Tastes and Sounds of Italy
Tastes and Sounds of Italy combines a traditional Mediterranean menu courtesy of the Cotto Restaurant with a vocal, instrumental and ballet performance at St Paul’s Within the Walls Church. After a delicious dinner, three tenors, accompanied by a mandolin orchestra and a pianist, present famous arias and Neapolitan songs. Ballet dancers play a part in many of the numbers, adding another dimension to the performance. In the heart of Rome, Tastes and Sounds of Italy delivers just what it promises and so much more.
Your evening takes off at 6:30 pm with a four-course menu at the authentic Cotto Restaurant. It includes traditional appetisers, pasta, a choice of fish, chicken or a vegetarian main course, and the house’s surprise dessert. Water is included; you are free to purchase any other drinks separately. While Cotto’s delicate culinary notes are still dancing on your palate, it is time to head over to St Paul’s Within the Walls Church just a short walk away. With its solid construction and arched ceilings, it offers excellent acoustics and lends its unique atmosphere to a host of classical performances. Its ambiance is a perfect fit for the evening’s programme.
On the bill, you can find opera royalty, like Giuseppe Verdi with ‘La donna è mobile’ from Rigoletto or Giacomo Puccini with ‘Nessun dorma’ from Turandot. As further homage to the original three tenors, the evening also features Neapolitan songs, like ‘O sole mio’ by Eduardo Di Capua and ‘Funiculì funiculà’ by Luigi Denza. The ensemble of ‘mandolini napolitani’ lends a unique touch to the musical programme, and the talented ballet dancers who join many of the numbers elevate the performance to a show for multiple senses. Tastes and Sounds of Italy is a unique package deal that combines many of the things that make an evening in Rome memorable. Good food, fantastic music in an exciting new arrangement, and eye-catching dances roll into one.