"The Great Classic" at the Cine Teatro Rex: the piano as the star of a season for Giarre

The cultured genre of classical music was the undisputed protagonist this morning, amidst words and notes generously offered (on the piano) by the guests present at the Hall of Mirrors of the Municipality of Giarre, in the presence of Mayor Leo Cantarella, Councilor for Entertainment Giuseppe Cavallaro, Maestro Francesco Zappalà (piano teacher and representative of the "Vincenzo Bellini" Conservatory of Catania for the project in partnership with ArchiDrama at the Cine Teatro REX), Maestro Michele Amoroso (holder of the Choral Exercises chair at the "Arcangelo Corelli" Conservatory of Messina), Maestro Stefania La Manna (piano teacher at the “E. Ainis” Musical High School of Messina and second organist at the monumental Tamburini organ of the City of Messina) - for the presentation of the first edition of the prestigious concert season “La Grande Classica”, conceived and directed by Alfio Zappalà, welcomed by the historic and renewed Cine Teatro Rex of Giarre, organized by ArchiDrama in partnership with the "Vincenzo Bellini" Conservatory of Catania, the Lamberto Puggelli Foundation, with the sponsorship of the Municipality of Giarre and the Sicilian Region, Department of Tourism, Sports and Entertainment. “The Cine Teatro Rex opens to music” or to the artistic language par excellence, a language that fosters listening and allows users of all ages to tap into the deepest essence of living. We are very satisfied with the partnership with the "Vincenzo Bellini" Conservatory of Catania and with the Lamberto Puggelli Foundation. Furthermore, in line with the colorful and multicultural project actions proposed by ArchiDrama - we recall, for example, the project «Photography on Stage», curated by Carmen Cardillo and sponsored by the Academy of Fine Arts Catania, also welcomed by the Cine Teatro Rex -, we are happy to include a matinée program, dedicated to the schools of Catania and province with particular attention to music-oriented institutions. This type of initiative falls within the objectives of enhancing all artistic languages within a much broader project: to make the Cine Teatro Rex a cultural and artistic agora of the territory, declares Alfio Zappalà. Leonardo Cantarella emphasizes how “The concert season ‘La Grande Classica’” is a moment of great cultural relevance for the city and proof of the importance of harmony between public and private management. For Councilor Giuseppe Cavallaro, the program pushes towards an important cultural segment with assured economic repercussions and a recognized quality level. Maestro Francesco Zappalà highlights the goal of promoting, alongside renowned Masters, young concert performers from the "Vincenzo Bellini" Conservatory of Catania as a professional opportunity and field training, defining the project as a true “gym of emotions”. Maestro Michele Amoroso presents the two concerts entrusted to him, including “Sound Interweavings” with guitar and piano together with guitarist Nicola Otieri, and a second appointment with overtures transposed for piano together with Maestro Stefania La Manna. Maestra Stefania La Manna announces that she will play four hands with Maestro Amoroso the program “From Fantasy to Overture” with music by Schubert, Stravinsky, Rossini, Bellini, Puccini, and Verdi and hopes for new collaborations and an international showcase for organists.

An unprecedented and refined proposal for seven appointments (every Wednesday) that, from March 25 to June 17, 2026, will be hosted by the historic and renewed Cine Teatro Rex di Giarre. This is the program distinguished by a wide repertoire of classical music: (Wednesday, March 25) Piano recital – 7:00 PM, “Robert and Clara: A love...to be played!”, Music by Robert Schumann, Francesco Zappalà – Pianist; (Wednesday, April 15) Piano recital – 7:00 PM, “From Variation to (almost) Modern Sonata”, Music by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, Sergei Rachmaninoff, and Sergei Prokofiev, Silvio Greco – Pianist; (Wednesday, April 29) Concert for guitar and piano – 7:00 PM, Michele Amoroso – Pianist, Nicola Oreri – Guitarist; (Wednesday, May 20) Piano recital – 7:00 PM, “Characterization and storytelling...in music”, Music by Robert Schumann and Franz Liszt, Manuel Cicero – Pianist; (Wednesday, May 27) Four-hand piano concert – 7:00 PM, Music by Schubert, Stravinsky, Rossini, Bellini, Puccini, Verdi, Michele Amoroso – Pianist, Stefania La Manna – Pianist; (Wednesday, June 3) Piano recital – 9:00 PM, “On a journey...through free forms”, Music by Mozart, Mendelssohn, Schumann, Brahms, Raffaele Terlizzi – Pianist; (Wednesday, June 17) Piano recital – 9:00 PM, “The Giants of Polyphony and Form”, Music by Johan Sebastian Bach, Ferruccio Busoni, Ludwig van Beethoven, Dario Rapisarda – Pianist.