Cristina Galietto, a young classical guitarist from the historic Italian city of Naples, has made musical history during her recent visit to China. In an inspiring blend of cultures, she performed a groundbreaking duet with musicians from China’s Celadon Ou Music Art Troupe.
Her journey began in Cixi City, Ningbo, in eastern China’s Zhejiang Province—a region renowned as the origin of the imperial Mi-se porcelain, one of the most famous celadons in ancient China. Here, Galietto discovered the rich history of celadon porcelain, which was used as court instruments much like the classical guitar during the Renaissance.
Embracing this connection, Galietto teamed up with local musicians to perform the Neapolitan folk song “O Sole Mio.” This performance marked the first-ever duet combining the classical guitar and Celadon Ou Music, creating a harmonious fusion of Eastern and Western musical traditions.
Their collaboration was captured in the micro-documentary “O Sole Mio, My Mi-se,” which utilizes real-life footage and AI technology to tell this unique story of cultural exchange.
Galietto’s visit coincides with significant anniversaries in 2024: the 700th anniversary of the death of Marco Polo, a pioneer of East-West cultural exchanges, the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, and the 20th anniversary of the China-Italy comprehensive strategic partnership.
Benefiting from China’s 144-hour visa-free transit policy, Galietto embodies a modern-day Marco Polo, using music to bridge cultures and promote mutual understanding between two ancient civilizations.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
