Each year during the Christmas season Stresa offers citizens and guests the opportunity to attend a free concert at the Stresa Convention Center. This building is Stresa's large, modern, cultural and business center. Throughout the year there are numerous events here, for both arts and commerce. Below is a photo of the Center, maybe you've noticed it, located on Piazzle Europa, basically behind and to the right of the Regina Palace Hotel.
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I noticed the concert in advertisements such as this one around Stresa.
Each year for the Christmas concert a different musical production is chosen. This year I had the pleasure of hearing the Quincy Blue Choir presenting Joy. The auditorium was almost filled. Before the concert, a presentation by Stresa's sindaco, mayor, of the annual Stresiani Benemerito award. This annual award recognizes a Stresa citizen who has benefited Stresa in some way. This year's recipient was Padre Umberto Muratore. He is the cultural CEO of the Centro di Studio Rosminiani, in Stresa. Although in Italian, I understood some of his short speech of thanks. He told a little story of a man who had done so many good deeds for his town and neighbors. And although the neighbors were grateful of him, and told him so, and told him that he did not need to do any more, he continued. He told them that their words of gratitude only encouraged him to continue, and to always strive to do more. It seemed a lovely and simple speech, heartfelt and real.
Then, the concert. Biggest surprise, as it was all in English. I thought at first they were a musical troupe visiting from America, but then discovered that no, they were all Italian. Next surprise, the music wasn't true gospel in the sense that I was expecting. A bit of New Orleans jazz, a bit of gospel, and some just plain fun Christmas songs with new twists.
Like this one; perhaps you know it:
I encourage you, when here in Stresa, to keep your eyes open for posters and announcements of cultural events at the Congressi.
Stresa Convention Center website: www.stresacongressi.it