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What's on?
Dicembre 2011
Nikki Catalano at the the Finders Keepers Markets - The Finders Keepers Markets are a bi-annual free event that showcases the work of over 80 emerging Australian designers and artists. In addition to design & art the market also showcases some local musicians who perform on the Finders Keepers stage. At the second of this year's market, which will be held at the CarriageWorks contemporary art centre on Friday, the 2nd of December, and Saturday, the 3rd, you'll be able to view and purchase limited edition prints by Nikki Catalano, a Sydney based illustrator and designer from Italian background. Her artwork, which I've only recently "discovered" and fallen in love with, is nostalgically poetic and whimsical, populated by children and rabbits, fantastical birds and animals, textile landscapes and owls. Not to be missed!!!
When: Friday 2nd December, from 6pm – 10pm;
Saturday 3rd December; from 10am – 5pm. Where: the inside foyer at CarriageWorks - 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh NSW 2015.
The pedestrian entrance is at the corner of Codrington Street and Wilson Street. To visit the Finders Keepers site click here. To visit Nikki's site click here.
Settembre 2010
Lavazza Italian Film Festival (dal 23 settembre al 10 ottobre) - the Italian Film Festival, pardon!, the "Lavazza" Italian Film Festival has become such a welcome staple of the italophile diet that life without it would be truly uninmaginable! This year marks the eleventh edition of the Festival and the line-up of films, as usual, is fantastico!!! Not having seen all the movies it's hard to pick favourites but definitely worth seeing are: La nostra vita, by Daniele Luchetti; Una questione di cuore, by Francesca Archibugi; Baarìa, by Giuseppe Tornatore; and Baciami ancora, by Gabriele Muccino. Also most definitely worth seeing is Sabrina Guzzanti's documentary: Draquila - L'Italia che trema, a satirical look at the aftermath of the 2009 earthquake that devastated the historic city of L'Aquila. For lovers of the great Italian cinematic tradition the Festival will be screening a fascinating documentary on Vittorio De Sica (the title of the documentary Vittorio D alludes to one of De Sica's masterpiece: Umberto D) in conjunction with the classic Ladri di biciclette - don't miss this opportunity to see this pivotal work of Italian neorealist cinema on the big screen!!! For all the details, including of course screening times and dates, and venues, visit the Lavazza Italian Film Festival site at www.italianfilmfestival.com.au.
Maggio 2009
Gomorrah - directed by Matteo Garrone. Ragazzi!!! We can barely remember the last time we updated this page but what better way to do so than by notifying you of the release of the film Gomorrah. Gomorrah, as you can gather from the title, is no Cinema Paradiso. It is violent, brutal in its portrayal of organized crime in Naples, rather plotless, yet utterly fascinating. Gomorrah is based on Roberto Saviano’s controversial bestselling novel of the same name - Saviano has been living under police protection since the release of the novel -and winner of the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival 2008. Here's a synopsis: "Power, money and blood: these are the “values” that the residents of the province of Naples and Caserta confront every day. They have practically no choice, and are forced to obey the rules of the “System”, the Gomorrah. Only a lucky few can even think of leading a “normal” life. Five stories are woven together in this violent scenario, set in a cruel and ostensibly invented world, but one that is deeply rooted in reality."
Released by Madman Entertainment. Opens nationally on the 14th of May.
Novembre - Dicembre 2007
Stephanie Wailes Recital – One of our students, Stephanie Wailes, will be holding a recital at the Sydney Conservatorium which promises to be assolutamente fantastico!!! Infact it’s a great chance to hear live someone who may one day become a star in the world of classical music, to enjoy some lovely music, and to be able to say in years to come when she might well be famous and performing all over the world: ”I was there at her Junior Recital!!!”. When: Thursday 15th November, 12:00-12:45pm. Where: Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Recital Hall West. Cost: Free entry. Program:
Giuseppe Verdi (Italian): Stornello; La Seduzione; La Zingara
Reynaldo Hahn (French): L'Enamourée; Si Mes Vers Avaient Des Ailes; Fêtes Galantes
Richard Straus (German): All Mein Gedanken; Du Meines Herzens Krönelein; Schlagende Herzen
Alberto Ginastera (Spanish): Canción Al Arbol Del Olvido; Canción A La Luna Lunanca
Fernando J. Obradors (Spanish): Con Amores, La Mi Madre; Corazon, Por Que Pasais; Al Amor
Joseph Canteloube (Occitan –provincial French language): Passo Pel Prat; Lo Fiolaire; Lou Coucut
Settembre - Ottobre 2007
2007 Lavazza Italian Film Festival - Scusateci ragazzi, abbiamo trascurato un po' questa pagina ma rieccoci! - sorry guys, we have neglected this page a little but we are back and the Italian Film Festival is back! Che belloooooooo!!! Ecco i dettagli: "Palace Cinemas and Lavazza are proud to present the 8th Italian Film Festival, screening September 26 - October 15 at Palace Academy and Norton Street. The programme includes 16 new features drawn from the recent Rome, Venice and Cannes International Film Festivals. The Opening Night Gala on Wednesday 26 September at Palace Norton Street will feature the Sydney Premiere of the hugely anticipated Manual of Love 2 (Manuale d'amore 2), the enchanting sequel to the romantic comedy favourite of the 2005 festival. The film features a terrific collection of new characters dealing with love in all its complications, and stars the gorgeous Monica Bellucci, Carlo Verdone, Sergio Rubini and Barbara Bobulova. The 2007 Festival also features new films from some of Italy's biggest names: Ferzan Oztepek's multi-award-winning ensemble drama Saturn in Opposition; Roberto Torre's red-light thriller The Dark Sea; Pupi Avati's touching new comedy The Get-Together Dinner; Fausto Brizzi's delightful box-office smash The Night Before Exams; Cannes-winning director Ermanno Olmi's mesmerising One Hundred Nails which is the last fiction film he'll make; and Francesca Comencini's David di Donatello winning Our Country with Luca Zingaretti!!!, plus many more!". The Festival programme also includes a fascinating documentary on the history of the Vespa, Forever Vespa, which explains this year's choice of image for the Festival's poster. Detailed information about the full schedule is available at the official website www.italianfilmfestival.com.au.
