A Free Concert in Santa Croce on Thanksgiving

The Refectory of Santa Croce’s Basilica will come alive with the sound of classical music on Thursday, Nov. 23 at 9 pm at a free concert. Enjoy and share the enchanting energy brought by Quartet Elsa with family and friends as monastic suppers were once shared in the very same Refectory (Cenacolo or Cenaculum in Latin).

The imposing, grand Last Supper fresco in the concert hall will amaze its visitors in context of musical notes. Observe Gaddi’s Crucifixion speak volumes with the help of the vibrational waves of string instruments.

Quartet Elsa, a group comprising a cellist, two violinists and a violist, will dedicate the evening to Beethoven and Brahms. The group was first created when the members attended the Santa Cecilia Music School in Rome in 2014 and have since gone on to receive many acclaimed prizes such as il Primo Premio Assoluto. Also, il Premio Speciale “Piero Farulli” awarded to them for the most promising young quartet in the Premio Crescendo 2017 Music Competition for Emerging Young Artists in Florence.

The free evening show, which is part of a series of concerts dedicated to promote finely crafted quality string instruments, pays tribute to Ovidio Giarelli, the Tuscan instrument maker who dedicated his life to his art. At the age of 13 he had already built his own very first, violin and is still to this day a well-recognised name among players.

Thanks to ‘Il Conservatorio Luigi Cherubini’ (Florence Conservatory) and other organisations kindly lending and offering the instruments, the musicians will be able to produce an exceptionally clear and resonate musical act.

Alice Notarangelo and Sofia Bandini on violins, Emanuele Ruggero on the viola and Leonardo Notarangelo on the cello will emit sounds of ‘Ovidio Giarelli’ instruments, the brand that dates back to 1921, originating in Tuscany.

At the heart of the performance are Beethoven’s popular first six string quartets in the Op.18. Beethoven will be followed by Johannes Brahms’ string-quartet n.3 in the op.67 when Santa Croce will be filled with romantic and poetical tones incorporated in a classic melody. (karen gee)