On 10 May 2026, Constantine Orbelian led the Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie in a gala performance featuring tenor Jonathan Tetelman and Baritone Önay Köse and a program of Verdi and Puccini Arias and Duets.
The Italian Consulate in Dortmund is delighted to support this concert, which stands as a symbol of a shared celebration of the deep bond between German and Italian culture. This evening, the internationally acclaimed tenor Jonathan Tetelman performs at the Konzerthaus Dortmund, accompanied by the Northwest German Philharmonic under the baton of Maestro Constantine Orbelian. The event takes place in a year of great historical significance—a year marking the anniversaries of two milestones on our shared journey: the 75th anniversary of the resumption of diplomatic relations between Italy and Germany following the Second World War, and the 70th anniversary of the Framework Agreement on Cultural Cooperation.
In 1951, the German Ambassador, Clemens von Brentano, and his Italian counterpart, Babuscio Rizzo, presented their credentials. This resumption of relations paved the way for the conclusion of numerous agreements—including the Framework Agreement on Cultural Cooperation—which established new foundations for a deeper understanding of the cultures of both nations. Thus, diplomacy becomes an art form. This spirit of cooperation—a pillar of stability for the European project—is being celebrated this year by the Italian and German diplomatic and consular networks. It finds its visual expression in a new logo, created through the collaboration between the Italian Embassy in Berlin and the German Embassy in Rome.
Through the timeless repertoire of Verdi and Puccini, Tetelman’s voice reminds us how European identity has taken shape—in part—through universal melodies. Tonight’s concert is more than a celebration of opera; it is a living expression of friendship between nations. Much like a concert performance, beauty here emerges from the capacity to listen to one another. Collective dialogue reveals that true collaboration begins where mutual understanding and shared experiences meet. This forms the foundation of any joint endeavor—yesterday as much as today. For, much like music, the friendship between our countries speaks a universal and timeless language.
We wish you an evening filled with magnificent music, to celebrate 75 years of shared history and to look toward the future together.
—The Italian Consul in Dortmund, Alice Joy Cox