Aprile 2007
Sue Howard talks to Andrea Stretton - Sue Howard, author of Leaning Towards Pisa will be talking to Andrea Stretton about her book which tells of her experiences making the sea-change to Italy. Definitely not to be missed! The event, which is organized by Woollahra Library, will take place on Thursday the 26th of April, at 6.00pm (for 6.30pm). Cost: $10 ($7 for Woollahra Library Friends members), tickets available at Woollahra Library, phone 9391 7100. Ticket includes a glass of champagne!!! Venue: Woollahra Council, 536 New South Head Road, Double Bay.
Novembre 2006
Gelato Appreciation Workshop (Saturday 18 November) - Organised by Italianicious, this Gelato Workshop is a must for all gelato addicts. Ecco i dettagli: "Come and learn the history of gelato while sampling various flavours. Gelatissimo is one of Australia's largest producers of gelato made in the traditional Italian way and they've opened their factory to us so that you can learn how gelato is made. See gelato made by a trained "gelataio" and taste the freshest gelato staright from the trittico (gelato mixer). You'll learn the difference between gelato, sorbet and ice-cream and be able to spot a quality gelato next time you have the craving for one. When: Saturday 18 November, 12 noon - 1.30pm. Where: Gelatissimo, Unit 6 Parkland Estate, 9-11 South Street, Rydalmere, Sydney. Cost: $45 per person - includes gelato making lesson, product sampling and notes. Bookings: 1300 134 986 or www.italianicious.com.au.
Settembre - Ottobre 2006
 2006 Italian Film Festival (Sydney 26 October-13 November) - Australia’s fascination with Italy is set to continue with the 2006 Italian Film Festival this October and November, with the largest and strongest selection in the event’s seven-year history announced by Palace Cinemas. Alongside a programme of award-winning contemporary films that will all make their Australian premieres at the event, the Festival will feature the largest collection of films from legendary director Michelangelo Antonioni ever screened together nationally in Australia."The selection this year consists of films that are tremendously accomplished, entertaining and really accessible to Australian audiences," said Antonio Zeccola, Artistic Director of the Festival, and Managing Director of Palace Cinemas. "Many have recently screened in Venice, Cannes and Berlin, where they drew great critical acclaim. I’m also particularly excited about the Antonioni retrospective. His films have been an inspiration to international audiences for more than a generation".
The Festival will open in Melbourne on October 25, and Sydney on October 26 with the Australian premiere of popular actor and director Carlo Verdone’s My Best Enemy (Il Mio Miglior Nemico), before touring nationally. My Best Enemy is a delightful generational comedy that re-unites Verdone with his Manual of Love costar Silvio Muccino. The film was a huge critical and boxoffice success on its Italian local release earlier this year. Other contemporary films to screen include:The Beast In The Heart (La Bestia Nel Cuore)Christina Comencini’s moving ‘family-secrets’ drama, also known as Don’t Tell, was nominated for ‘Best Foreign Language Film’ at the 2006 Academy Awards, and stars the luminous Giovanna Mezzogiorno; The Caiman (Il Caimano), the stunning new film from Cannes Palme d’Or winning director Nanni Moretti (The Son’s Room, Dear Diary) tackling Italian politics and love as seen through the eyes of a failing film producer; Crime Novel (Romanzo Criminale), from the writers of the acclaimed The Best Of Youth, Michele Placido's absorbing gangster epic was nominated for the ‘Golden Bear’ at the Berlin Film Festival and won eight 2006 David Di Donatello (Italian Academy) Awards including Best Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor and Best Cinematography;The Wedding Director (Il Regista Di Matrimoni), the new film from legendary auteur Marco Bellocchio ( Good Morning, Night) stars Sergio Castellito as a famous film director who inadvertently winds up in Sicily filming a princess’s wedding.
