Best known for challenging the barriers of religion, language and culture with her unique musical blend of East and West, Lebanese international soprano Tania Kassis performed at the prestigious Rimini Meeting opening concert.
The Rimini Meeting for Friendship among Peoples gathers every year important personalities of the political and economic world, representatives of religions and culture, intellectuals and artists, sportsmen and actors, as well as unique testimonial interventions by historical figures such as Pope John Paul II, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Ionesco, Walesa, Ratzinger, Tarkovsky, the Dalai Lama and many others. It has became the most popular festival in the world.
This year's 37th edition of the Rimini Meeting was inaugurated by the President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella followed by the « UN SOLO CANTO » opening concert.
Tania Kassis, in a white dress by Ranya Karram, mesmerised the international audience - majority Italians - with her amazing voice and great oriental arrangements.
"It is a great honour for me to be here at the Rimini Meeting, a place that expresses an incredible energy and a message of hope in these difficult times." It is with these words that the Lebanese soprano Tania Kassis introduced the concert.
"I am also honoured to be here as a Lebanese citizen... Lebanon is not only a country but is a message, as stated by Pope John Paul II."
She sang several of her hits including her famous Islamo-Christian Ave Maria in duo with Maen Zakaria. She also shared this emotional concert with the Italian star TOSCA (very known in Italy for her victory in the Sanremo Festival) and the young Syrian singer Myrna with whom she sang the famous song from the movie "La Vitta e Bella" as a tribute to Italy.
Having attracted the attention of the local press, Tania Kassis explained during a press conference that preceded the concert, in the presence of Tunisian lawyer Mohamed Fadhel Mahfoudh (Nobel Prize 2015), the specificity of Lebanon and its 18 different religious confessions that succeed to live together in peace despite the difficulties. It is for this reason that my presence has a symbolic value: I carry with me Lebanon and its message of Peace. "
"In our country, the Virgin is worshipped by Christians and Muslims - explained Kassis - and we celebrate an official Islamo-Christian National Day. It's only by recognising and respecting each others that we can complete and live together as teaches us the theme of this year's Meeting: TU SEI UN BENE PER ME" (You are good for me).
"Music is the metaphor of human relationships: we succeed when we create a harmony with different musical styles. Similarly, humans are different, but with dialogue and respect we can create together harmonious relations."
The music of Tania Kassis has carried the audience to a new particular emotional experience and they went out from the concert with hope in their eyes.
