A great sailing celebration - The Tall Ships Races 2017 final in Szczecin was simultaneously an opportunity for the Choir of the Maritime University of Szczecin to get involved in three big artistic events. This is a huge success of the ensemble conducted by Sylwia Fabiańczyk-Makuch.
The climax of the evening and, who knows - maybe also the 14-year-long history of the Choir - was the concert of the evening’s star, the Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli. The world famous artist was the main star of the events accompanying The Tall Ships Races Final and together with him, on the stage, appeared the invited guests as well as - what is important for the inhabitants of Szczecin - local musicians: the orchestra of the Szczecin Philharmonic and the Choir of the Maritime University of Szczecin. - This has been one of the most hard-working and, at the same time, most exciting weekends in history - admit the choristers. - Many words come to our minds, but none of them will fully express what we are feeling after the concert alongside Andrea Bocelli. The possibility to perform for the audience of 150 thousand people with such an outstanding artist is an event we did not even dare to have in the sphere of our innermost dreams - they admitted after the concert.
They performed as many as 12 pieces with the artist:
- Va pensiero – Nabucco – Verdi,
- Intanto, Amici… – Cavalleria Rusticana – Mascagni,
- Di quella pira – Il trovatore – Verdi,
- Ave Maria – Schubert,
- Panis Angelicus – Franck,
- Brindisi – Traviata – Verdi,
- Moriccone – American theme,
- Funiculi funicula – Incanto – L. Denza,
- Canto della terra – Sogno – Sartori,
- Nelle tu mani – Gladiator,
- Con te partiro (Time To Say Goodbye) – Sartori,
- Nessun dorma – Turandot – Puccini
The conert finished after 22:00 and, immediately afterwards, the sky was lit with fireworks. This was a truly magical evening.
We also met the choristers on Sunday, 6th August at the Opera in the Castle in Szczecin. The ensemble took part in the ceremonial première of the symphonic piece “Odyssea” composed by Henri Seroka and arranged by Krzysztof Herdzin. This is a specially written anthem of the regatta, which has received a warm welcome from the audience.
As the choristers emphasise, the fact of great significance is that the event was a part of The Tall Ships Races which were held in their beloved hometown - Szczecin. The ensemble make no secret of the fact that they have strong artistic and emotional bonds with their hometown and emphasise its maritime character in all their activities. All the more so, participation in these artistic events is of such importance for them.