Other announced titles include: Roberto Faenza’s touching drama The Days Of Abandonment (I Giorni Dell'abbandono); the scathing Sundance Grand Jury Prize-nominated documentary Viva Zapatero!, a compelling look at Silvio Berlusconi’s manipulation of the Italian media; the touching Mario’s War (La Guerra di Mario) which garnered star Valeria Golino the 2006 ‘Best Actress’ David Di Donatello award; and direct from the 2006 Cannes Film Festival, the CICAW Award-winning Along The Ridge (Anche Libero Va Bene) from actor-director Kim Rossi Stuart and Paolo Sorrentino’s The Family Friend (L’amico Di Famiglia) which screened in the Official Competition section.
The Michelangelo Antonioni retrospective will include fifteen feature films, and four programmes of shorts and documentaries, and is the most extensive presentation of his work ever assembled for Australian audiences. Included is Antonioni’s first feature film Chronicle Of A Love (Cronoca Di Un Amore)(1950), his biggest success: the trilogy The Adventure (L’avventura) (1960),The Night (La Notte) (1961) and The Eclipse (L’eclisse) (1962) and his most famous international English-language films Blow-Up (1966) and Zabriskie Point (1970).
National Dates for the 2006 Italian Film Festival: Melbourne 25 October-12 November; Sydney 26 October-13 November; Brisbane 9-22 November; Perth 16-29 November; Canberra 9-19 November; Adelaide 23 November-6 December. To visit the official website for the 2006 Italian Film Festival click here.
Tours of Sicily and Puglia in May and September 2007 - Marilyn Turk has been organizing tours to Italy since 1998 and her 2007 programme is very exciting. Here are the details: "The largest island in the Mediterranean, Sicily has for millennia been the crossroads of many and diverse civilizations. It has been host to Bronze Age peoples, Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Normans, French and Spanish. The melting pot of all these legacies results in an intriguing and unique culture. For a long time it has been the “poor southern cousin” - more Moorish than European. However, its combination of a mild and sunny climate, rich valleys, rugged uplands, the largest volcano in Europe, the best Greek ruins outside of Greece, Baroque cities, wonderful mosaics, delicious food and underrated wines all in a setting uniquely Sicilian, makes it a very desirable target for our upcoming tour. Puglia is the “heel” of Italy’s “boot” and is a region not yet really discovered by the tourists, which makes it a beautiful untouched backwater. With a majestic coastline, and a very different history of Greek settlement, pirates, the “trulli”, or “beehive houses”, a distinctive regional cuisine and it’s own form of Baroque architecture, it is the natural focus of the second half of our tour. Be prepared to be surprised!
As soon as we arrive in Rome, we will proceed directly to Palermo, capital of Sicily since the 12th cent.(6 nights) Here we see the strongest evidence of the Norman domination, but tempered with a distinctly Moorish flavour, in the palaces and churches. Here, too, is the famous Vucciria markets. Nearby is the cathedral at Monreale, with its stunning 12th cent. mosaics and jewelled cloister. We will have options of easy daytrips that can be taken to Segesta ( the site of a near-perfect Greek temple and theatre) and to Agrigento (the most visited site in Sicily with its “valley of the temples”).
From Palermo we will travel to Syracuse (Siricusa), (4 nights) a city with a long history and the ruins to prove it! We will stay in the mediaeval quarter of Ortygia – an island suburb. This is a charming port city to explore with a famous museum, Greek theatre and ancient stone quarries. It’s a good place to catch our breath and roam around, soaking up the atmosphere.
Travelling north along the coast we reach the incomparable Taormina, perched on top of a cliff with amazing coastal views, and a Roman theatre that looks out on an unrivalled view of the ever-smoking Mt Etna. From here we will take a day tour to Piazza Armerina (an unearthed Roman villa with astonishing mosaics) and a trip up Mt Etna itself (weather and the Gods permitting). There are also some beautiful walks in and around Taormina.
A day’s travel sees us in Puglia in the delightful Baroque city of Lecce (4 nights). This will be our base to explore the southernmost tip of the “heel” and to visit the mediaeval city of Otranto whose cathedral has a beautifully preserved mosaic pavement.
Our next port of call is the stunning pirate cove of Polignano a Mare, (4 nights) a white stone town with a history spanning back to paleolithic times and undermined by caves. ( hence its romantically piratical character).Nearby are the famous caves at Castellana and it is from Polignano we will make a trip to Alberobello, the most famous of the “trulli” towns.
