"I know who my family is": General Hospital's Giovanni Mazza, fans, react to his character's emotional reunion with his violin

As the Quartermaines celebrated Christmas on General Hospital, their newest member got an unexpected gift that many fans have been waiting for.

On the Friday, December 26th episode, Gio Palmieri (Giovanni Mazza) played a violin for the first time since he smashed his previous one onstage at the Nurses’ Ball in May. He held a new violin that his grandfathers Ned (Wally Kurth) and Sonny (Maurice Benard) bought for him but weren’t planning on giving to him on this day. When Leo (Easton Rocket Sweda) unknowingly and innocently brought it into the living room, Gio decided to try it out. But only after some tears, painful memories and encouragement from his birth mother Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton).

After he composed himself, Gio played “O Holy Night” on his new instrument, bringing his family to tears and offering an emotional payoff just as emphatic as the night he had his public meltdown on the Nurses’ Ball stage.

Gio picking up a violin again was a satisfying payoff on General Hospital

It was a moment fans have been waiting for, something we predicted would happen eventually because of his family, and some were hoping would come during the Christmas season.

Mazza and the showrunners knew this. Friday afternoon, the showrunners released a video on their social media accounts with Mazza giving a brief interview about the episode. They showed clips of the December 26th episode and the Nurses’ Ball meltdown, when Gio revealed to everyone that Brook Lynn and Dante (Dominic Zamprogna) were his biological parents.

In the interview, Mazza said, in part, “Breaking the violin signifies to me a broken heart. (The violin) was a metaphor for a broken family, broken life, broken identity. I didn’t know who I was. I think now I know who my family is… it’s really special.”

Mazza said he had about three weeks to prepare his musical performance. He spoke on the video about how he fine-tuned the notes and the tempo of the Christmas classic so the emotional beats of the scene would come out just right.

He also shared his gratitude about the story. “It’s very interesting to see where my life continues to go and how I grow. My own personal journey,” he said.

General Hospital fans loved the emotional payoff

General Hospital fans all over social media enjoyed the heartwarming moment with Gio, his mother, girlfriend Emma (Braedyn Bruner) and the rest of the Quartermaines.

On Instagram, the official General Hospital post had hundreds of comments praising Mazza and the story.

The Instagram user amkb12 said, “He is not only exceptionally gifted at the violin, he is also a wonderful actor. I hope he remains on GH for years to come.”

callievine008: “Gio and Emma are the best YA actors on GH right now. Rocco is up there too. More scenes of them please.”

backporchparadise: “This entire violin segment was the Christmas icing on the cake. And you couldn’t have picked a better song. Thank you.”

fcmalley332021: “Omg, I cried the whole episode. My emotions just went all out of the place. This young man is so talented GH we are so lucky to have him. Thank you for bringing such joy and entertainment to us.”

On X, the follower STEELK1969 reacted to the interview, saying “love Giovanni’s insight into his violin prepping process. What an immense performer!”

The X user HeelyGangLeader added, “Gio is incredible. Would not have thought I’d be saying this even just at the beginning of this year.”

The X user sparklychalynn_ added, “Give it to Amanda & Gio playing this scene beautifully and Gio got the courage to perform again because of his mama Brook Lynn.”

Emma gave Gio inspiration with help from her grandpa, Robert Scorpio

The moment Gio started playing again on General Hospital was even more special because Emma was right by his side the whole time.

She planted the seeds for Gio’s return to music on the Wednesday, December 24th episode of General Hospital. While they were at the Scorpio house, Emma gave Gio a didgeridoo, an Australian wind instrument that looks like a very long oboe. Gio played some notes on it and had fun, with everyone all smiles.

It was a nice callback to when Emma was a little girl played by Brooklyn Rae Silzer, and her grandfather Robert Scorpio (the late Tristan Rogers) gave her one at Christmastime on General Hospital in 2013 while dressed as Santa himself.

Not only did it foreshadow Gio’s own grandfathers giving him an instrument, but it was part of a sweet tribute to Rogers, who passed away in August. Robert was mentioned several times in the episode, as were Sasha (Sofia Mattsson) and Daisy.

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On X, the fan Irishgirls59581 said, “Emma giving Gio the didgeridoo was a sweet nod to Grandpa Robert gifting Emma one when she was a child. Well done, writers.”

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