The event is just a teaser for the “Notte dei musei” (Museums’ night out) programme planned for 16 May 2009, which will promote new late opening hours at weekends. Head of Italian Cultural Heritage Umberto Broccoli together with Zetema’s Francesco Marcolini and the director of the IV department Andrea Zara have put together the “Museums go partying” initiative to give, as Mr. Broccoli says , “citizens and tourists the chance to enjoy important shows and get in touch with museums that have been for far too long forgotten.
There are numerous initiatives are:
From 26 December to 6 January at the Museo dell’Ara Pacis there be an external light display, whilst inside there is a workshop for children based on the Munari exhibition.
On 28, 29 and 30 December the Museo delle Mura di Porta San Sebastiano will play host to “Porte di Luce” (Doors of Light) a show of internal and external theatrical illuminations, whilst on 3, 4 and 5 January it will be the setting for a show called “La Porta del Tempo” (The Time Door), which will take you back though the centuries to the origins of the ancient gate.
There will also be some great music on offer during the initiative. On 2 January Antonella Ruggero will be presenting “Happy New Year” at the Capitoline Museums. The artist will perform religious music to the accompaniment of violin and piano. On 5 and 6 January thirty artists will put on the dance-opera “Odysseus”, which portrays the life of Ulysses.
“Museums go Partying” also has an event on 3, 4 and 5 January at the Napoleonic Museum called “Napoleone a Sant’Elena” (Napoleon on Saint Helena). It is a period costume theatrical production set on the emperor’s Island prison.
At the Braschi Palace there will be a “Valzer di Strauss” (Waltz with Strauss) on 5 and 6 January but before on 30 December come and see “Una Visita Molto Privata” (A very private visit). The production moves through the museums statues to tell the history of one of Rome’s more turbulent eras from the point of view a central character.
Trajan’s markets are to be the site of the Christmas Eve Concert and Epiphany Concert, whilst on 4, 5 and 6 January, the Museo Bilotti will host “L’Amore Interrotto” (Broken Love). It is a recital, musical show and theatrical production all in one. It unites in a unique poetic representation, the literature, music, dance and photography of the year 2000.
On 4 and 5 January at the Centrale Montemartini (ex-power station now sculpture museum) go to take in “Richiamo” (Recall), a production that puts the solitude of work, production lines and industrial society centre stage.
During the same period but also on 6 January a production called “Dammi una Rosa” (Give me a Rose) is showing at the Museo Canonica. It depicts the life and literature of Gabriele D'Annunzio.
Don’t miss the shows that are on for children at the Rome Planetarium and the Museum of Zoology. "La cometa di Natale” (the Christmas Comet) and “Dieci piccoli racconti sulla storia di Troia" (Ten short stories on the history of Troy) at the former and “Nanometamorfosi” (micro-metamorphoses) and “Scienza divertente” (Fun Science) at the later.
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