Concerti.... what would the plural be in Italian

Well it's been a few days and we've been busy as usual.  Now, some of these things I save up so don't be confused, they didn't all happen in one day.  Henry and I have been very very lucky.   Seems that there are concerti(s) going on all the time ... you only have to keep your eyes and ears open.  Aside from that Henry is a real sleuth as is Ernie apparently.  Let's  see now, not in any particular order..... there was:

The Oratorio del Gonfalone:  The building is quite amazing in itself; frescoed everywhere.  I could recite its' history but if you go here  
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oratorio_del_Gonfalone you'll get a much better and more accurate information.  This charming building is about 3 blocks from our apartment so we enjoyed our walk there, a lovely concert and a nice walk home - so Roman.... Henry went back a couple of times for tickets before he found the office and found it when it was open.  Tickets were  20 Euros each.  The performers were a pianist and a tenor (so so sorry, but I can't remember their names).  They were both very engaging and the small local group and us, thoroughly enjoyed it.

Just being in this room alone is awesome - acoustics are also awesome.

Concerti Al Palazzo del Quirinale: On Sunday (exact date happened to be February 17th), Henry and I got up fairly early (for us now) and headed over to the Quirinale Palace to take a tour of the Presidential palace as well as  enjoy a concerti.  Tickets were only 5 Euros (Henry was free because in this case they did included foreigners in the 65 and under rule)  We have since learned that the palace is ONLY open on Sundays for three hours.  When we arrived we noted a long line-up but couldn't find another entrance for the concert which was to begin at 11:50 a.m. So we waited, and we waited.  We're getting used (somewhat) to waiting.  The Italians seem to be known for creating line-ups and herding people.  Unfortunately, there is a large  group of Italians who don't know how to line-up.  They look like this:

Line butt - er - inners above.

Now I know we should be respectful of our elders.  Also, it is of course reasonable and expected that you should give up your seat on the bus for someone a) older than you and b) (Henry) for a female but we're going to have to draw the line somewhere.  Why should I wait in line for 2 hours and then miss a concert because someone older came along, hours late and BUTTED In.. It happens all the time here.   They'd don't just butt in they literally beat their way in because they're usually carrying weapons (they call them canes)... 

Also, while we were waiting in line and moving further back by "the people with the gray hair", we were also shifted back while tour group after tour group went ahead of us.  Finally, we joined a group.  Yes, we didn't speak Italian, weren't wearing fur coats and they kept looking at us strangely as if they didn't recognize us. Go figure!  We hurried through a tour of the palace in order to make the concert and get a reasonable seat.  Performing was Beatrice Rana.  She is only 20 years old and was an outstanding pianist.  The room glistened and the music beautiful.  She also has a Canadian connection as  

In June 2011, 18 year-old Beatrice Rana won First Prize at the Montreal International Music Competition. She was then described by Le Devoir as “not just a pianist, but most of all an artist”. Beatrice Rana also won all the other special prizes, gaining the attention of audiences and critics and imposing herself as one of the most promising talents of the new generation.

Beatrice is already a guest of presitigious concert series and festivals throughout the world, such as Zurich’s Tonhalle, Wigmore Hall, La Roque d’Anthéron piano festival, Radio-France Festival in Montpellier, Lanaudière Festival in Montreal, Vancouver Recital Society, Domaine Forget in Quebec, La Folle Journée Festival in Nantes, Busoni Festival in Bolzano, Sala Verdi for Milan’s Società dei Concerti.

Basilica di Santa Maria sopra Minerva:  Henry found this one "In Rome Now"  Ernie apparently told Henry about that site which is very "incite" ful.   We headed over to the Basilica quite early (wanted to beat some of those types noted above) and found ourselves quite nicely seated with a good view of the performers.  The Concerti comprised Credo RV 591 (per coro a 4 voci miste, archi e basso continuo), Magificat RV 610 (per soli, 2 cori a 4 voci miste e due orchestra) and Gloria RV 589 (per soli, coro a 4 voci miste e orchestra)  The lead singers comprised three sopranos and two contraltos. All were amazing and once again the acoustics were fantastic.  Again, it seems it may be best to be last and push your way in.  As the church filled up, more seats were added which affected our view a little but everything could be heard very well from anywhere in the huge Basilica.  A wonderful night largely attended by locals.

This was the seating before they added 4 additional chairs along the aisles for "latecomers"... shoulda been, they had the best seats but knowing my luck they wouldn't have added any.

Yours truly - early arrival