the hungry. The guests could enjoy a small guided tour on the history and art work in the church.

The concert was held in a packed church and the beauty of the music with the magnificently decorated fresco ceilings and coloured marbled floors was breath-taking for many. The guests then gathered in the cloister for the reception and notwithstanding the number of people present there was plenty of room to move around. The cool evening breeze and light of the candles joined with the music and surrounding art work contributed to a spectacular natural scenario that guests then enjoyed touring.

Through side openings in the cloister of the San Gregorio church, one could walk around the small garden that also hosts a convent of nuns and a homeless shelter run by Mother Teresa of Calcutta's congregation, the Missionaries of Charity. The small walk leads to the Oratori of San Andrea where the guide offered a small tour of the Oratorio di Santa Barbara, with its famous marble triclinium pauperum (dinning table). Here according to the tradition, Pope Gregory would often invite the poor to eat. Then the tour explained the small church, Oratorio di Sant’Andrea, with its amazing frescos by Guido Reni and Domenichino and finally the tour ended with the Oratorio of Santa Silvia, dedicated to the mother of Pope Gregory. Here one can also admire the permanent photo exhibition of the photographer Danilo Malatesta.

Danilo Mauro Malatesta is an Italian photographer, photo reporter and film director. Born in Chicago in 1966, he has been involved in photography since the age of 20. He has collaborated with numerous important Italian and international newspapers reporting on many crucial historical and often dramatic world events. In recent years, Malatesta has rediscovered the ancient photographic technique called Wet Plate Collodion. His impressive work catches the viewer’s eye and offers a strong emotion with a sense of hope even when desperation may prevail. Among his artwork, it is worth seeing his “contaminated” photographs of the original marble table triclinium pauperum, Bernini’s Ratto di Proserpina sculpture and the Pieta with his De Secunda Pietate.