To round off our tour we finish in eternally fascinating Rome (3 nights). With 2 days to fill, we can take our pick of sights to explore, depending on our interests and previous visits. There is of course the Colosseum and Forum, St Peter’s and the Vatican Museums, the Galleria Borghese and so much more.
Our travelling is done in plane, bus, train and occasionally mini bus. We like to do a lot of walking, so pack those stout shoes!
The first trip departs on 3rd May 2007 and the second departs on 20th September 2007.
We are in Italy for a total of 25 nights (+2 days flights). You would be required to have adequate travel insurance, but apart from this you pay for NOTHING MORE. ALL meals, ALL internal travel, ALL accommodation, ALL museum entries, ALL excursions are covered by the cost of $12,000 twin share, ex Sydney economy class air travel.
For any more details, phone Marilyn on 02 96521506 or 0419010182, e-mail to turkey@zip.com.au or phone Academy Travel on 02 92350023."
August (Agosto) 2006
Italy Now - A lecture on contemporary Italy by Professor Paul Ginsborg. For a long time Italy has been celebrated as a country with many magical qualities - of landscape, of light, of the ease and plesures of living, of the warmth and generosity of its inhabitants. Goethe said in December 1786 that he was reborn on arriving in Italy. Today many contemporary visitors share the same impressions. Italy is, by and large, a very successful country after sixty years of republican democracy and nearly fifty years of linking her destinies to the wider European project. But there are shadows over the country at the present time. These include: economic decline; the lowest fertility rate in the world and associated problems of an aging population; a reverse in social mobility; and the contested political and cultural legacy of the Berlusconi years. Professor Ginsborg surveys these trends and examines what the current lack of cultural and economic energy combined with a lack of adequate political responses means for the future of Italy.
Paul Ginsborg is Professor of Contemporary European History, University of Florence and a frequent public commentator on politics and life in Italy. His books include Italy and Its Discontents: Family, Civil Society and the State, 1980-2000, and A History of Contemporary Italy, 1943-1988 and the bestselling and controversial biography - Berlusconi: Television, Power and Patrimony.
Introduction by Professor Nerida Newbigin, Chair Department of Italian Studies.Co-presented with the Department of Italian Studies, University of Sydney. When: 6.30pm, Wednesday 30 August. Where: Seymour Theatre Centre. Tickets: $20/$15. Bookings: phone 9351 7940.
Giugno - Luglio (June - July) 2006
 Celebrazione del 60° anniversario della fondazione delle Repubblica italiana (60th Italian National Day Celebrations) This year marks the 60th Anniversary of the foundation of the Republic of Italy (2nd of June, 1946). The annual Italian National Day Celebrations in Sydney will start at 9.30am on Sunday, 4th of June, with a solemn mass at St Mary’s Cathedral, followed at 10.30am by an assembly at the War Memorial. After the morning’s ceremonies, celebrations will commence at 12 noon at Wharf 8 (corner of Sussex and Napoleon streets, next to King Street Wharf) for a fabulous day in Italian style (entry is free):
12 noon - Market stalls open offering Italian goods and foods, and showcasing items of Italian craftsmanship and design, including an Italian motor vehicle display.
2pm - Official Ceremony.
3pm - Variety show in Wharf 8 Hall, featuring Italian singing and dancing and gli Sbandieratori (the famous flagwavers in colourful medieval garb one generally associates with the Palio di Siena - this particular group is actually from the Marche).
7pm - Spectacular fireworks finale over Darling Harbour by award-winning Foti International Fireworks.
 Primo Italiano 2006 (11.00am - 5.00pm, Sunday 4 June 20006) - If you are not up to the official speaches which will be delivered at the Festa della Repubblica at Wharf 8, you can celebrate Sydney’s original Little Italy with contemporary Italian food, wine and entertainment on Sunday, June 4 at Stanley Street, in East Sydney. Infact Stanley Street will become Piazza Italia complete with a fountain, markets, music and al fresco dining. The Italian market will feature classic fresh produce such as cheese, olive oil, bread, pasta, flowers and fruit and vegetables, as well as a range of Italian products.
There'll be non-stop entertainment throughout the day. Primo's resident DJ will play Italian music at the Primo Beer Garden of the Lord Roberts Hotel and popular Italian performers, big bands and crooners will entertain on the main stage and watch out for the roving musicians.
The Fiat Punto, the car that took Europe by storm, will make a guest appearance at the festival - celebrating the arrival of Fiat's passenger cars down under. The Alfa 159 and Brera coupe will also be displayed.
Festival-goers will also be able to book a free guided tour around the area to learn how Italian culture has influenced the City's buildings and landmarks.
