Christmas: ‘Hodighitria’, an evening of music and dance at the Pantheon

An evening full of mystery, in the capital, starting with the title ‘Hodighítria’ (‘she who shows life’), a show of music, songs and dances dedicated to the icon of S. Maria ad Martyres at the Pantheon, in program on December 30th, as part of the second edition of the Mirabilia of Music review – the Music opens the Museums, a cultural project wanted by the director of the State Museums of the city of Rome, Mariastella Margozzi, with the care and realization of Anna Selvi, in collaboration with Siae. On stage the Vocal Academy and the String Quartet with the dancers Simone Repele and Sasha Riva alongside Susanna Elviretti (Daniele Cipriani Company). The oldest ‘Hodighítria’ in Rome (a Byzantine icon in which the Madonna is depicted with the Infant Jesus in her arms) is located in the Pantheon. It was donated by Emperor Foca to Pope Boniface IV in the year 609 on the occasion of the dedication of this ancient pagan temple to Christian worship which thus becomes the Basilica of S. Maria ad Martyres. It is from this Hodighítria that the homonymous show is inspired. “The Hodighítria evening celebrates the mystery of motherhood and beauty – anticipates the curator of the evening Daniele Cipriani – The mystery of all mothers and of that heavenly Mother who gave birth to the Child whose Christmas we celebrate. Madonna who, by her very nature, has a therapeutic power “. Famous songs and sacred music by various composers will be sung, along with traditional Christmas carols and songs. They will be played by the musicians of the String Quartet (Rosario Genovese and Ylenia Montaruli, violins, Fabio Catania, viola, Andrea Genovese, cello) and the voices of the Vocal Academy (Francesca Gavarini, Daniela Petrini, sopranos, Annarita Cerrone, mezzo-soprano, Anselmo Fabiani , Francesco Toma, tenors, Antonio Pirozzi, bass). The components of the ensembles come from the Choir and Orchestra of the National Academy of S. Cecilia. The tributes to the Virgin by the dancers and choreographers Simone Repele and Sasha Riva will be works created specifically for ‘Hodighítria’ on two Ave Maria signed by the Argentine Astor Piazzola and by Jacques Arcadelt, 16th-century Franco-Flemish composer, and on the Concerto grosso made for Arcangelo Corelli’s Christmas Eve. The dancer Susanna Elviretti will interpret a new creation by Michele Pogliani on Mozart’s Ave Verum paired with a Agnese Trippa.