L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, MAY 22, 2014 www.italoamericano.com L'Italo-Americano 3 100 years of classical emotions with INDA at the Greek Theater in Syracuse Nutella celebrates its first 50 years Theater. The impressive Theater was built in the 5 th century BC, and despite its still impressive dimension it was partially dis- mantled in the 16 th century to make use of the stone and marble blocks. During the summer season, the outdoor venue usually becomes an important part of Syracuse's offer to the many local and inter- national tourists who visit the city. By attending to one of the intense performances staged by the National Institute of Ancient Drama (INDA) – a non-profit foundation which since 2005 has managed the Theater's produc- tions with a crew of over 400 people -, classical theater lovers have the opportunity to enter a different reality, dating back to ancient times but still extremely modern. Founded in 1914 by Count Mario Tommaso Gargallo, INDA celebrates this year its centenary of activity to promote the timeless values of classical theater and to make these works known to an audience of thou- sands of people from all over the world. The first play to be staged at the Greek Theater was Aeschylus' tragedy Agamemnon, which focuses on controversial themes like guilt, individual responsibility, and expiation. The same piece was selected for the first cycle of season 2014, running May 9 through June 22, which will be longer than usual to celebrate INDA's 100 th anniversary. Besides Agamemnon, directed by Luca De Fusco and attended by an audience of over 4,000 people, it will also feature Aeschylus' tragedy Coephores/Eumenides by Daniele Salvo, and Aristophanes' comedy The Wasps directed by Mauro Avogadro. The season's opening was held in mid-April with a torch-bear- ing ceremony, followed by the piece Verso Argo staged by Manuel Giliberti. This was inspired by classical authors like Homer, Aeschylus, Euripides, and Gorgia, and dedicated to the late philologist and INDA's col- laborator Giusto Monaco. The set and costume design of these special cycles has been entrusted to famed sculptor Arnaldo Pomodoro, and some of the most appreciated Italian stage actors have been involved in the commemorative initiative, such as Paola Gassman, Ugo Pagliai, and Piera Degli Esposti. Stage performances are also accompanied by cultural events taking place in Syracuse all summer long. Among them are a series of conferences and exhibitions emphasizing the fruitful and long lasting relation- ship between INDA and other local institutions that support its effort to keep alive our classical artistic, literary, and theatrical tradition. The original mission of the Foundation has remained the same over the last century, and hopefully it will continue to hand down this priceless her- itage from one generation to the other. A view of the Greek Theater in Syracuse Continued from page 1 In May 1964, Nutella changed forever the image of Italians' favorite snack: bread and choco- late. An icon of Made in Italy in the food industry, one of the most appreciated worldwide, Nutella celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. It was cre- ated in the Italian town of Alba, in Piedmont region, by Michele Ferrero, who improved the secret recipe of his father's "Supercrema" - made of cocoa and nuts - and changed the name. Today, Ferrero company pro- duces about 350,000 tons of Nutella per year, sold in over 75 countries, generating a revenue of 8.1 billion euros and repre- senting a benchmark for the Italian entrepreneurship on the international arena. In order to celebrate the huge success of the nut cream, a num- ber of events have been orga- nized by Ferrero in collabora- tion with the Italian Institutions and Poste Italiane, the largest postal service in Italy and for- mer State-owned monopoly. In fact, the special anniversary will be also commemorated with a limited-edition postal stamp that portrays the famed Nutella jar on a golden background, to the delight of all stamp collectors. On May 17 and 18, the so- called Nutella Day, two big street birthday parties were held respectively in Alba and in Naples, featuring live shows and music, games, and the inevitable loads of bread with Nutella. The events could also be followed online, and many artists like Almamegretta and Mika took part in them. Among the other initiatives promoted by Ferrero Group on this occasion were a special "50 Years" collection of colorful Nutella jars, cus- tomized options, and prize giveaways. In the United States, the Italian brand was also celebrat- ed by the opening of a Nutella Bar inside Eataly's gourmet store in New York. This is one of the only two venues – the other opened last December in Chicago - where Americans can have a taste of the original Italian snack tradition. As a matter of fact, the real secret of Nutella's longevity is that it has always remained the same over five decades, winning the hearts of different generations – as reveals Francesco Paolo Fulci, president of Ferrero Spa. "What would the world be without Nutella?" Hope we will never have to find out. SILVIA SIMONETTI Nutella celebrates its 50th anniversary this year

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