Stanley Street developed its reputation as a simple, cheap café strip following a wave of Italian post-War migrants who settled in the area and opened businesses. The Primo Italiano Ambassador is legendary restaurateur Beppi Polese, whose restaurant Beppi's has been in Stanley Street since 1956. Primo Italiano will celebrate Beppi's 50 years in East Sydney.
Get down to Primo Italiano for a taste of la dolce vita.
Sydney Italian Festival 2006 (May 18 - June 18) - The Sydney Italian Festival 2006, is a month-long program of Italian events that are a highlight of the Sydney calendar in May and June. Organized by the Italian Trade Commission, the Festival features the latest in what Italy has to offer in Fashion, Sport, Food and Wine, Design, Art and Culture, and Film and Music. For a complete list and details of all the events, visit the Sydney Italian Festival 2006 site at www.sydneyitalianfestival.com.au.
 Novenbre - Dicembre 2005
Carols at the Forum - Thursday 1 December, at 7.30pm, at the Italian Forum piazza in Leichhardt. Enjoy a lovely free pre-Christmas evening concert of Italian Christmas carols sung by the Illawarra Italian Choir, and a selection of songs sung by Giuliano Celentano from his Adriano Celentano Show, which has been touring Australia (the vocal and physical resemblance to the master himself is startling!). The evening will be presented by the incomparable Paolo Rajo. Sitting spots are limited so don't be late!
Free Festive Christmas Concert at Turruwul Park, Rosebery - Saturday 10 December, 2005, from 6.30pm to 8.30pm, featuring The Italian American Divas and Crooners.
The Servant of two masters by Carlo Goldoni - adapted by Nick Enright and Ron Blair; and directed by John Bell - returns for a strictly limited season at the Sydney Theatre from the 30th of November to the 17th of December. For those who missed it last year, here's your chance to see a truly funny and exciting production of Goldoni's masterpiece. The production features the acclaimed comic talent of Bell Shakespeare's Associate Artist Darren Gilshenan as the servant Truffaldino, an out of work servant who in one fantastic day ends up with two jobs. And why not - he's broke and hungry. Two jobs mean twice the money, twice the food and twice the work. His two masters turn out to be long-lost lovers desperately trying to find each other - not an easy task when one is a woman disguised as a man! Not to be missed!!! The performances will be held at the Sydney Theatre, 22 Hickson Road, Walsh Bay. Preview: Wednesday 30 Nov at 7.30pm.Opens: Thursday 1 Dec at 7.30pm. Season: 1 - 17 Dec. Matinees: Saturday 3, 10 & 17 Dec at 1.30pm. Bookings: Sydney Theatre Box Office, tel. 9250 1999 or Tickettek tel. 9266 4800. To visit the Bell Shakespeare Company site click here.
For a special two for one ticket offer for evening performances from Wednesday the 30th of November to Monday the 5th of December, click here!
Giugno - Luglio (June - July) 2005
A Good Woman - Directed by Mike Barker and starring Scarlett Johansson, Helen Hunt and Tom Wilkinson, the film A Good Woman is based on the Oscar Wilde play entitled Lady Windermere's Fan, and is a scandalous but comic drama set in New York and the Amalfi coast during the 1930s. Mrs Erlynne is an audacious and well known woman of a certain age with a reputation for entertaining wealthy, married men. Leaving her problems and unpaid bills in New York, she sets sail for the Amalfi Coast to pursue Meg and Robert Windermere, one of the most high profile couples in 1930s New York society. Once in Europe, she becomes embroiled in a family scandal which becomes an intriguing story of betrayal, and, ultimately, surprising loyalty. Currently screening at Palace Verona and Norton Street cinemas; Dendy Opera Quays and Newtown; Cinema Paris; Hoyts and Greater Union suburbs; and selected independents. To read the SMH review of the film by Sandra Hall, click here. To read, on the other hand, a lovely article on "Italy's most gorgeous coastline", the Amalfi Coast, which appeared in the July 2-3 Weekend edition of The Australian, click here.
Pizza Making at Rosso Pomodoro - Italianicious has organised a Pizza making night which promises to be interesting and a lot of fun. Here are the details: "Come and make your own pizza in the traditional way and the eat it! Rosso Pomodoro's Italian trained pizzaiolo will show you how to make a better and healthier pizza using a mixture of fresh and imported products. Use less oil and enjoy the taste of the toppings.Try your hand at making a Margherita or Patate e Salsiccia pizza. You'll never taste a pizza as good as this outside Italy! When: 11 July, 7pm. Where: Rosso Pomodoro - 90-91/24 Buchanan St, Balmain. Cost: $45 per person - includes pizza making with Italian pizzaiolo, wine and pizza. Bookings: call Tania on 1300 134 986 or log on to www.italianicious.com.au."
