L'Italo-Americano

L'Italo-Americano THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015 www.italoamericano.com 6 La Cleopatra, a forgotten Venetian opera brought back to life by Ars Miner va organization A commitment which puts together the passion for music; the revival of forgotten musical treasures; and the magic of the Opera to share with the audi- ence: these are the three secrets b e h i n d t h e s u c c e s s o f A r s Minerva, a non-profit organiza- tion founded by Artistic Director and mezzo soprano Céline Ricci. As they performed in San Francisco for a whole weekend, they introduced La Cleopatra, by the 17th Venetian composer Daniele da Castrovillari for the first time after its premiere in 1662. Indeed, after the debut, the libretto was lost in the archives of Venice's Biblioteca Marciana. The opera recalls the ability of Castrovillari and his librettist Giacomo dall'Angelo to mix up romance, jealousy, sensuality, comedy, politics, drama, in a cli- max which allows an expected ending, in a perfect Venetian Carnival spirit. Inspired by the femme fatale whose legend has b e e n t o l d b y m a n y , f r o m Plutarch to Burton and Taylor, the libretto becomes a mix of sex and violence and perfectly sets the context for a modern inter- pretation. The idea is part of the first project Ars Minerva organiza- tion launched in order to create a n a n n u a l C a r n i v a l F e s t i v a l which celebrates Venice and the Baroque: in fact, the aim is to bring back to life some operas w h i c h b e l o n g t o a n t i q u e Carnivals, from the 17th and the 18th centuries but completely forgotten by both modern artists a n d a u d i e n c e a n d n o t b e e n played ever since. For those who do not know what Venice used to be in those c e n t u r i e s a n d w h a t m a d e i t s Carnivals so special, a step back in the past is needed: if, at the very beginning, the Carnevale r e p r e s e n t e d a m o m e n t f o r Venetians to forget about every- day's problems and enjoy the fun of music, street arts, and food, at the end of the 16th century and so on, the Carnival became an important event for which big and sophisticated floats were set up. For more than two centuries, Venice became the place where ordinary life could stop for a few d a y s , w h i l e p e o p l e g o t t h e i r chance to express artistic soul and creativity. That's also why Carnivals turned out to be soon not only events for painters and artists, but also for writers, poets, where music players used their voice to welcome famous people from other countries. The mys- tery and the paradox; the beauty and the magic; the decadence and the colour, everybody could have fun wearing his/her own mask. It was indeed not by chance that Venice witnessed the cre- ation of the first Public Opera House, Il Teatro di San Cassiano in 1637, once the Opera season SERENA PERFETTO started to happen during the Carnival season. This special history and the u n i q u e h e r i t a g e b e h i n d t h e Carnival inspired Ars Minerva organizations. And, after they successfully collected money through a fundraising project in 2014, they started planning their performances at the Marines' M e m o r i a l T h e a t e r i n S a n Francisco. To explain the idea behind the project, the organiza- tion underlines the importance of the Opera and its social func- tion: since the timing of the opera season in Venice goes hand in hand with the Carnevale i n t e n d e d a s a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l meeting ground, it became a moment of freedom, a uniquely Venetian response to one of the most rigid class hierarchies in the European history. Céline Ricci, founder and director of Ars Minerva, learnt a b o u t L a C l e o p a t r a a t U C Berkeley's music library, while c h e c k i n g o n t h e m i c r o f i l m d e p a r t m e n t a n d l o o k i n g f o r some music. A bit by chance, s h e r u n i n t o a c o l l e c t i o n o f baroque Venetian operas and was amazed by the variety of the music and the captivating and contrasted tunes of that opera. Céline, performing the role of Cleopatra, was born in Florence by Italian and French parents. Thanks to her powerful voice and stage presence, she was named among new talents in 2005 by Opernwelt and, two years ago, she performed with Akademie für Alte Musik in S y d n e y a n d B e r l i n , P h i l h a r m o n i a B a r o q u e a t L i n c o l n C e n t e r a n d T a n g l e w o o d , a n d w i t h A r s Lyrica at the Berkeley Early Music Festival and in Houston, among other projects. She now leads Ars Minerva together with other baroque specialists and f o r m e r s t u d e n t s o f t h e S a n F r a n c i s c o C o n s e r v a t o r y o f Music, such as guitarist and lutenist Adam Cockerham; con- d u c t o r a n d h i s t o r i c a l k e y - boardist, Derek Tamell; cellist a n d v i o l i n p l a y e r , G r e t c h e n Claassen; violinists, Natalie Carducci and Laura Rubinstein- S a l z e d o . A t e a m o f t a l e n t e d singers and musicians opened to give the audience new ways to experience the Opera and the music: for this reason, the orga- nization also counts on a team of creative young people, who are now experimenting the possibili- ty of creating games related to Opera and its history. A s a b a r o q u e s i n g e r a n d involved in many opera revivals, Céline admitted how she consid- ers La Cleopatra not only as a musical adventure but she wants it to be felt as a human adven- ture. As a musician with strong values, she cannot help but try to keep past music alive, especially music that has been forgotten. Céline Ricci, Founder and Director of Ars Minerva Mar. 20, Fri.- Mario Monicelli: Satires, Capers & Sendups. Half- hidden gems from the king of 'comedy Italian style'. 7:30 p.m. The Great War, Mario Monicelli (Italy, 1959). (La grande guerra). Imported Print! PFA Theatre: 2575 Bancroft Way (between College and Telegraph), Berkeley. Info at http://bampfa.berkeley.edu/film Mar. 27, Fri. - Video Art: Follow Me, Video installation by five young artists. The Italian Cultural Institute of San Francisco is pleased to present FOLLOW ME, video and light installations fea- turing new works by Italian artists Meris Angioletti, Alessandro Cardinale, Zoè Gruni, Laura Riboli, and Matteo Vinti. Friday, March 27, 2015 - Saturday, April 18, 2015. For info: Tel. (415) 788-7142 or Email: contact.sanfrancisco@esteri.it Mar. 28, Sat. - Eternal Traveller: Leonardo's secret life, Concert and gala dinner. A multimedia concert by Andrea Centazzo and dinner party to benefit the Leonardo da Vinci Society presented in collaboration with the Italian Cultural Institute. The Century Club of California, 1355 Franklin Street, San Francisco. Info www.davincisanfrancisco.comseries/monicelli_2015 Mar. 29, Sun. - Mario Monicelli: Satires, Capers & Sendups. Half- hidden gems from the king of 'comedy Italian style'. 7:00 p.m. For Love and Gold, Mario Monicelli (Italy, 1966). (L'armata Brancaleone). Imported Print! PFA Theatre: 2575 Bancroft Way (between College and Telegraph), Berkeley. Info at http://bampfa.berkeley.edu/filmseries/monicelli_2015 650.400.4747 AdeleDS@aol.com www.AdeleDS.com BRE# 00911740 Certied Trust, Probate and Estate Specialist Expert in preparation, promotion, and negotiation! SELLING HOMES THROUGHOUT THE BAY AREA Adele Della Santina "e Right Realtor makes all the difference."

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