To celebrate National Space Day, the Consulate General of Italy in Barcelona has organised, together with the Italian Cultural Institute, an event to discuss the connection between music and astronomy.
Held at the prestigious Liceu Conservatory – one of the most renowned cultural institutions in Spain and Europe – the event was attended by the Consul General of Italy, Emanuele Manzitti, who spoke about the major role played by the space industry in Italy. The Country is in fact internationally at the forefront of this sector, thanks to the contribution of its institutions, companies and research centres. Finally, the Consul General mentioned how celestial bodies had always fascinated mankind and emphasised the special connection existing since ancient times between music and astronomy.
The ICE-CSIC astrophysicist Nanda Rea, the Director of the Conservatory’s String Department, Corrado Bolsi, and the violinist of the Cremona Quartet and amateur astrophotographer, Cristiano Gualco, then accompanied the more than 50 people present on an extraordinary journey through time and space, between galaxies and black holes, nebulae and supernovas, with the help of Maestro Gualco’s photographs.
The exchange between the three speakers was finally accompanied by the notes of L.V. Beethoven’s Cavatina from the Quartet Op. 130 performed by Maestro Gualco and Maestro Bolsi together with two Conservatory students playing viola and cello.
The event was organised in memory of Marco Palassini Vidal, a student from the Italian School of Barcelona and an astronomy and music enthusiast who passed away in 2022.