 Art of Coffee Classes with Lavazza - Here are the details of the next Coffee classes with Lavazza to be held in June and July: "Learn how to make better coffee from domestic coffee machines, plungers and even the humble stove top. Enjoy an Italian breakfast with us as you learn about Italian coffee etiquette. Please note this is an interactive class - you get to use the machines and make your own coffee. The popularity of these Saturday morning Italian breakfast and coffee classes is growing so early bookings are essential, especially as Lavazza can only accept 12 people in each class. This class makes an ideal gift if you're looking for something a different for someone special. When: last Saturday of every month, next classes - 25 June and 30 July. Time: 10am - 1pm. Where: Lavazza Training Centre Birdcage 4, 65 Doody Place, Alexandria. Cost: $75 per person - includes hands-on coffee class, Italian language/culture lesson, coffee and pastries, course notes. Bookings: call Tania on 1300 134 986 or log onto www.italianicious.com.au."
Dicembre (2004)
Music and puppet shows on the Forum Piazza - The Italian Forum Committee has organized as music and puppet show which will be held in Leichhardt's Forum Piazza on Sunday the 19th of December, starting at 1.00 pm. The performers are:"The extraordinary Dennis Murphy, an Aussie puppeteer who specializes in Italian-style puppetry and our very own amazing guitarist Guy Strazzullo performing a blend of jazz and latin music with an exceptional quartet comprising Matt Macmahon, one of the best pianists of the latest generation, Lloyd Swanton, a bassist of international standing and a young drummer, Laurence Pike. It's the very first event that we have so far organized as Italian Forum Committee so we would like it to be a success. IT'S ALL FREE OF CHARGE. The gelato in the Forum is great." Sounds fantastico!
"Pastis and Grappa: travels through France and Italy". An exhibition of photographs by Peter Endersbee. "Pastis and Grappa" is a photographic record of Sydney photographer Peter Endersbee's recent trip to Provence and Tuscany. Seduced by the people and vistas of these regions, Peter's mix of colour and black and white images are by turns lush and quirky. Where: Demeter Gallery, 113 Evans Street Rozelle (near the Welcome Hotel). When: Opening night: Friday 10th December, 6-8pm, and from Saturday 11th to Friday 17th December, 11am to 5pm.
L'Orfeo di Claudio Monteverdi - Pinchgut Opera, Sydney's new chamber opera company, presents L'Orfeo by Claudio Monteverdi (1, 3, 5 and 6 December 2004 at City Recital Hall, Angel Place, Sydney). L'Orfeo is an amazing work. Perhaps the third or fourth opera ever composed and certainly Monteverdi¹s first. Monteverdi was a musician in the Court of the Duke of Mantua one of the independent Italian states around the turn of the 17th Century. The times were peaceful and affluent in the years before the Thirty Years War and culture flourished in Firenze, Venezia, Mantova, Roma, Naples. Opera seems to have grown from a combination of madrigal and Greek  drama.The first opera was probably by Peri in 1600 and the second by Caccini in 1602. Both used the Orpheus and Eurydice story. The Duke of Mantua saw the Peri version and, in the spirit of competitive opera, returned home to commission Monteverdi to compose an opera and Alessandro Striggio, a musician and poet in the Court, to write the libretto.The Monteverdi/Striggio work had its first performance in a gallery in the Duke¹s Palace on 27 February 1607. It cannot have had an elaborate set, because of the limited space and it is thought that the story was illustrated by a few screens. But it was undoubtedly the first work successfully to combine drama and music.This great work is based on the Greek Orpheus myth. Orpheus, son of Apollo, is the greatest musician the world has ever heard. He falls in love with and marries Eurydice. After a short period of happiness, Eurydice, frolicking in the garden, is bitten by a snake and dies. Orpheus goes to Hades - the underworld - to try and get her back. His music, which can charm the rocks and trees, persuades the guardians of that lonely place to allow him to take Eurydice back on one condition: that as he is leading her through the dark tunnels, he must not look back until they breach the surface. But he cannot resist the urge to check that she is still behind him and with a backward glance, she is lost a second time. Orpheus tries to persuade the guardians to allow him to return to Hades, but fails. Apollo, taking pity on his son invites him to join the immortals in heaven where he can gaze upon Eurydice in the stars.
Soloists: Mark Tucker, Sara Macliver, Damian Whiteley, Paul McMahon, Penelope Mills, Josie Ryan, Anna Fraser. Conductor: Antony Walker. Director: Mark Gaal. Design: Mark Gaal & Alice Lau. Lighting: Bernie Tan.Chorus: Cantillation. Orchestra: Orchestra of the Antipodes on period instruments. This production will be performed in Italian with English surtitles.
Dates: Wednesday 1, Friday 3, Monday 6 December at 7.30pm. Sunday 5 December at 5pm. Tickets: A reserve: $95; B reserve: $75. Under 27 at time of performance $45.
