L'Italo-Americano

L'Italo-Americano THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015 www.italoamericano.org 6 Andrea Bocelli, the voice that speaks to the heart ELISABETTA RUSSO "No dream is impossible to f u l f i l l : t h e k e y i s t o p u r s u e o n e ' s o w n l i f e p l a n a n d t o b e l i e v e i n i t w i t h h o n e s t y , humility, and discipline." Italian Catholic Club of Santa Clarita Valley - 1st Anniversary Dinner Dance Graziella Fiorentino, Diane Pace Albanese, Antonio Muffoletto, Patrizia Di Masi Fernandez, Theresa Basore, Stellina De Luca Parco, Maria Magnanimo, Donna Bruno Ganshirt, Anna Di Masi Riggs, Angelee Di Piazza Love, Michele Frisoli Andrea Bocelli performing at Expo 2015. Courtesy of Andrea Bocelli Andrea Bocelli, one of the most celebrated and - at the same time - criticized interna- t i o n a l t a l e n t s , w h o s e c h a r m draws large crowds of enthusi- a s t s a n d w h o s e n e r v e c h a l - lenges the fiercest purists of classical music, performed on June 7 at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. The sold-out show also featured the beautiful v o i c e s o f s o p r a n o s M a r i a Aleida and Angel Joy Blue, the e v o c a t i v e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f Somewhere Over The Rainbow by Broadway singer and actress On June 6, the ICC of SCV celebrated the first anniversary dinner-dance at Spumoni's Italian Café in Stevenson Ranch. The president and board mem- bers wish to thank all who con- tributed to the great success of ICC's first year. President Anna reminded guests that the mission of ICC is simple: 1. To promote Italian Culture 2. To help Our Lady of Perpetual Help build a new church. The club meets every 2nd Friday of the month at the American Legion Hall in Newhall with a dinner-social, followed by Italian classes and heritage pre- sentation. The social ends with either dancing or bingo playing. At times there will be a raffle of gifts donated by members. The members are delighted with din- ners lovingly cooked by chef Angela Gallidoro. Our waiter of choice is none other than Luis Palacios. ICC has a very full calendar for the year, starting with picnics, casino trips, dances, socials for the young adults as well as the regular monthly ones for the entire family. All family mem- bers are encouraged to participate at our monthly socials. "La Famiglia" is very much an impor- tant part of the club, no one is excluded. How else is the Italian heritage to continue if not with the love of Italy to be shared! ICC encourages anyone of Italian descent or interested in the Italian culture to contact president Anna Di Masi Riggs at (661) 645- 7877. You may also visit our fab- ulous web site at www.iccscv.org and our facebook at h t t p s : / / w w w . f a c e b o o k . com/groups/iccscv/. Or, you can simply drop us a line at info@icc- scv.org. We look forward to hearing from you and sharing our Italian Heritage with you. Heather Headley, the vigorous violin of Caroline Campbell a n d t h e f l u t e o f A n d r e a G r i m i n e l l i , t h e L o s A n g e l e s Festival Orchestra and the Cal S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y F u l l e r t o n Singers, gracefully conducted by Maestro Eugene Kohn. The love theme, particularly dear to the Tuscan tenor, was predominant: from Rigoletto to Carmen, from Andrea Chénier to Bohème and Traviata, fol- l o w e d b y s o m e o f t h e b e s t - known songs from the Italian popular tradition (Voglio vivere così, Mamma son tanto felice, Funiculì funiculà). American classics the likes of Love Me Tender and Can't Help Falling In Love were accompanied on the piano by composer and pro- d u c e r D a v i d F o s t e r , a n d h i s greatest hits Con te partirò and T h e P r a y e r , a l o n g w i t h t h e e n c o r e N e s s u n d o r m a , w e r e s e a l e d b y t h e f i n a l s t a n d i n g ovation. After this great success, the world famous artist is expected to return to Los Angeles and the Dolby Theatre in the fall, on September 18, to promote his latest pop album due for release in October 2015. B u t d i d A n d r e a B o c e l l i encounter any difficulties in building a reputation as both a n o p e r a t i c a n d c r o s s o v e r performer? M y c a r e e r p a t h w a s v e r y peculiar: I studied to become a tenor but owe my initial popu- larity to pop music. There were years of disappointment and frustration, while working my way to the top. As for the defin- ition of crossover, I don't think it fits what I do. Operatic and pop music are two completely different worlds, each of them with its own dignity. And even if classical pieces can some- times be included in a pop per- f o r m a n c e , i n t h e a t t e m p t t o share my tastes with the audi- ence, I rather try to keep these two genres as much separate as possible. Y o u w e r e n a m e d Ambassador Extraordinary of Expo Milano 2015. What did this honor mean for you? I w a s f l a t t e r e d a n d a l s o agreed to perform at the open- ing concert in Piazza Duomo in Milan. Yet I believe that my role as an ambassador is shared by any other fellow Italian, who i s c a l l e d t o p r o m o t e o u r Country's extraordinary histo- ry, cultural excellences, and impressive treasures. All of us m u s t b e c o m e a w a r e o f t h i s invaluable heritage and make an effort to preserve and pro- mote it worldwide. What are the main objec- tives of the Andrea Bocelli Foundation and its contribu- tion to the research on visual impairment? T h e A B F i s c a r r y i n g o u t several projects, regarding both social and economic develop- ment in Italy and in Haiti, and s c i e n t i f i c a n d t e c h n o l o g i c a l r e s e a r c h . A s f a r a s v i s u a l impairment is concerned, we are collaborating with the MIT ( M a s s a c h u s e t t s I n s t i t u t e o f T e c h n o l o g y ) o n t h e " F i f t h Sense" project, aimed at creat- ing an intelligent perception s y s t e m a n d h i g h - r e s o l u t i o n w e a r a b l e t a c t i l e d i s p l a y t o improve blind people's person- al autonomy. "Fifth Sense" also involves partners from Italian universities, and will continue in 2016 as part of the larger ABF "Challenges" program. T h e T e a t r o d e l S i l e n z i o ( T h e a t e r o f S i l e n c e ) i s a n international-scale initiative, based in the beautiful Tuscan hills. Do you believe in the possibility to develop it into a F e s t i v a l , p r o m o t i n g y o u n g operatic singers? This is actually one of the options that we are currently considering. I believe in the importance to encourage and offer new opportunities to the young generations of artists, in p a r t i c u l a r o p e r a t i c a n d p o p singers. Perhaps the Teatro del Silenzio will play a part in this. Do you have any new pro- jects in the pipeline? I only wish to keep singing until God grants it, and to con- tribute with my Foundation to f o r g e a b e t t e r w o r l d f o r t h e future generations.

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