Meloni joins cultural elite celebrating Italian opera’s recognition as a world treasure
By COLLEEN BARRY
Associated Press
VERONA, Italy (AP) — Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni has joined top political and cultural figures at Verona’s ancient Arena amphitheater for an open-air celebration o Italian lyric opera’s recognition by UNESCO as a global cultural treasure. Conductor Riccardo Muti presided over an orchestra of 170 musicians from Italy’s 14 opera houses, joined by over 314 choral singers and a cast of global star opera stars for Friday’s event. They delivered a greatest hits of Italian opera from Verdi to Puccini, Donizetti to Bellini for an appreciative crowd.