Bursting into song in the Pazzi Chapel (VIDEO)

FLORENCE, ITALY – On Thursday, December 4 at 4pm, Canadian-Italian mezzosoprano Diana Di Mauro burst into song in the Pazzi Chapel in the complex of Santa Croce, Florence, Italy. Inspired by the space, Di Mauro sang five operatic pieces and a Christmas carol.

Di Mauro sat down on the steps in front of the altar and mesmerized tourists who were drawn into the chapel by the sound of her voice. Upon entering the Pazzi Chapel, Di Mauro commented, “The beauty, serenity, light and resonance within the chapel left me stunned, yet peaceful. It is a space that begs to be filled with music and art as it inspires by its vastness and harmony. It is a pleasure and honour to share my voice in this space.” The Pazzi Chapel is in fact known for its harmonious architecture and unusual acoustics. People come from around the world to test a few notes in the building designed by Brunelleschi.

Di Mauro sang “Sposa, son disprezzata” set by Antonio Vivaldi for his pasticcio Bajazet; “Ah, se tu dormi, svegliati” from Giulietta e Romeo by Nicola Vaccai; “Lascia ch’io pianga” from Rinaldo by Georg Friedrich Handel; and “Nacht und Träume,” a lied by Franz Schubert. She also treated onlookers to the more seasonal Schubert’s “Ave Maria” and a Christmas carol.

As Di Mauro was preparing to leave, a gentleman attending a conference in the nearby refectory approached to congratulate her and mentioned that he used to sing, but it had been 25 years since he had done so. Di Mauro encouraged him with a few notes and magic happened. Gavino Maresu, a retired professor of tourism at the University of Genoa, sang a duet with the mezzosoprano and a solo gospel piece. He was invigorated by the opportunity, and those present enjoyed the impromptu collaboration.

A student of Gabriella Ravazzi at the Spazio Musica Academy of Genoa and a graduate in Fine Arts, specializing in Vocal Performance, from York University in Toronto, Di Mauro has performed solo recitals at various locations in Europe, most notably at Palmento Rudinì in Pachino, Teatro Santa Caterina in Rosolini, both in Italy, and as part of Klassik auf der Strass in Bad Ragaz, Switzerland. She has performed in numerous concerts internationally including scenes as Cherubino in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro, at Limonaia Villa Strozzi in Florence, and Gilda in Verdi’s Rigolettoat Teatro Araldo, Turin. Di Mauro currently resides in Florence.

The impromptu performance took place in the context of institution’s international crowdfunding campaign to restore the loggia of the Pazzi Chapel. With 14 days remaining to reach the goal of $95,000, over 430 backers have pledged so far. The first ever use of Kickstarter by a major cultural institution in Florence, Italy has been making the headlines in Italy and farther afield. The campaign’s first backer came from New York City.

Opera di Santa Croce has previously raised 50% of the funds required to carry out this restoration, slated to begin in early 2015. The institution is calling for public support in order to raise the remainder. In so doing, donors will become part of the 720-year-long history of Santa Croce, as their names will be inscribed in the historical archive of this great “temple of memory”. Campaign backers will receive a variety of rewards depending on the level of the donation, such as modern lithographs and commemorative medals; private restoration tours; family tickets to Santa Croce; and subscriptions to The Florentine, Florence’s English-language news magazine.