Russian and Australian soldiers, seeking revenge following the Napoleonic invasion of their countries, descended upon the French-held village of Le Roncole, Piacenza in Italy on Oct. 10, 1813. They massacred innocent men, women and children.

Some of the women managed to flee to the church, but the soldiers pursued and killed them while they were praying. One of the women saved herself and her infant son, Giuseppe, by hiding in the belfry.

“And this is how Giuseppe Verdi was saved from the sword that he might enrich the world with his song,” wrote the biographers Henry Thomas and Dana Lee (“Living Biographies of Great Composers,” Halcyon House, New York).

It is Verdi’s 200th birth anniversary, an event being celebrated worldwide. Here in Manila, the bicentennial will be marked by a gala concert featuring highlights from Verdi’s beloved operas at the Cultural Center of the Philippines tomorrow, Dec. 10, 7:30 p.m.

This was announced by Italian Ambassador Massimo Roscigno at a press conference at The Peninsula Manila in Makati City. The concert will be presented by the Italian Embassy, the Philippine-Italian Association, Rustan’s and CCP.

A-listed talents

Also present at the press con were conductor Ruggero Barbieri, former music director of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, who will once again conduct the PPO at the show; Italian tenor Gian Luca Pasolini; and Madrid-born baritone Alvaro Lozano.

Pasolini and Lozano will be performing with A-listed opera singers Rachelle Gerodias, soprano; Thea Perez, soprano; Nenen Espina, mezzo; Margarita Giannelli, soprano; Andrew Fernando, baritone; and Ronan Ferrer, tenor. Other performers are from Coro Tomasino and Ballet Philippines.

Alexander Cortez directs.

The concert will feature delectable excerpts from “La Forza del Destino,” “Rigoletto,” Il Trovatore,” “Nabucco,” “La Traviata,” “Aida” and “Requiem.”

A titan

“It is difficult to call Verdi the greatest Italian composer because there are different views, said Roscigno. “But he is the most famous, for sure. His music is performed all over the world, and he is an icon for us Italians. His name is synonymous with opera itself.”

Verdi (1813-1901), the ambassador noted, “is rooted in our history as he lived through most of the 19th century. Italy was then divided into states, and was unified in 1861. He became a symbol of Italy, was elected a senator, and was a pillar of the new state of Italy. He is part of our heritage.”

Strong characters, deep feelings

Barbiere said he chose arias, duets  and other highlights of Verdi’s most famous operas  also popular in the Philippines.

“The sequence follows the most essential aspects of Verdi’s life,” he added. “The last part of Verdi’s life should not be avoided.”

One of the composer’s last operas was the masterpiece “Aida,” which premiered in 1871 to celebrate the opening of the Suez Canal.

“In his new age,” Barbiere said, “Verdi was a man full of power. He created strong characters with deep feelings, passion and extreme love. The characters change harmonically speaking. The way he treated the voice was also very different. His ideas were universal. He was interested in events in other countries.”

The music director said he had conducted all over the world, “but I feel warm reaction from Filipino audiences here and abroad.”

As for the PPO members, he found them “versatile, intelligent. They switch to their own culture but they can play the music of other countries, an international repertoire.”

E-mail culturale.manila.esteri.it.