On June 17 in Rome, “La Tempesta Silenziosa”(The Silent Storm) will take place—a visionary event conceived by writer Alessandro Baricco and promoted by Roma Capitale. This initiative extends an invitation to thousands of people: to come together, all at the exact same moment, to perform the gentle, intimate, and revolutionary act par excellence. That is, to read.
How to participate in the event
The beating heart of this experience will pulse to the rhythm of the sunset. At exactly 8:47 p.m., in every corner of the capital, a multitude of readers will gather to immerse themselves in the exact same pages: those of Fyodor Dostoevsky’s celebrated masterpiece *White Nights*. They will not be alone in their silence, for they will be united by a special soundscape—a live-streamed soundtrack capable of creating an invisible yet tangible web of emotions.
The epicenter of this literary storm will unfold across seven exceptional, monumental venues: the Palatino Stadium, the Ara Pacis, Casa del Jazz, Villa Torlonia, the Testaccio Slaughterhouse, the Rome Opera House, and the majestic Piazza del Campidoglio. At the Stadio Palatino itself, Alessandro Baricco will kick off the magic by reading the opening lines of the novel, while actress Isabella Ragonese’s intense performance will bring the event to a close, followed by a celebratory DJ set. All venues will be connected live to the Stadio, allowing everyone in attendance to hear the same voices and the same music simultaneously.
Since the seven main venues are sold out (the event is free and includes a book while supplies last), 300 “small storms”—additional locations where you can read—have been created, which you can find on the official website.
The initiative is organized in collaboration with the Colosseum Archaeological Park, the Rome Library System, the Mattatoio Foundation, the Rome Opera House Foundation, the Capitoline Superintendence for Cultural Heritage, and the Municipal Districts of Rome.
