JEDDAH: Rome Symphony Orchestra soloists performed for the first time for the public in Jeddah at the Italian cultural center on April 15. The performance was organized by Italian Business Group (IBG) in collaboration with Italian Cultural Center under the patronage of the Italian Consulate and sponsored by Alam Arrajol, Destination Jeddah, Arab News and Saudi Gazette.

In line with the artistic awakening that Saudi Arabia is experiencing, IBG has brought to a series of artistic shows to Jeddah audiences such as Omnia Vincit Amor contemporary dance ballet that took place on March 18. The performers were six string players from the Rome Symphony Orchestra, directed by Antonio Pellegrino, and soprano, Ilaria Bellomo, who also performed last year in the Italian embassy in Riyadh.

International musicians presented a classical repertoire including Vivaldi and arias from famous lyric Operas. IBG aims to foster links between aims to foster connections — business and cultural — between Italy and Saudi Arabia. Elisabetta Martini, consul general of Italy in Jeddah, told Arab News: “For everything cultural we are trying to work as a team. We are happy to see IBG as a group of Italian entrepreneurs who are taking the lead in this field of entertainment because we think the entertainment sector is the biggest industry now and is booming in Saudi Arabia.”

Maestro Antonio Pellegrino, who has been performing for the last 50 years, told Arab News: “I have been performing since I was four years old.” Next he will take his team on a 30-day tour of Japan with performances in more than 25 cities.
After the interval, soprano Ilaria Bellomo took part in Master classes with Elisabeth Norbberg-Schulz, winner of the International Opera Competition. Ilaria Bellomo  told Arab News: “The opera singer is just like an actress including different facial expressions during the show to match the lyrics of the song.”

Alessandra Serafini Jabban from IBG told Arab News that the event would raise the profile of Italian culture in the Kingdom, encouraging people to find out more about the country: “It is the time for Saudi Arabia to be opened up to many entertainment and artistic influences from abroad.” Abdulla Shaheen, a Saudi mechanical inspector from Khobar who was among the audience, told Arab News: “I used to attend many orchestra shows around the world, but it feels different when you have this fantastic and professional entertainment show in your country.”

He added: “Now we don’t really need to travel to see these shows, it will make us think twice before we travel.”