The Guardia di Finanza is celebrating its 250th anniversary, having been founded in 1774. To mark this special occasion, a delegation of 40 musicians from the Guardia di Finanza Band will perform a concert at the Italian Embassy in Washington. They will be playing instruments exceptionally loaned by the U.S. Air Force Band for this unique event. The concert will last one hour and will be followed by a reception.

 

PROGRAM

 

National Anthem of the United States of America
National Anthem of Italy

G. Puccini
Scossa elettrica
(Transcription: L. Ruggieri)

Tregenda
(Transcription: R.E. Forster) from “Le Villi”

Corazzata Sicilia
(Transcription: P. Nevi)

E. Morricone
Nuovo cinema Paradiso
(Arrangement: R. Longfield)
Accordion: W.O. Raffaele Crusco
 

A. Piazzolla
Adiós Nonino
(Transcription: P.K. Schaars)
Accordion: W.O. Raffaele Crusco
 

L. Dalla
Caruso

G. Piccioni
Ciao Albertone
(Transcription: M. Marzi)

D. Ellington
It don’t mean a thing
(Arrangement: M. Sweeney)

S. Wonder
You are the sunshine
(Arrangement: J. Bocook)

 

ABOUT THE GUARDIA DI FINANZA MUSICAL BAND

Officially founded in 1926, the Guardia di Finanza Musical Band is composed by 102 musicians graduated from outstanding Italian conservatoires and selected amongst the best contestants. Before that, and since 1883, the Band was split into several brass bands.

It performed in the most prestigious Italian theatres, such as “La Scala” in Milan, the Opera House and the National Academy of “Santa Cecilia” in Rome, “San Carlo” in Naples, “Massimo Theatre” in Palermo and “La Fenice” in Venice. In 2007 and 2008 it performed at the “Verdi Musical Festival” in Parma.

It collaborated with well-know national and international symphonic orchestras, such as the “Radio-Television” Orchestra of Rome and the “Maggio Musicale Fiorentino” Orchestra. In 1993 it performed in the final concert of the “Festival of the Two Worlds” held in Spoleto (Italy) along with the Symphonic Orchestra of the Festival and Washington’s Choir.

Its successful tournees abroad included Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Belgium, France and United Arab Emirates. In 2001, 2002 (when it performed a very successful concert in Ground Zero) and 2007, the Band was invited to celebrate “Columbus Day” in New York.

International critics and public applauded the high skills of its components, carried out through a repertoire rich in classical and contemporary music.      

Considered   as one of the most prestigious bands worldwide, the Band of the “Guardia di Finanza” performed under the guidance of well-known Maestros, such as Zubin Metha and Steven Mercurio. Since 2002, its conductor is Colonel Maestro Leonardo Laserra Ingrosso.