Not a concert but, in the words of Riccardo Muti, “a gathering of a group of musicians who sit in front of Villa Verdi and say to the world: Do you want to wake up? This place must resound with the notes that were born here.” This was how, yesterday evening at Villa Verdi in Sant’Agata, Maestro Muti expressed his humble testament of love for Verdi, accompanying on the piano a quintet of distinguished musicians: Damiana Mizzi, Mara Gaudenzi, Giovanni Sala, Luca Salsi and Michele Pertusi. Together, they revisited a selection of Verdi arias, from Nabucco (Tu sul labbro de’ veggenti) to Macbeth (Pietà, rispetto, amor), as well as the Notturno per terzetto vocale, accompanied on the flute by soloist Bianca Fioritodi.

A “non-concert”, as Muti himself called it, serving as a “wake-up call” to an exceptional audience of invited guests, including three ministers: Alessandro Giuli (Culture), Gianmarco Mazzi (Tourism) and Tommaso Foti (European Affairs). It was a “heartfelt appeal” not to abandon Villa Verdi to its fate, to begin restoration work as soon as possible and to reopen it to the world at the earliest opportunity. At the end of the concert came Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli’s “surprised” yet “reassuring” message: “We have already begun a programme of investment; soon the Villa will once again be open to the public.”

The Villa needs not only architectural restoration but also particular attention to its precious contents, which include three valuable musical instruments that accompanied Verdi throughout his musical life: the 1825 Johann Fritz fortepiano from Vienna; the Pleyel upright piano, serial number 14306, dating from 1847; and the 1861 Érard grand piano, serial number 33804. The latter bears, on its interior, alongside Verdi’s autograph, the signature of Pietro Anelli, a piano maker from Cremona who for many years was responsible for preserving and maintaining the instruments’ sound and working condition at Sant’Agata.

Verdi is sacred. He is an immeasurable cultural heritage of the Nation and, as Riccardo Muti has repeatedly described him, “the Michelangelo of music.” For these reasons, Villa Verdi must be supported throughout its restoration, with no curtain falling, until it can be fully returned to the public and made universally accessible.