On the night of Sunday, June 21, at the ARENA DI VERONA, an exclusive and cinematic performance will take place, blending the music of BENNY BENASSI and DARDUST with the action painting of Albanian artist AGRON HOTI.
The performance at the Arena di Verona marks the first episode of PANORAMA, a format conceived by Benny Benassi and FREE EVENT to bring the music of the two-time Grammy Award-winning Italian DJ to the most iconic and breathtaking locations in Italy. Natural landscapes and extraordinary venues become the backdrop for an emotional and evocative narrative. PANORAMA will share with the world the story of Italy, rising stronger than ever, showcasing the work of its companies, artists, and professionals.
Each episode, directed by Gianluca Magnoni in collaboration with FrameDealer, will be available online on Benny Benassi’s social platforms and on those of the international festivals he has performed at over the years. Through music and visuals, the series aims to entertain fans worldwide while promoting tourism and encouraging travelers to choose Italy as a prime destination for unique cultural, artistic, and scenic experiences.
The first mesmerizing performance in the empty Arena will take place on the first day of summer and during a solar eclipse. It will be captured from multiple angles using both stationary cameras and drones, offering a mix of perspectives that highlight the beauty of the setting. For the first time, Benny Benassi will be joined by Dardust, one of the world’s most streamed Italian pianists, an acclaimed composer, and a renowned producer.
During the live set, painter and sculptor Agron Hoti—previously behind “La Notte dei Re” event in Rome featuring football legends like Francesco Totti—will create a monumental artwork. He will lay a vast white canvas on the sandy ground of the Arena, covering it in black paint to carve out a luminous central sphere. The focal point of this gestural painting will be the striking contrast of a moon-like circle seemingly reflected in the Arena’s sand.
The final artwork will span approximately 400 square meters, with around 250 unique pieces being created from it.
Following the emotional performances of Diodato in May and Vittorio Grigolo in early June, the Arena di Verona will once again be illuminated—this time in its original archaeological configuration, without an audience—through a performance that transcends music and merges with contemporary art in one of the world’s most revered music temples.
Gianmarco Mazzi, General and Artistic Director of Arena di Verona S.r.l. (live events & TV), shared his thoughts:
“We were delighted to receive and embrace this proposal, promoted by Giuliano Occhipinti, as it ideally completes a trilogy of initiatives from the Arena di Verona that accompanied Italians during the health emergency: Diodato’s elegant nighttime live performance for Europe Shine A Light and Vittorio Grigolo’s powerful rendition of the Italian national anthem in broad daylight for Republic Day.
Furthermore, the artwork created on this occasion by Agron Hoti will be auctioned for charity, with an initial donation of €20,000 from the artists going to the ‘New Poverty’ project of the Municipality of Verona, a cause strongly supported by the late Senator Stefano Bertacco.”
