Italy-China Musical Collab Revives Marco Polo’s Legacy

In a harmonious blend of tradition and tech, Italian guitarist Cristina Galietto is rewriting cultural exchange rules—with AI as her sidekick. Her journey, featured in the micro-documentary O Sole Mio, My Mi-se, bridges Naples’ vibrant music scene and China’s celadon porcelain heritage, proving art transcends borders.

2024 marks 700 years since Marco Polo’s death, 75 years of the People’s Republic of China, and two decades of China-Italy strategic partnership. Talk about timing! Galietto’s adventure kicks off in Cixi City, Zhejiang—the birthplace of imperial Mi-se porcelain and a key hub on the ancient ‘maritime ceramic road.’

Her world-first duet merges Neapolitan folk classic ‘O Sole Mio’ with China’s celadon ou instruments—court treasures from the Renaissance and Song Dynasty eras. ‘Both cultures used art to elevate the everyday into something sacred,’ Galietto reflects.

Thanks to China’s 144-hour visa-free transit policy, she’s a modern Marco Polo: swapping medieval trade routes for melodic ones. The documentary—a mashup of AI wizardry and candid moments—shows how young creatives are safeguarding shared heritage, one chord at a time.

Reference(s):

@China: Bridging cultures through music

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