Category: Culture

A few days before the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, which reminds us every year the awful crimes perpetrated by Nazi during Second World War, it could be nice to remind too a positive and touching tale happened at the same time, but which has been aim of a high pitched discussion.

It’s the Deny Avey’s story, which talks about a British veteran who was held as a prisoner of war. Nothing to write home about until here, but the unusual feature is that – according to his deposition – Mr. Avey wanted and succeeded to get into a camp connected to the Germans’ largest concentration camp, Auschwitz, to be witness of what was going on inside.

Continue reading The British PoW Who Faced Auschwitz

Once again, the Italian virtuoso group “Villa InCanto” will bring to London a brand new way to enjoy the world of opera, where the closeness of the performers to the audience promises to transform the drama into reality.

The operatic masterpiece of TOSCA, elegantly reworked by this highly professional group, accompanied by a pianoforte, will be staged with with dramatic backdrops and costumes – all made in Italy, of course! The expert musical direction is the work of Riccardo Serenelli who managed to keep the integrity and grandeur of TOSCA’s original plots – the opera promises to send the audience on an emotional whirlpool for the entire duration of the performance.

Continue reading Italian Opera singers visit London!

Olympic athletes and London schools run to beat world’s major child killer Schoolchildren in Dulwich and Herne Hill join top athletes ahead of London 2012 Olympics to support Nelson Mandela family campaign Olympic athletes from Jamaica and South Africa are today (12) joining a group of London schools to call for action to tackle the number one killer of children around the world as part of the ‘Zenani campaign’ for global road safety launched by Nelson Mandela’s family in memory of his great-granddaughter.

Some of the world’s fastest athletes and children from schools in Dulwich and Herne Hill, will ‘run for their lives’ on Alleyn’s School track to raise awareness of the need to beat the biggest killer of young people aged 10 and over globally.

Together with the Dulwich and Herne Hill Safe Routes group, local schools have been successfully campaigning for improved road safety over the past year and have now joined the Zenani campaign.

The Zenani campaign has been established by Nelson Mandela’s daughter and granddaughter together with the Road Safety Fund and the Make Roads Safe campaign. It is part of the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety. Athletes taking part in the Zenani Mandela Olympic event include: Olympic champion Shelly Ann Fraser Pryce, Olympic silver medallist Sherone Simpson, Olympic gold medallist Nesta Carter, IAAF champion Kaliese Spencer, African Javelin champion Sunette Viljoen and African Triathlon champion Gillian Sanders.

The event takes place just two weeks ahead of the London 2012 Olympics and is an initiative for Mandela Day, in honour of Nelson Mandela’s birthday on 18 July. Zenani Mandela was just 13 years old when she was killed in a car crash in South Africa on the eve of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Her family have been campaigning in her name to protec t children.

On behalf of the Jamaican athletes, Bruce James President of the elite MVP Track and Field Club said: “Road crashes are the biggest killer of young people worldwide but these deaths and injuries can be prevented.

As we approach the London Olympics the world’s attention is upon us. We are here in London on the world stage so we are taking this opportunity to join the Zenani campaign and to call for action to save children’s lives.” South African Olympic Triathlete Gillian Sanders said: “As an Olympic triathlete, I know just how important it is to have safe roads.

I’ve had two personal friends lose their very young lives on the roads in separate incidents. It’s totally unacceptable that road crashes are the number one killer of young people worldwide.

That’s why I’m calling for action to protect children on the roads both in South Africa and around the world.” Laurie Johnston, Chair, Dulwich and Herne Hill Safe Routes to School said: “Road accidents are one of the biggest killers of young people around the world.

Here in Dulwich and Herne Hill, children, schools, residents and parents campaigned long and hard for lollipop people to safeguard our children on three busy local junctions. But much more needs to be done to keep children safe on our roads. Dulwich and Herne Hill Safe Routes to School is supporting the Zenani Mandela campaign to protect our children here and every child everywhere. Together we can and must do much more to provide a safe environment for all our children.”

Both the athletes and schools are supporting the Zenani campaign which is calling for key measures to reduce the death rate worldwide, including: safe crossings, footpaths and cycleways to school, tougher action to prevent drink driving and speeding, better protection for child passengers on motorcycles and in cars, and graduated driver licencing to help young novice drivers. In many countries around the world, these measures are lacking and are urgently needed to reduce the growing numbers of child fatalities and injuries.

Earl Jarrett General Manager, Jamaica National Building Society which helped organise the event said: “Jamaica National Building Society is pleased to have been associated with the Zenani Campaign for Road Safety.

