On the occasion of the Christmas Concert which was held this week-end in Taranto – Italy in thebeautiful Cathedral of San Cataldo, the event starred International World Music Soprano Tania Kassis along with the Italian Marine’s Military Brass Orchestra. Tania Kassis’ performance in Taranto has been organized in collaboration with the Italian Navy, The City of Taranto, the Palio de Taranto, the Rotary Club Magna Grecia, the Conservatory of Music Paisiello, and the “Chitaretarentum”,
Tania Kassis’ performance in Duomo di Milano in May 2015 and at the Opening Concert of the Rimini meeting this summer has touched the heart of thousands of Italians. “I am very happy to be back in Italy,” she said, “in Lebanon there are 18 confessions. Pope John Paul II said that Lebanon is more than a country, it is a message of pluralism. In difficult times such as those we live now, it is important and fundamental to build a strong relationship between religions”. “I am honored by the Mayor of Taranto’s warm welcoming and proud to be invited by the city of Taranto to perform here and realize the dream of Francesco Simonetti to sing the Ave Maria, a dream he has kept in his Catholic heart for many years”. Tania Kassis interpreted many Christmas songs accompanied at times by the “Chitaretarentum” ensemble (a group of 7 guitarists) and for the rest by the Italian Marine’s Military Brass Orchestra. The Taranto audience was very happy by her interpretation of “Buon Natale In Tutti Quanti” wishing everyone a Merry Christmas in French, English, Spanish, Arabic and Italian. A well deserved standing ovation left the audience mesmerized after her emotional Ave Maria which was repeated a second time at the end of the evening.
