Rivano Bensheim Sister City Trip Highlights and Cultural Exchange

A press release from the Associazione Amici di Bensheim informs the Rivano community about the highlights of the latest trip to the sister city. A multi-day journey led by President Franco Gamba, institutionally enriched by Vice Mayor Pietro Matteotti and Councillor Luigi Marino, culturally marked by the presence of the «national critic, guest of honor, Dr. Professor» Pier Luigi Menapace, and operationally dedicated to organizing a «remarkable event» in Bensheim.

Namely, the exhibition of the «most significant artists from Riva»: Aroldo Pignattari, Luigi Meregalli, Germano Alberti, Mario Matteotti, and Silvana Groff (the last three present in person in Bensheim: also «accompanied by their gracious spouses»). According to the communiqué, we learn about the reception «with all honors» at the Grand Hotel Bacchus, featuring a «sumptuous dinner»; the subsequent «working breakfast» at Zur Post; and the afternoon «tasting of local specialties» at the castle restaurant in Auerbach, which preceded the opening of the exhibition.

Program and entertainment moment

We are then transported to 6 p.m., still on Friday, October 20. The Mayor of Bensheim offers «a warm welcome not lacking in his admiration and that of the entire municipal council», while Professor Menapace, «official speaker of the evening, moved and honored by the mandate», introduces the artists. In the end, it is the same Burgmeister who, «pleased, offers the speaker a tribute, accompanied by praise for having fascinated everyone with his culture».

But it doesn’t end there. In the atmosphere of the evening, «already filled with collective pathos», the Maria Grazia Torbol ballet company (evidently part of the delegation) makes its entrance at the Paktheater, performing «a showcase of high school level». It wins «everyone’s appreciation» and evokes a dreamlike delirium, with someone expressing «the hope of someday seeing the sublime artist again in the company of Maurice Bejart». The subsequent travel report covers visits to the University, Heidelberg Fortress, and Rothenburg city.

Comments and final considerations

Thus far, the diary for the press of the Amici di Bensheim. From this point, a brief comment from the writer of this newspaper, who — incidentally — has had other occasions to express doubts about the sisterhood and the «braggadocio». (By the way, congratulations to Nago-Torbole and all its post-war administrators, who — the only ones in the Busa — have never been charmed by the idea: and there are no signs that their town is less «Europeanist» than others!).

The comment is simply a question on behalf of those Rivano who (perhaps due to chronic insensitivity) do not get caught up in the «atmospheres of collective pathos of sisterhood»: if the export of the city and friendship is still so evidently at a Byzantine level, is it worthwhile for the Comune to invest energy and money (all of us) in the year of grace 2000?