L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015 www.italoamericano.org 14 L'Italo-Americano Dear Readers, More May Italian Connections for you: Alfio, the Italo-Australian, internationally known tenor, songwriter and composer, recent- ly confirmed that he will be per- forming at the (I.A.H.F.) Italian American Heritage Foundation's Annual Family Festa in beauti- ful Guadalupe Park and Gardens, at W. Julian and No. Almaden Blvd., in San Jose, Calif. on August 29th and 30th and will be headlining the Entertainment roster on Saturday and Sunday, so save the date! Alfio Bonanno was born in Sydney, Australia to Italian-born parents and is the youngest of five children. In Alfio's musical family, every member sings or plays an instrument. Alfio has always had a passion for music. His father and mother, both orig- inally from Calabria, in south- ern Italy, met and married in Sydney, but their Italian roots remain firmly planted. Alfio sings in several differ- ent languages. Alfio not only has a beautiful tenor voice, but has a way of connecting to his audi- ence that makes him a fan favorite everywhere. I know you will agree after a visit to Alfio's website AlfioMusic.com or iTunes. *** Books are the perfect enter- tainment because you can take a book almost anywhere and with- out batteries or commercials they provide hours of enjoyment for each dollar spent. Here are a few bits from books in my bookcase that may be of interest to you. These days, even if a book is out of print, you can go to Amazon.com, type in the title and author and a used book seller somewhere in the U.S.A. will be happy to ship you a copy: Worthy Fights by Leon Panetta and Jim Newton. With Father's Day coming up, I know this book will be a hit with any father, uncle or father figure on your gift list who has a "Root in the Boot". And, if his "roots" are in Calabria all the better. Leon Panetta, former director of the CIA and Secretary of Defense, is the son of an Italian immigrant. His family, child- hood and upbringing could be the story of millions of Italian immigrants. Panetta's father, Carmelo Panetta, arrived on Ellis Island in 1921, as a 23-year old. He described his occupation as "peasant" and listed his total assets as $25. The young man had already fought in World War I in the Italian army; soon after, he left his homeland in search of opportunity. Carmelo worked in New York and Wyoming, before joining his brother Tony in California and finding a job as a cook. As he passed his 30th birthday, Carmelo thought about marrying. His search for a bride turned him back to his hometown, Gerace, in Calabria, province of Cosenza. Carmelo found his bride in a small nearby town, at church one Sunday: 18-year old Carmelina Pochilo, daugh- ter of a merchant marine. Together with his bride, the cou- ple returned to the United States and made their way to Monterey, California. It was there that Leon was born in 1938, in a largely Italian- American community known as "Spaghetti Hill". Before long, Carmelo, who had always loved cooking, opened a restaurant called Carmelo's Café. The young Leon helped out by wash- ing dishes, peeling potatoes, and such. Leon was sent to Catholic schools as a boy and often attended mass during the week and on Sundays. To this day, he writes, he still carries a rosary and attends Sunday mass. The book is full of touching moments that he spends with his Italian "Nonno Giuseppe" (his mother Carmelina's father), who came for a brief vacation but when the war broke out in Europe, as an alien he could not return. His grandfather lived with the family and as an Italian National during World War II was ordered to leave Monterey for being a "threat" to the com- munity and had to live in San Jose, California till the order was lifted. Eventually, the Panetta family buys acreage in Carmel Valley, and through hard work, makes a good living. They, like many Italian immigrants, invest in their children by instilling in them a love of family and strong morals, and by providing them with a good education. While at college (Santa Clara University), he was a student body officer and since it was an all men's school, they hosted mixer dances with sister Catholic schools in the Bay Area. One dark-haired beauty from Dominican College caught Leon's eye as she disembarked from the Dominican bus. Her name was Sylvia and her parents were Italian, hardworking and dedicated to the success of their children. Her dad was a partner in a garbage company that held the Petaluma Calif. Franchise. After a 4-year courtship they married in 1962. The book is a political memoir that takes a look at many of the defining fig- ures and events of recent times, but the peek into his personal life is like a breath of fresh air. *** Cultural I.A.H.F. Chair, Ken Borelli, sends word that the World Premier of Two Women (La Ciociara) will open at the S.F. War Memorial Opera House on June 13th. Two Women (of Sophia Loren fame in a movie of the same name) and the opera are based on a book by Italian Author, Alberto Moravia. As you may recall, in the tale that was adapted in the cinema classic starring Sophia Loren, towards the end of World War II, as the Allies invade Italy, a strong- willed widow and her 16 year old daughter flee Rome for the near- by mountains in a vain attempt to find safety. The opera is sung in Italian with English subtitles. The music and libret- to are by Marco Tutino, with libretto assistance by Fabio Ceresa. This is a rare opportunity to hear a modern Italian opera by a contemporary Italian com- poser in a world class opera house. The Music Director is Nicola Luisotti, his appearance made possible by Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem, Chairs, Amici di Nicola of Camerata. This is a lyrical opera directed by Francesca Zambello, and features the Italian soprano, Anna Caterina Antonacci, in the role of Cesira. This is a not to be missed experience for opera lovers, and "patrons of our com- mon heritage", in a very special setting, the San Francisco Opera House. The Two Women Opera will be performed on June 13, 19, 23, 28 & 30. The Sunday, June 28th performance will be a matinee that begins at 2:00. There will also be a pre-opera lecture one hour before the per- formance. For more info call (415) 864-3330 or visit sfopera.com. Leon Panetta former director of the CIA and Secretary of Defence is the author of "Root in the Boot" Alfio Bonanno

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