L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2022 www.italoamericano.org L'Italo-Americano 2 N u r t u r i n g y o u n g p e o p l e ' s t a l e n t . Luciano Pavarotti is not only con- sidered the most famous Italian tenor but one of the ten greatest of all time. He had it all: bright, clear high notes, impeccable phrasing, clean timbre, and unmatched expressivity. His merits are undeniable, because he brought opera to a global audience, making mil- lions of people passionate about what was considered a "niche" genre: too far from pop and rock music, too "old" for a generation used to rap, trap, and hip hop. He believed in musical crossover and genre contamination – a sacrilege in the eyes of many – and got closer to people who didn't know opera, that sublime encounter between music, singing, and "Finding talent between stones:" this was Luciano Pavarotti's guiding star From the Editor theatricality considered quintessentially Italian. When talking about the Modenese maestro, we shouldn't neglect his faith in culture and art as instruments to build a better world and, perhaps more importantly, his faith in young people, whom he always encouraged artistically. "I want to reach as many people as possible with the mes- sage of music and opera, " he would say, adding that "opera should belong to everyone." Perhaps even more representa- tive and revealing of his generosity, which often surprised those around him, is this phrase: "Voice is like a wildflower: it can grow everywhere. You need to look in every place, even between stones." Because talent can't always be nurtured; it can't always blossom and fill the stage with its beauty. Often, talent doesn't have the strength to emerge, it doesn't have the finan- cial means to grow bigger nor the opportunity to express itself. And losing talent, it's a sacrifice for all. Because you become poorer, and we all lose a piece of Beauty. On the website of the foundation that bears his name, we can read that "Not many people know, perhaps, that Maestro Pavarotti gave free lessons to students he believed to be tal- ented. He loved teaching: he would say that sharing his expe- rience and passion with young people was a way to be thank- ful for the immense gift he had received, his voice. It was also a means to perpetuate his deeply-set and all-encompassing love for music." This is a lesson we should keep in mind, regardless of the figure of Pavarotti who, deservedly but perhaps a tad late, finally see his own star – number 2730 – shine on the Holly- wood Walk of Fame. Here, since 1960, artists that made cine- m a , T V , m u s i c , a n d r a d i o g r e a t a r e h o n o r e d . Our Tenorissimo is the fifteenth Italian to receive a star, and the fifth opera singer after Enrico Caruso, Renata Tebaldi, Beniamino Gigli and, in 2010, Andrea Bocelli. Investing in young talents should be imperative in all sec- tors. New ideas, original thought, different perspectives, and new horizons. Often, younger people have the creativity, authenticity, the unusual touch that inexperience gives and is essential to look and move forward. They still have that revo- lutionary energy which, once we gain experience, we tend to lose or find difficult to handle. Keeping up with the young, being in line with them, and supporting them with the knowl- edge we've already acquired isn't only a good teacher's duty. Everyone, in their professional field or relationships, should believe in the loyal alliance between generations to keep growing together and to merge competencies, balancing them off, mutually enhancing them. The Fondazione Luciano Pavarotti picked up the baton and has been following in the Maestro's steps, offering opportuni- ties and visibility to young operatic talents, trying to make music education accessible to all and more "democratic." This is it: democratizing talent, that is, giving everybody the possibility to develop their abilities in whichever field they shine - not only in music or the arts, fields the word "tal- ent" is usually associated with – is something we should sup- port more. It would give space to the "misunderstood," help them develop their qualities, make the most of their ingenuity and it would offer advantages to everyone. Whether one excels in physics or music, in medicine or dancing, in eco- nomics or acting, in law or singing, their talent should always be supported (sought between stones, to say it with Pavarot- ti): we'd all enjoy better societies. Simone Schiavinato, Editor Simone Schiavinato NEWS & FEATURES TOP STORIES PEOPLE EVENTS P.O.BOX 6528, ALTADENA, CA 91003 Member of FUSIE (Federazione Unitaria Stampa Italianaall'Estero), COGITO L'Italo-Americano 610 West Foothill Blvd. Unit D, Monrovia, CA 91016 - Tel.: (626) 359-7715 PLEASE SEND CORRESPONDENCE TO P.O. BOX 6528, ALTADENA, CA 91003 www.italoamericano.org L'Italo-Americano Newspaper (a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization), www.italoamericano.org, is the largest and longest-running Italian newspaper in America, not to mention the cultural and news resource for all things Italian in the US. A bilingual newspaper which repre- sents an historical landmark for the Italian American Communities in the West Coast and throughout the US. L'Italo-Americano benefits from subsidies by the Italian Government, Memberships and Donations intended to support and not interrupt a mission that began in 1908 to preserve and promote the Italian language and culture in the USA Periodicals postage paid at Monrovia, California 91016, and additional mailing offices. PUBLISHER Robert Barbera Grande Ufficiale EDITOR IN CHIEF Simone Schiavinato ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER Patrick Abbate EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Barbara Minafra COPY EDITOR Francesca Bezzone LOS ANGELES CONTRIBUTOR Silvia Giudici SAN FRANCISCO CONTRIBUTORS Catherine Accardi Serena Perfetto SEATTLE CONTRIBUTOR Rita Cipalla CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Mariella Radaelli, Francesca Bezzone, Luca Ferrari, Stefano Carnevali, Paula Reynolds, Nicoletta Curradi, Generoso D'Agnese, Fabrizio Del Bimbo, Maria Gloria, Alfonso Guerriero Jr., Anthony Di Renzo Serena Perfetto, Kenneth Scambray, Chiara D'Alessio © 2020 L'Italo-Americano Membership: One year $59 - Single copy $2.25 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to L'Italo Americano PO Box 6528 Altadena, CA 91003 P.O.BOX 6528, ALTADENA, CA 91003

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