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"Duomo Cathedral packed for the Artist from Busseto
and his Millennium Choir for the "Child with Heart Disease Association.
Magnificat (Exhalts), and the music reaches Heaven
Cantarelli moves the heart of the audience
with his compositions, parade of Guests"

PIACENZA - "My Soul Exhalts God." With this attitude, Beppe Cantarelli has featured his Magnificat, the other night in a very crowded Duomo in Piacenza, and he has done it with an "extra gear": his desire to help the children with a heart disease. The money raised for the evening has been donated - as pointed out by its president Ivaldo Brignoni - to the "Association of the Children with the Heart Disease" (a.k.a. "A.B.C.," "Associazione Bambino Cardiopatico"); its mission has been briefly explained by Doctor Ettore Pedretti, head of the Pediatric Hospital in Fiorenzuola. After a moving introduction by Monsignor Anselmo Galvani, who has forwarded the greetings of the Bishop Monsignor Luciano Monari, the concert has begun. But to simply define as a "concert" Cantarelli's Magnificat, as underlined by Monsignor Galvani, is not accurate since the opera is true "meditation and prayer with music." And when the first notes of the Sanctus (Holy), sung by the Millennium Choir, did raise to fill the arcades and the naves of the cathedral, that concept has become clear to everyone. The atmosphere did become even more spiritual when Cantarelli, with his magnificent voice, perfectly pitched and capable to reach dynamics and pitches of a very rare extension, has performed one of his new compositions It Was Not The Wind, But Was An Angel, about the miracle of the Annunciation. The whole performance through the concert has been accompanied by the famous harpist from Piacenza Mrs. Paola Devoti, who deserves a very particular praise: besides her impeccable technique, it is very difficult to reach such a full sound of an harp like the one that Mrs. Devoti is able to bring out, especially in a location so suggestive, but very dispersive from the sound's point of view, such as the Duomo in Piacenza. Padre, E' Giunta L'Ora (Father, The Hour Has Come) has been conducted by Don Emanuele Ferro, who came on purpose from Taranto: very moving the matrimony in between the choir and the strings orchestra from the Conservatorio Nicolini (first violins: Elisabetta Nobile, Annalisa Perfetti and Lorenzo Gugole; second violins: Stefano Cilli and Matteo Minella; violas: Serena Perfetti and Luca Cacciatori; cellos: Irina Martěnova and Paolo Conti; double bass: Cristian Felisari) and the pianist Laura Benigna. The choir members who have been terrific through the evening, were particularly convincing within the "a canone" phrasing ("Father, the hour has come, forgive us / For Him who won the world, glorify us / He gave us everything, He told us "we belong to you"). The selection Benedizione (The Blessing) featured as a Special Guest the talented cellist Luciano Girardengo. In this as well as in several other selections, Cantarelli has featured an introduction to the melody with his whistle: a very suggestive breath, reminiscent of a mystic breeze that descends from above. One of the highest points of the "meditation with music" was the Kyrie, interpreted by the choir in a sumptuous and dramatic way, almost in a Mozart's fashion. Contralto Sara Ruoti from Prato performed an English composition Without You, I'd Be Blind, accompanied by string instruments only, harp and acoustic guitar. After that, the lyrics by theologian Davide Maria Turoldo did resonate with the harmonies of Ecco Un'Aurora, Preludio (Here Is A Dawn, Prelude). The words seemed particularly appropriate to the mission of the "A.B.C. Association" for the evening, to which the marian concert was addressed and dedicated, especially to all the sick children for them to heal and survive: "A child shall always be the center of the world." A very touching line that everyone attending - first of all a very attentive and moved Orietta Berti, patroness of the evening seated in the front row (the famous singer has collaborated in the past with Cantarelli and is a close friend of his) - did feel deep in their hearts. That Prelude developed into the following Mentre Il Silenzio, Pastorale (While Silence, Pastorale), once more composed to lyrics by Turoldo, and followed by Tu Che Parli Con Gli Angeli (You Who Speak To The Angels), performed by Cantarelli and accompanied by its guitar that he uses as if it is a part of himself. The selection that is also the title of the opera, Magnificat, gifted us all with several more surpises: after an introduction made by an original version rearranged for solo vibraphone and performed by Patrizio Borlenghi, the same composition has been performed in full by the choir & the orchestra. Especially felt and appreciated by the audience was also the moment when three nuns from Congo (Africa), Sister Odette Kituba, Sister Adčline Nkala and Sister Colette Ngwala, performed a Magnificat in their own original language and percussive music, creating a universal bridge that overcomes every barrier, what music underlines in a stronger way that we are all brothers and sisters in this earth. Toward the ending, the performance has been a crescendo of emotions and spirituality: Cantarelli has performed with soprano Elisabetta Calza, his Ave Maria, Mai Più La Guerra: an up-to-date and very much needed prayer for peace, followed by the beautiful Vergine Madre, Figlia del Tuo Figlio. We'll Always Be Free featured then a duet by Cantarelli with well-known rock singer Daniele Ronda, a special guest of the concert, before a reprise of the Sanctus (Holy) and several calls by a sincere applause and ovation by an audience that felt that had just participated down to their souls to an exceptional and unique concept and performance. The final invitation can only be one, Christian but at the same time universal: to devote our attention and generosity more often to the wicker ones, first of all the children. All the children are God's and Mary's gift; She who inspired Beppe Cantarelli is the symbol of all the mothers.
From newspaper "Libertà"
Culture & Show Page
by Eleonora Bagarotti
December 29, 2005
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