Stranieri
Stranieri tells the story of the foreigners or ‘stranieri’ who were recruited to the Radio Eireann Symphony Orchestra from 1948. Some came to leave behind a devastated post war Europe, others came to escape communist regimes. All of them came to share their extraordinary talents with what would became a world class National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland.
They were recruited by enlightened officials from the department of Posts and Telegraphs from all over Europe. The Ireland they came to though, didn’t know that olive oil could be used for more than clearing ears, and good coffee was a rarity.
The lack of equal pay for women mystified women members, communication was difficult and condoms were smuggled in newspapers by nonnas /grannies in newspapers.
Hear the fascinating stories in this BAI funded radio documentary presented and produced by Angie Mezzetti first broadcast on RTE Lyricfm.