L'Italo-Americano

L'Italo-Americano THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2013 www.italoamericano.com 15 A Memorable Messa da Requiem for Giuseppe Verdi's Bicentennial Continued from page 1 sponsors from the city's Italian community, and after a preliminary season of operas at the Standord Stadium in 1922, founded San Francisco Opera in 1923 at the Civic Auditorium. The War Memorial Opera House was opened in 1932. Commemorative plaques honor- ductor, four soloists, 161 choristers, 146 orchestra members, from which 81 from the San Francisco Opera and 65 from Teatro San Carlo. Francisco Opera San Concertmaster Kay Stern officially serves as the concertmaster for the concert, however after Opera together created a sound that sliced through the audience and hit with a profound strength, making the musical setting of the Roman Catholic funeral mass an eternal piece for the celebration of life. The Verdi Requiem was made possible, in part, by The From left to right: soprano Leah Crocetto, mezzo-soprano Margaret Mezzacappa, Maestro Nicola Luisotti, tenor Michael Fabiano and bass Vitalij Kowaljow. Photo © Drew Altizer Photography ing both Merola and the founding sponsors from the ItalianAmerican Community are located on the south side of the main foyer. As remembered by Vincenzo di Vivo, artistic director of Teatro San Carlo, the first opera tour ever was organized in Naples in 1822 by the impresario Domenico Barbaia to Vienna. Today, Teatro San Carlo is touring throughout the world. Verdi's Messa da Requiem premiered in May 1874 in San Marco, Milan, and was composed to commemorate the first anniversary of the death of Alessandro Manzoni, the celebrated Italian writer and one of the leaders of the Italian Risorgimento, the Italian unification movement. Verdi himself conducted the world premiere of one hundred twenty chorus singers and an orchestra of one hundred musicians. The work was immediately hailed as a masterpiece and quickly performed in the world's leading music capitals, all to critical and popular acclaim. Verdi's Requiem is set in seven movements: Requiem and Kyrie, Dies Irae, Offertorio, Sanctus, Agnus Dei, Lux aeterna, and Libera me. This concert was the largest assemblage of performing artists on the War Memorial Opera House stage, hosting one con- the Dies Irae, all principal string players switched places as a symbolic gesture of the two orchestras playing as one. The first time the Dies Irae was sung with the power of the impressive chorus and collective orchestra under the direction of Nicola Luisotti it was truly incredible as the audience collectively gasped. The combination of the Teatro San Carlo and San Francisco Bernard Osher Endowment Fund, the Consulate General of Italy, the Italian Cultural Institute of San Francisco and COMITES of San Francisco Nicola Luisotti's appearance made possible by Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem, Chairs, Amici di Nicola of Camerata. Mr. Kowaljow's appearance was made possible by a gift to the Great Singers Fund by Joan and David Traitel. Attention Clubs and Organizations! Your Calendar item submissions are welcome. Items are due no later than three weeks prior to the date of the event. They may be emailed to linda@italoamericano . All submissions must include: Event, date, time and address of the event, brief description, as well as a phone number or website for additional information. Subject to editor's review and space availability. Not all items submitted will be published. Nov. 2, Sat.: Grandsons of Italy in America Meeting at Victorio's Ristorante, 10901 Victory Blvd., North Hollywood, 11:30 a.m. For info call (805) 529-9726. Nov. 2 & 3, Sat./Sun.-3rd Annual Italian Festival at Whitewater Park, Rancho Mirage, CA. Hours: Nov. 2: 11am-5pm & Nov. 3: 11am-4pm. Italian food, live music, entertainment, family fun zone and more. Proceeds benefit Desert Arc. General Admission $5. Children 10 and under are free. VIP tickets: $25. For more information (760) 346-1611, info@desertarc.org or visit www.desertarc.org. Nov. 3, Sun.-Santo Padre Pio Society- Rosario a San Padre Pio at St. Peter's Italian Church (1039 N. Broadway, Los Angeles), 10:30 a.m. For information please call President Maria Bruno at (818) 241-4672. Nov. 10, Sun.- Mother Cabrini Chapel & Library Open House (3801 Scott Road, Burbank, CA). 9 am to 1 pm hosted by the Knights of Columbus, Burbank. For information contact Carmelo Sabatella at 626 372-7812. Nov. 10, Sun.- ICF Mother Cabrini Chapel & Library Committee Meeting at 1 pm. (3801 Scott Road, Burbank, CA). For information contact Carmelo Sabatella at 626 372-7812. Nov. 10, Sun.- Feast of San Trifone at St. Peter's Italian Church. Mass 11:00 am; Procession follows; Dinner Dance at Casa Italiana 1:00 pm. Reservations: 323-257-0302 Nov. 13, Wed.- St. Anthony Dinner Meeting 6:30 pm at Casa Italiana. Reservations: Johnny: 213-250-2464. Nov. 16, Sat.-Grandsons of Italy in America Meeting at Casa De Pizza (16161 S.F. Mission Blvd., Granada Hills, CA ). 11:30 am. For information call (805) 529-9726 Nov. 17, Sun.-Italian Catholic Federation Annual Bishops' Day and Chaplain Recognition Mass and Luncheon. Honoring His Holiness Pope Francis and all the Bishops and Clergy of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. At Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels (Los Angeles, CA). For information and reservations, contact Al Restivo (818) 952-1969. Nov. 17, Sun.-Club Italia's 45th Anniversary Dinner Dance at the Knollwood Country Club (12024 Balboa Blvd., Granada Hills, CA 91344). Our band is The Sicilian Band! Time: 6:30pm. Cost per person: $60.00-includes Valet Parking. Call Sigrid Ravizza for reservations by October 30th at (661) 297-0507 or (818) 426-1489. Nov. 17, Sun.- Small Feast of Madonna di Costantinopoli at St. Peter's Italian Church. Mass 11:00 am; Dinner Dance at Casa Italiana 1:00 pm; Reservations: 818-843-1477 Nov 17, Sun. - Saddleback Valley Lodge #2566 - 29th Anniversary Dinner Dance - Mission Viejo Country Club. 12 Noon - Dinner will include Primo e Secondo Piatti, Insalata, Dolce plus soft drink and coffee. Price $45.00. Reservations please call: Teresa at (949) 830-0351. Nov. 18, Mon.-ICF Branch #67 Dinner Meeting 6pm at Casa Italiana (1051 N. Broadway, L.A., 90012). $15.00 per person. For reservations contact: Nick M. D'Egidio (President) (562) 9472819, Guy Masciotra (Life Member Emeritus, Past Present) (818) 848-1862, or Pat Mages (Recording Secretary) (805) 492-9658. Nov. 21, Thurs.-Federated Italo-Americans of Southern California General Meeting. Officer Election for 2014-15. At Casa Italiana (1051 N. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012). 7:00pm Dinner ($15 pp), 8:00pm Meeting. Please RSVP by Monday before meeting to: Maria Borgese (818) 846-5764, Palmie Crispie (818) 246-5749 or annpotenza@aol.com. Nov. 20, Wed.-Abruzzesi & Molisani di California Dinner Meeting at 6:30 p.m. at Villa Scalabrini. The cost of the dinner is $15.00. For reservations, please call Adelio Di Gregorio at (818) 985-0951 or Sam Petrilli at (818) 768-1956. Nov. 22, Fri.-Santa Lucia Society Dinner Meeting 6:30 pm at Casa Italiana. Mass 6:00 pm St. Peter's Italian Church; Reservations: 323-257-2182

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