The official music video for the song ‘Marco Polo’ by Valentina Volpe Andreazza

We are delighted to finally share with you the official music video for Marco Polo, performed by Valentina Volpe Andreazza, Executive President of CEM Italy.
Produced by Francesco Morettini and Constantino Paolini, in collaboration with the Italian Cultural Institute in Beijing, Marco Polo is a tribute to the remarkable legacy of the explorer who opened Asia to the West — a legacy marked above all by the exchange of knowledge between East and West.

At a time when cultural exchanges were rare, his accounts revealed to Medieval Europe aspects of Asia’s technological, scientific, and artistic advancements. While not a musician or theorist himself, Marco Polo played a vital role as a cultural bridge, paving the way for a more open, hybrid, and universal musical landscape.

Marco Polo: a conduit for intercultural exchange
Through his journeys, especially in China, Marco Polo forged a lasting link between East and West. His Book of Marvelssparked curiosity for Eastern cultures, including their artistic and musical traditions. The Silk Road, which he travelled, carried not only goods but also musical instruments — lutes, percussion, and wind instruments from Persia, India, and China — that would influence instrument-making and performance in Medieval and Renaissance Europe.

Marco Polo: a spark for musical imagination
The exotic worlds he described have fuelled the imagination of European artists for centuries, from Renaissance composers to 20th-century orientalists. His story continues to inspire modern works, such as Tan Dun’s opera Marco Polo(1996), which blends Western and Asian traditions in a living symbol of intercultural dialogue.

We are proud to present this video of our dear Valentina — follow her on Instagram @valentinavolpeandreazza — and to invite you to discover her upcoming adventures with CEM Italy.
Already an active participant in several CEM transnational programmes, CEM Italy champions the power of music in one of Europe’s cultural heartlands. Through local and international collaborations, it showcases Italy’s musical heritage while driving innovative projects that embody the CEM’s humanist spirit and commitment to societal impact.