Abu Dhabi to host benefit concert in support of Venice flooding

The free concert will take place at the Abu Dhabi National Theatre

This photo from November this year shows a paper boat floating in a flooded St. Mark's Square in Venice. AP / Luca Bruno

A benefit concert to support those affected by recent flooding in Italy is set to take place in Abu Dhabi this week.

The concert titled ‘Earth, I Walk Upon There’ will be held at the Abu Dhabi National Theatre on Wednesday, December 11, and is sponsored by the Italian Cultural Institute as well as the Embassy of Italy to the UAE.

The performance, composed and conducted by Silvia Colasanti, will feature the Guadagnini String Quartet, who are well known in Europe for their chamber music.

There will also be a poetry reading by actor and director Elio De Capitani, focusing on texts by Mariangela Gualtieri that explore the pressing issues of climate change and environmental emergencies.

De Capitani most notably played Silvio Berlusconi in Nanni Moretti's 2006 film Il Caimano. 

The event is under the patronage of Sheikh Nahayan bin Mubarak, Minister of Tolerance, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MOFAIC).

It starts at 7.30pm, with a cocktail opening at 6.30pm and is completely free to attend.

Last month, the Italian city of Venice experienced the worst flooding that is has seen in more than half a century, leaving 70 per cent of its historic city centre under water.

A state of emergency was declared after water levels rose up to 1.87 metres above sea level – the second-highest ever recorded in the city.

A $6.1 billion (Dh22.4 billion) project to install anti-flood barriers is currently underway in the Italian city, which is famous for its canals and waterways.