Tickets can be purchased from www.cityrecitalhall.com or telephone the box
office on 02 8256 2222. For further information and to listen to sample tracks from L'Orfeo, visit the Pinchgut Opera site at: www.pinchgutopera.com.au
Ottobre-Novembre (2004)
A journey to Puglia (Monday, October 25) - For those interested in southern Italy, Italy Study Tours is organizing a free information evening on the stunning region of Puglia. Ecco i dettagli: "You'll be taken on a virtual journey of Italy's heel and find out about the Italian language study tours available in the region. Regional refreshments will served to give you a taste of Puglia. Date: Monday 25th October, 7pm - 8.30pm. Venue: Casa d'Italia, 67 Norton St, Leichhardt. RSVP: Email to italystudytours@yahoo.com.au or call Sandra Pitronaci on 0405 171 449."
 Faber: il cammino umano e artistico di Fabrizio De André (Faber: Fabrizio De André's human and artistic journey) by Paolo Finzi (in Italian/ Tuesday 26 October 2004) - De André was, and still is, one of the most popular and highly respected singer-songwriters of the first-generation. At the time of his untimely death in early 1999, De André was still writing and performing, he was on the crest of popularity, at the peak of his expressive powers, and his death left a gaping void in the world of Italian music and the Italian cultural scene in general. Paolo Finzi, journalist, writer, and close friend of De André, will offer an intimate portrait of the genovese singer. During the evening, excerpts from a movie of his last concert will be screened, with his most famous and beautiful songs, from Via del Campo to La Guerra di Piero. Also, there will be interviews with the artist and a screening of parts of the documentary Faber: il cammino umano e artistico di Fabrizio De André (Faber: Fabrizio De André's human and artistic journey), produced by Finzi himself, which revisits the places dear to De André (Genova, la Sardegna, Milano) and contains interviews to some of his closest friends. When: Tuesday 26 October 2004, at 6.30pm (Seats are limited; RSVP by October 22, 2004; to book, call 02 9392 7939); Where: Casa d¹Italia, 67 Norton Street, Leichhardt. Refreshments will follow. For a brief biography of Fabrizio De André, click here.
 Italian Film Festival 2004 (October 28 - November 10) - Yes, the Italian Film Festival is back!!! This year's line- up of films is fantastico and features the return of la stupenda Licia Maglietta in the new film, Agata e la Tempesta (Agatha and the Storm), by the director of Pane e tulipani (Bread and Tulips),Silvio Soldino. Sergio Castellito stars in two films: Caterina va in città (Caterina in the City) and Non ti muovere (Don't Move). For all the trillions of Ispettore Montalbano fans, Luca Zingaretti stars in Prima dammi un bacio (Kiss Me First). The controversial Marco Bellocchio is back with Buongiorno notte (Good Morning, Night), based on the 1978 kidnapping of the then Prime Minister, Aldo Moro. Insomma, the festival promises to be fantastic. For details of the movies, screening times, and the purchase of advance tickets visit www.italianfilmfestival.com.au.
Cinema Italiano! (Sunday, 7 November) - Italianicious is organizing a special event in connection with the Italian Film Festival which sounds very appealing!. Here are the details: "Experience the renowned Italian Film Festival with a special afternoon of cinema on Sunday 7 November, 3pm at Palace Norton Street Cinema. The film, Agatha and the Storm, from the director of Bread and Tulips, is a magical comedy for all ages. Described as a "feast for the senses", Agatha and the Storm tells the romantic story of a bookshop owner whose life takes a fresh turn when a young man falls in love with her. The film screening will be followed by a pizza meal at Martini Bar where you¹ll try a variety of traditional wood-fired pizzas. Cost is $35 per person to book call 1300 134 986 or visit www.italianicious.com.au.
La Strada (at the Chauvel Cinema, Paddington Town hall; starts November 4) - Directed by Federico Fellini (1954). Starring: Anthony Quinn, Giulietta Masina, Richard Basehart. Winner of the 1956 Oscar for Best Foreign Film, La Strada established Fellini's reputation at an international level as one of the leading lights of European cinema. It also made a star of his wife, Giulietta Masina, and a celebrity of the composer Nino Rota. The Chauvel will be screening a newly restored 35mm print of the film which will provide a rare opportunity, both for those who have seen the film and those who haven't, to experience it in all its glory on the big screen. For session times check the SMH or www.yourmovies.com.au.
The Fountains of Rome (Sunday 21 November) - "The history of Rome is reflected in the waters of her fountains, such as Salvi's captivating Trevi or Bernini's Four Rivers. This fully illustrated day explores the history and legends of the fountains of Rome, from the ancient acqueducts to the extravagant stone and water sculptures of papal Rome. We'll also listen to the music the fountains have inspired, from the hydraulic fountains of the 17th century to the bubbling "waterscapes" of Liszt and Respighi". The topic is fantastic! 9.30am - 4.30pm, Sunday 21 November (1 day $115). For details visit Sydney University's Centre for Continuing Education site at www.cce.usyd.edu.au/, and click on "History and the Arts".
