«It is a joy and an honor to be a guest of “38° Parallelo”, a multidisciplinary festival that in a totally dark era of incivility and barbarism fights to promote beauty and culture. In a historical moment in which freedom is lacking in many countries, as in mine, the ancient Persia, cradle of Indo-European civilisation, and in which people are taught to take up arms and not notes, it is important to make music, because salvation lies in culture.”
These are the words with which the Iranian pianist Ramin Bahrami inaugurated the preview of the “38th Parallel – between books and cellars” Festival from the stage of the municipal theater “E. Sollima ”of Marsala, where he was the protagonist of the conversation in music“ Beyond the present: the vision of Bach ”with the music critic Stefano Valanzuolo, voice of Rai Radio 3, curator and host of Radio 3 Suite.
In front of a packed theater and an audience thrilled and enchanted by his words and above all by his music, the pianist performed some pieces by the German composer and musician: “Adagio in G major, BWV 968”, “Partita n. 3 in A minor, BWV 827” (Fantasia, Allemande, Courante, Sarabande, Burlesca, Scherzo, Gigue), Concerto Italiano, BWV 971 (Allegro, Andante, Presto); then the performance of “Gole Sangam”, or “Sun of Stone”, by the Iranian composer Anoushiravan Rohani.
«A child who listens to Bach, who reads Dante, Leopardi, Goethe, who admires a painting by Cimabue, will be a better child tomorrow – explains Ramin Bahrami – This is the legacy that we must leave to our children, which I would like to leave to my daughter Maria, who is ten years old, and who lives in an increasingly insecure world. We, as men who have been able to create so much beauty over these centuries, cannot allow everything to be replaced by a so-called artificial, imperfect intelligence. Less artificial intelligence, therefore, more human intelligence, thanks also to music, culture and a festival like 38° Parallelo”.
Together with Ramin Bahrami, on the “Sollima” stage, also the music critic Stefano Valanzuolo who wanted to underline the importance of stimulating the public’s curiosity, of any type and at any latitude, in a historical moment in which, at times, he feels a certain “intellectual laziness”: «It’s nice to talk about music, but music must also be listened to – he explained – And this is why the tested formula, which puts words and music together, I believe is successful: it manages to arouse and revive public curiosity. If sometimes the word becomes useful, not necessary, because music does not need instructions for use, to build around the music, references, allusions, evocations and everything that stimulates interest in the public, this formula is welcome.”
Opening yesterday’s evening, which saw the presence on stage, in an atmosphere of participation and sharing with the protagonists, were the students of the “P. Ruggieri” in Marsala, an emotional sound experience dedicated to Toomaj Salehi, the Iranian rapper sentenced to death: guests were welcomed by his notes and Bahrami’s Goldberg Variations, together with Antony Mannone, known as “Coolbross”, and Piero Scevola.
Ramin Bahrami was also entrusted this morning with the official opening of the “38° Parallelo” festival, again at the “Sollima” municipal theater, with a masterclass dedicated to the students of the “Antonio Scontrino” Conservatory of Trapani.
This afternoon, however, at 6.00 pm, the presentation of the book “Il Visconte Cibernetico. Italo Calvino and the dream of artificial intelligence” (Luiss University Press), with the participation of the authors, the rector of LUISS Andrea Prencipe and the editorialist of the Corriere della Sera Massimo Sideri, who will converse with Francesca Lagioia, researcher at the Department of Legal Sciences of the University of Bologna, in collaboration with the scientific high school “P. Ruggieri”.
The eighth edition of “38th Parallel – between books and cellars” benefits from the patronage of the Ministry of Culture, the patronage and contribution of the ARS, Department of Tourism, Sport and Entertainment and Department of Cultural Heritage and Identity Sicilian Region of Sicily, of the Municipality of Marsala and of the Archaeological Park of Lilibeo Marsala. The exhibition also participates this year in “Il Maggio dei Libri 2024” and has the support of the Center for books and reading, BiblioTP – Network of Libraries of the Province of Trapani, the Festival Literary Network of Trapani and the OAPPC Trapani. Rai Radio 3, RMC101 – TP24 and La TR3 – channel 83 are media partners. The event also makes use of private sponsors, BPER Banca, Cantine Florio, Farmacia Giammarinaro and Goals Technologies.
