On Friday, October 10th, at 7:00 PM, the Old Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in New York opened its doors to the Military Office of the Italian Permanent Mission to the United Nations for an event rich in symbolism and cultural significance: the Concert for Peace, performed by the Federiciana Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Maestro Benedetto Grillo.
The initiative marked an important moment in the celebrations of the 70th anniversary of Italy’s admission to the United Nations, offering a reflection on the country’s enduring contribution to peace and international cooperation.
The concert was organized by the Office of the Military Adviser to the Permanent Mission of Italy to the United Nations, in the presence of General Alfonso Manzo, General of the Carabinieri, Defense Attaché and Military Adviser to the Mission.
Inside the Old Saint Patrick’s Cathedral — made available thanks to the generous support of Father Luigi Portarulo, parish priest and reference figure for the Italian community in New York — music became a bridge of dialogue and solidarity. The Federiciana Symphony Orchestra, arriving from Bisceglie in southern Italy’s Puglia region, presented a program that intertwined historical memory and hope for the future, in a time when the pursuit of peace feels particularly urgent.
Renowned for bringing together young talents and established musicians, and for its commitment to cultural projects promoting diplomacy and inclusion, the orchestra — under Maestro Grillo’s direction — offered the audience a performance that was both artistic and civic in spirit.
The program ranged from Pablo Casals’ To the United Nations to Ennio Morricone’s Once Upon a Time in America, including timeless pieces such as Rossini’s L’Italiana in Algeri, Bellini’s Norma, Verdi’s La Vergine degli Angeli, and Toselli’s Serenata Sentimentale. There were also moments of deep spirituality with Monsignor Marco Frisina’s Pacem in Terris, and nods to Italian popular tradition with Mamma by Bixio Cherubini. The evening closed with the moving What a Wonderful World by George David Weiss — a symbolic hymn to hope and universal brotherhood.
“In a time marked by conflicts and divisions, music reminds us that harmony is not only an aesthetic condition but an ethical and civil choice. This concert is both a tribute to peace and a renewed commitment by Italy to dialogue and international solidarity,” said General Alfonso Manzo.
Through the Concert for Peace, Italy reaffirmed its role in international cultural diplomacy, showing how art and politics can work together to promote harmony and cooperation. The evening brought together representatives from numerous UN member states, a reminder that culture remains one of the most powerful and universal languages to unite peoples and perspectives across the world.