Agosto - Settembre (2004)
The Battle of Algiers (La Battaglia di Algeri): directed by Gillo Pontecorvo and first released in 1966, is currently being screened at the Chauvel and Valhalla Cinemas.The film is a re-creation, in documentary style, of the urban guerilla war between the Algerian National Liberation Front (FLN) and the French Colonial authorities from 1954 to 1962, when Algeria finally gained its independence.The film is one of the most gripping political films ever made, an extraordinary analysis of the tactics and toll of urban warfare, but it's been hard to see since its initial release in the late 1960s.This new print, with new subtitles, could hardly be more timely.
 Arte del Caffé - Italianicious will be launching the first of their monthly coffee events with Lavazza. You'll be able to enjoy a typical Italian breakfast and a three hour espresso making lesson with one of Lavazza's experts. During the lesson you will learn how to get great results from plunger, moka pot and espresso machines as well as get tips on coffee storage and foaming milk. The first Arte del Caffé (Art of Coffee) morning will be held on Saturday 28 August and will be held the last Saturday of every month.You will also learn some handy Italian phrases for ordering coffee and secrets to Italian coffee culture so you can become a true espresso expert. When: last Saturday of every month (10am-1.00pm). Where: Lavazza Training Centre, Suite 4, Level 2, 63-73 Ann Street, Surry Hills (near the corner of Riley Street). How much: $75.00 per person. For further information and bookings, call Tania Occhiuto on 1300 134 986.
Io non ho paura (I'm not scared) - The latest film by Gabriele Salvatores (who also directed the Oscar prize winning Mediterraneo), Io non ho paura, is currently being screened at the Palace cinemas in Paddington and Leichhardt. Students who have seen the film are saying that it is very good. A synopsis: during a record summer heatwave in 1978, a 9-year-old boy, Michele,living in a remote village in Sicily discovers that another boy, Filippo, is being held captive in a hole underneath an abandoned house. As he investigates further, he discovers that the adults (including his own parents) of his idyllic little town are all involved in a nefarious ransom scheme...
Andrea Bocelli is coming to town! He will be performing at the Sydney SuperDome on September the 17th with the Sydney Symphony and Hayley Westenra. Tickets are on sale now at www.ticketek.com (tel:132 849).
A day in the Roman campagna. "Exploring the towns around Rome, including Palestrina, Tivoli, Nemi, Lanuvio and Ariccia, and coastal towns such as Tarquinia and Anzio, this study day looks at how life developed away from the big smoke' but very much in its shadow. How did villas and gardens develop away from the confines of the larger urban centre? How did art, town planning and customs change with time? And how did social and political structures of the smaller but increasingly independent towns adapt to the colourful history of the Eternal City". 10.00am - 5.00pm, Sunday 22 August (1 day $97). For details visit Sydney University's Centre for Continuing Education site at www.cce.usyd.edu.au/.
The Italian Effect: Radical Thought, Biopolitics and Cultural Subversion - Sydney University will be holding a conference by the title of: The Italian Effect: Radical Thought, Biopolitics and Cultural Subversion, from September 9-11, 2004. It may not be everyone's cup of tea but it does sound very interesting: "After several decades during which the humanities in Australia and globally have been strongly influenced by French thought, in the new millennium the work of Italian thinkers is having a profound impact upon intellectual activity. The most notable signs of this "Italian effect" are the widespread interest in the work of Giorgio Agamben and the popularity of Antonio Negri and Michael Hardt's Empire, but this is only to scratch the surface of the productivity of contemporary Italian thought across a wide variety of disciplines. This conference aims to address the current and potential international impact of radical Italian thought, focusing not only on Negri and Agamben but also on the work of Franco Berardi (Bifo), Paolo Virno, Maurizio Lazzarato and others.Topics will include: the Concept of Biopolitics; the Theory and Practice of Autonomia; the Multitude, Refugees and Globalisation; Empire, Postcolonialism and Postmodernity; Negri's Political Philosophy; the Thought of Agamben; the Media/Cultural Subversions of Berardi (Bifo); Radical Thought and Cultural Activism; Autonomia, the Crises of Marxism and Anti-Capitalism; Radical Italian Thought and Cultural Studies; Italian and Global Media Subversion; Italian Thought, "General Intellect" and Collective Literature (Luther Blisset); Radical Italian thought and (Italian) Cinema; Immaterial Labour, the Infosphere and Biopolitical Production.
Registration payments should be made out to: Sydney University and sent to Research Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences (RIHSS), Woolley Building A20, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, AUSTRALIA. The rates are as follows: Earlybird registration (received by 31/7/04):AUD $88 (Full)/AUD $66 (Concession). Regular registration: AUD $110 (Full)/AUD $77 (Concession)".
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