On October 6, 2024, the history of sound and the history of Italy met at the Palazzo dei Congressi in Rome to celebrate 100 years of Italian public broadcasting. The star of the evening was the RAI National Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Steven Mercurio, performing the spectacular symphonic reworkings of the Historical TV Themes curated by Andrea Ravizza.

A Century of Sonic Memory

Ten years after the project's debut, this performance took on unprecedented institutional significance. Ravizza's work turned the Palazzo dei Congressi into a vast sounding board for the country's memory: from the opening signals of the first radio broadcasts to the major themes of color television. The "Symphonic Fantasies" restored the architectural grandeur of themes that, originally created for just a few seconds of airtime, were elevated to concert dignity, celebrating the genius of authors such as Rossini, Bach, Paradisi, and the great composers of original RAI themes.

A Television Success

The event enjoyed extraordinary media exposure, confirming its popular and cultural value. An excerpt of the evening was broadcast on Rai 1, while the full version of the concert aired on Rai 3 on October 8, 2024, bringing into the homes of millions of Italians the power of a symphony orchestra capable of telling the story of a century of national life through music.