Domus Artium Closes its Concert Season at Palazzo Ducale of Gallese

Posted by Rowena Dumlao - Giardina 6/24/2022

Domus Artium Closes its Concert Season at Palazzo Ducale of Gallese

After the success of its previous concerts, Domus Artium closes its curtains for the summer season on 19 June 2022 after a spectacular night of music at the Palazzo Ducale of Gallese by the Venice Baroque Orchestra, cellist Nina Kotova and flutist Andrea Griminelli which was followed afterwards with the dinner prepared by Chef Lorenzo Iozzia of the Michelin-starred restaurant Casa Iozzia and the wines of Tenuta Il Palagio of Sting. The events will resume in autumn.

On a beautiful warm summer night, the heavy doors of Palazzo Ducale Altemps Hardouin di Gallese in the medieval Tuscian town of Gallese were opened by its hosts, Lucrezia Hardouin of Gallese and her husband Guido De Vecchi as they welcomed the guests to a night of conviviality in their residence. Palazzo Ducale Altemps Hardouin di Gallese is the ancient fortress of the town of Gallese that has been with the most important Roman noble families since the Middle Ages. Renovated in the Renaissance period by Pope Alexander VI, the castle then became the property of the Altemps family who transformed it into the current palace. In the 19th-century the palace passed into the hands of the Hardouin family of Gallese who still own it today.

A picture-perfect evening as dusk fell while the colors of the sky changed hues with the majestic backdrop of the staircase designed by Vignola at the loggia of the palace, the guests were serenaded with the captivating music of A. Vivaldi, F. Geminiani and C. Ph. E. Bach performed by the Venice Baroque Orchestra, an award-winning ensemble of musicians specializing in original instruments such as the hapsicord which is widely used in Rennaisance and Baroque music. An icon of the Domus Artium concerts, Nina Kotova performed with the orchestra. She is an internationally-renowned cellist who is celebrated as one of the most outstanding musicians. She has performed as a soloist with symphony orchestras across the world. A child prodigy, she started studying in playing the cello at the age of 6 at the Moscow Conservatory and graduated from Musikhochschule in Cologne. Concluding the performance was Andrea Griminelli, a flutist who has won important awards such as the Grammy and Prix de Paris and is considered as one of the greatest flutists on the contemporary scene. His last piece was a touching theme song of The Mission as homage to Ennio Morricone.

A buffet dinner followed at the picturesque tropical garden of the palace with dishes prepared by Lorenzo Iozzia of Casa Iozza, a chef who defines himself as a "Sicilian cook in Etruscan land". A lover of the excellence of raw materials, his kitchen recalls his tradition in his recipes and innovates his personal style in them. Casa Iozzia is a journey of flavors and memories, a restaurant that has received a number of awards including those of TCI, Gambero Rosso and the prestigious Michelin star in 2019. The food was paired with the wines of Tenuta Il Palagio of the famous singer Sting and his wife Trudie Styler. It is a 16th-century Tuscan villa set a vast land, 11 hectares of which are dedicated to vineyards cultivated following the centuries-old tradition of viticulture. Present in the event was Tony Sasa, Il Palagio's Director of Sales who also owns the renowned Enoteca Pontevecchio in Florence, and Il Palagio's oenologist, Riccardo Cotarella, internationally-celebrated for his outstanding oenological and and viticultural consulting work and who is also the President of Assoenologi.

Domus Artium is dedicated to excellence in the arts and to bringing back the tradition of patrons opening the doors of their historic homes and palaces for musical performances, exhibitions, gastronomic events. The concept is to host a series of prestigious cultural events focused on classical music performed by internationally-acclaimed soloists, transpiring in historical patrician homes belonging to noble families in Rome and its surroundings with the participation of excellent chefs and winemakers.

“The challenge, at a time of revival of the arts and a new conviviality, is also to return to live performances and live experiences by bringing people together in contexts that are very iconic for their beauty and emotions, enhancing the moment of sharing," says Barrett Wissman, creator and Executive Director of Domus Artium.

Barrett Wissman is the president and owner of IMG Artists, a visionary and a global leader in performing arts management, who has conceptualized pioneering events that have placed the limelight on the excellence of international arts and the prestige of Italian culture. He has been involved in the annual production of the Tuscan Sun Festival held in Cortona, Italy as well as the Singapore Sun Festival and Napa Valley Festival del Sole.