From our friends at ilNewyorkese – June 2, 2025
This evening, New York City hosted what many are calling the most remarkable celebration of Italy’s Festa della Repubblica ever held in the United States. The event, organized by the Consulate General of Italy in New York, transformed the iconic Glasshouse into a grand stage of Italian culture, beauty, and unity.
But what exactly is Festa della Repubblica? Celebrated every year on June 2, it marks the anniversary of the 1946 referendum in which Italians voted to become a republic, formally ending the monarchy. It’s Italy’s national day — a moment of pride, reflection, and celebration, both within the country and across Italian communities around the world.
This year’s event brought together more than 1,400 guests, including prominent figures from the fields of business, science, art, and diplomacy. It was an evening that combined elegance and energy, featuring a powerful program of performances that reflected the best of Italy’s cultural heritage.
The evening was hosted by Adriana Trigiani, beloved author and New York Times best-seller, who led the audience through a celebration that felt both grand and deeply personal. The ceremony began with moving renditions of the Italian and American national anthems, performed by students from La Scuola d’Italia G. Marconi, a bilingual Italian-American school that has become a pillar of the Italian presence in New York.
The night continued with a breathtaking ballet performance by Martina Arduino and Marco Agostino, principal dancers from Milan’s legendary Teatro alla Scala, performing an original choreography titled Ancóra, created by Marco Pelle for the occasion.
Guests were then treated to a tribute to Italian opera, with singers from the New York City Opera interpreting timeless arias by Leoncavallo, Puccini, and Verdi, followed by a dazzling set from Broadway star Melissa Errico and her jazz trio. The crowd sang along as she closed her performance with New York, New York, uniting Italian pride with the spirit of the city.
The event closed with music and dancing, in a festive atmosphere that reflected the strength and warmth of the Italian-American community.
Special thanks were extended to Teatro alla Scala and its Ballet Director Frédéric Olivieri, the creative teams at DINN! and WEMWORKS, and the nearly 70 sponsor companies that made this extraordinary evening possible.
For more stories on Italian life, culture, and community in the U.S., follow us at ilNewyorkese — where Italy meets America, every day.