This all began through the JN Invitational Track Meet that took place between May 4th and 5th 2012 in Jamaica where dignitaries and athletes came together in support of the United Nation’s Decade of Action.

We are delighted that we now find ourselves with this continued link between the South Africans and Jamaican athletes here in London in aid of road safety for our children worldwide.”

(LONDON Event)

“Opere Sonore” exhibition.  The precious Stradivari’s tonewood is presented with the unique shapes to the clients, who can admire the design and listen to the excellent sound.

E. Ciresa Srl was founded in Tesero-Trento in 1952 by Enrico Ciresa (1922-1991.At the beginning Ciresa produced keyboards and harmonium reed piano, and its models were soon known for quality and sound throughout Italy.

The strategy of the company Ciresa, was to inform the general public about the existence of this very special “Tree of Music” and its history, which came out in the name of Antonio Stradivari, who personally chose the Fiemme trees to make the soundboard of his famous violins, from which he received a great sound. [photo Fabio Ognibeni]

Despite the production of soundboards for pianos, harps, harpsichords, is known, recognized and sought after by the manufacturers of musical instruments scattered on every continent, Fabio Ognibeni, a man of ideas on the go, has not stopped there.

And after several years of research and development, in June 2006 presented a new line of products, very unique and innovative: Opere Sonore.

The Artist Fabio Ognibeni created the idea, still far from finding the way, that it would be possible to play the wood, autonomously, without the musical instruments.

Replace the ropes with an appropriate medium to put the wood to vibrate.

Create something totally new, unique, inimitable, which can survive one’s time is the goal of each artist. Being able to realize it with natural materials, in a context of art and music, giving new and thrilling emotions is an ambitious goal that was reached. With Opere Sonore Fabio Ognibeni realized a long cherished dream.

The exhibition will be from 27^th till 29^th June and will start at 6.30pm. This event will be held at 12A Charterhouse Square, EC1M 6AX.

There will be a limit of a maximum of 20 people per day. If you would like to attend, please confirm by email or telephone, the number of people attending and on which date. The email for confirmation is marketing@igroup-ltd.com 

 This landmark exhibition is the largest ever of Leonardo da Vinci’s studies of the human body. Leonardo has long been recognized ad one of the great artists of the Renaissance, bur he was also a pioneer in the understanding of human anatomy.

He intended to publish his ground-breaking work in a treatise on anatomy, and had he done so his discoveries would have transformed European knowledge of th subject.

But on Leonardo’s death in 1519, the drawings remained a mass of undigested material among his private papers, and their signigicance was effectively lost to the worlds for almost 400 years.

Today are among the Rotal Collection’s greatest treasures. Inside The Body’ at The Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace on April 30, 2012 in London, England. The exhibition is the largest collection ever of the artist’s studies of the human body, and will show at The Queen’s Gallery from May 4 – October 7, 2012.

Elisa Provini Walker – dame extraordinaire British-Italian philanthropist Elisa Walker is a true dame extraordinaire.

She has dedicated a life-time to the service of society, which is why she may count among the many prestigious awards bestowed upon her that of Chevalier and Officier, and even the honor of Commandeur in the Order des Palmes Academiques, received on 10 December 2011.

In awarding Elisa Provini Walker with honour, Monsieur Laurent Burin des Roziers, Cultural Counsellor at the French Embassy in London, highlighted the many important steps that led Elisa Walker to be considered one of the most illustrious representatives of Italy abroad, by virtue of her ongoing commitment to the promotion of Italian culture and the common good.

Of great importance are Elisa Provini Walker’s outstanding studies of modern languages and literature, and, of course, her predilection towards the Anglo-Saxon world. A lead figure at the renowned Bocconi University in Milan, she was many years responsible for the English summer courses.

After a successful collaboration that saw the publication of the first major English-Italian dictionary (now known under the name of Garzanti), in 1962 Elisa Provini Walker arrived at the Lycee Francais Charles de Gaulle, London, as a teacher of Italian, where she remained for thirty-five years. It is in this role that emerged with strength and transparency her pedagogical skills.

She soon became much loved and appreciated by all her students with whom she shared the same values and principles that have always characterized her cultural vocation.

Worthy of note is also the recent news that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has authorised Elisa Privini Walker to wear her decorations in public at any time, a marked exception, therefore, from the general rule that foreign decorations may be worn only on public holidays, and inside the premises of diplomatic missions.

Another reason for Italy to feel proud is represented by yet another very important honor bestowed upon Elisa Provini Walker, this time by the City of London. The Freedom of the City was established way back in 1237 to reward worthy British and Commonwealth citizens with privileges and immunities.

