EUBO REBORNS IN ITALY THANKS TO ICONS

The European Union Baroque Orchestra (EUBO), a historic ensemble made up of young musicians from across the European Union moves its headquarters to Italy thanks to the philanthropic and entrepreneurial qualities of ICONS, organization leader in scientific communication and active in the field of EU-funded projects. Collaboration with the Angelo Mariani Music Association made it possible to designate Ravenna as the host city for the first concert of the renewed orchestra, with the aim that the project will grow and strengthen through collaboration with the local institutions.

EUBO was created as a major initiative of the European Year of Music to celebrate the 300th anniversary of three great Baroque musicians: Johann Sebastian Bach, Domenico Scarlatti and George Friderich Haendel. The activities of the European Union Baroque Orchestra, which was founded in 1985 in Britain and funded by the European Union, have been at a standstill since 2018, when it moved to Belgium following Brexit. 

In agreement with EUBO founders and former managers, ICONS set about the resumption of the orchestra’s activities, bringing EUBO to Italy thanks also to the collaboration with the Associazione Musicale Angelo Mariani. “The mission of ICONS is to support culture in all its forms, the organization shares the same values as EUBO, that is why we have strongly promoted the relaunch of the orchestra in our country thanks also to the support and enthusiasm shown by the Associazione Musicale Angelo Mariani,” said Mario Martinoli, co-founder and President of ICONS. “ICONS has always been active in the artistic promotion of young musical talents through the support and development of Theresia Orchestra, the flagship of our philanthropic activities since 2012, and EUBO will fit into this same vein of support for international youth artistic excellence”.

EUBO’s relaunch aims to keep in line with its original spirit and artistic model, and it will follow the residential model already used by Theresia Orchestra (the orchestra meets several times a year for periods of one week/ten days to prepare programmes for short tours).

The first activities of EUBO will take place during the November residency, which will culminate in a concert on 28 November at the Alighieri Theatre in Ravenna, organized by the Associazione Musicale Angelo Mariani. The association was founded in 1963 with the aim of disseminating and spreading musical culture in the Romagna region. It continues to be particularly committed to the cultural growth of the public, to nurturing young talents at the beginning of their concert careers without neglecting the search for little-known repertoires.

“By hosting this EUBO project, the ‘Angelo Mariani’ Music Association is once again actively contributing to the growth of a ‘cultural space of quality’ for the City of Ravenna and its territory, so that the cultural offer continues to exercise its irreplaceable role as an engine for the growth of the people, refining aesthetic taste, ‘knowledge’, and critical consciousness” said Romano Valentini – Artistic Director Angelo Mariani Music Association.

The collaboration between the different parties will allow the city of Ravenna to become Italy’s leading hub for youth orchestras: indeed, the city is already home to the Luigi Cherubini orchestra.