Today things are different, and since 1996 the honour has been extended to citizens of the world who have distinguished themselves for services to society – the parchment retains a symbolic value, but still highly important. Previous recipients include Winston Churchill, Franklin Roosevelt, and more recently, Nelson Mandela and Bill Gates. With the signing of the Declaration in the Book of Freeman, the name of Elisa Provini Walkers has joined ranks with other famous Italian Freemen such as Giuseppe Garibaldi (1864) and Luciano Pavarotti (2005). 

Elisa Provini Walker – dame extraordinaire British-Italian philanthropist Elisa Walker is a true dame extraordinaire. She has dedicated a life-time to the service of society, which is why she may count among the many prestigious awards bestowed upon her that of Chevalier and Officier, and even the honor of Commandeur in the Order des Palmes Academiques, received on 10 December 2011.

In awarding Elisa Provini Walker with honour, Monsieur Laurent Burin des Roziers, Cultural Counsellor at the French Embassy in London, highlighted the many important steps that led Elisa Walker to be considered one of the most illustrious representatives of Italy abroad, by virtue of her ongoing commitment to the promotion of Italian culture and the common good.

Of great importance are Elisa Provini Walker’s outstanding studies of modern languages and literature, and, of course, her predilection towards the Anglo-Saxon world.

A lead figure at the renowned Bocconi University in Milan, she was many years responsible for the English summer courses. After a successful collaboration that saw the publication of the first major English-Italian dictionary (now known under the name of Garzanti), in 1962 Elisa Provini Walker arrived at the Lycee Francais Charles de Gaulle, London, as a teacher of Italian, where she remained for thirty-five years. It is in this role that emerged with strength and transparency her pedagogical skills. She soon became much loved and appreciated by all her students with whom she shared the same values and principles that have always characterized her cultural vocation.

Worthy of note is also the recent news that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has authorised Elisa Privini Walker to wear her decorations in public at any time, a marked exception, therefore, from the general rule that foreign decorations may be worn only on public holidays, and inside the premises of diplomatic missions.

Another reason for Italy to feel proud is represented by yet another very important honor bestowed upon Elisa Provini Walker, this time by the City of London. The Freedom of the City was established way back in 1237 to reward worthy British and Commonwealth citizens with privileges and immunities.

Today things are different, and since 1996 the honour has been extended to citizens of the world who have distinguished themselves for services to society – the parchment retains a symbolic value, but still highly important. Previous recipients include Winston Churchill, Franklin Roosevelt, and more recently, Nelson Mandela and Bill Gates. With the signing of the Declaration in the Book of Freeman, the name of Elisa Provini Walkers has joined ranks with other famous Italian Freemen such as Giuseppe Garibaldi (1864) and Luciano Pavarotti (2005). 

 would like to invite you to attend an outstanding concert at St. John’s, Smith Square Church in aid of European victims of human trafficking on the evening of March 15th 2012.  

The United Strings of Europe, the brainchild of violin virtuoso Mateja Marinkovic, is a new ensemble bringing together exceptionally talented young musicians from across Europe to promote musical and cultural cooperation at the highest level.

This will be the ensemble’s first concert in the UK after an exciting run in Southern France earlier in the year. 

The United Strings of Europe and the IOM have come together for this special event to raise funds for the reintegration of victims of human trafficking originating from European countries.  

Please come and enjoy the wonderful sound of  the United Strings of Europe,  and support the vital work in  aid of European victims of  trafficking.

Franck Fontcouberte conductor  Mateja Marinkovic  Violin Mozart Adagio and fugue in  C minor K 546 Paganini  (arr. Marinkovic)    Violin Concerto No.1 Shostakovich   Chamber Symphony op.110a

Date: 15/03/12 Time: 19:30 

St. John, Smith’s Square, London, SW1P 3HA

For ticket bookings please visit: https://secure.sjss.org.uk/ £20 / £15 / £10 (concessions £10) All proceeds will go towards the reintegration of victims of trafficking.

In a continuously changing world, respect and tolerance for other people’s values and cultures are ever more important – they are the common ground on which we can build a new future for all.

Promoting cultural exchange is the mission of Accademia Apulia UK, a non-profit organization based in London whose members, from many different cultures and nations, provide the Accademia community with a comprehensive network of support.

It doesn’t matter where people come from, or what colour their passport is: what counts is their desire to be part of a common journey. This is the message that lies behind Melting Pot.

Created by Beatrice Furlotti and directed by Riccardo Sai, Melting Pot is an innovative and original production designed with a single goal in mind – to further this cause.

The film, made in London, depicts a dinner party attended by a group of friends of different ethnic background, but united by the desire to simply get together, to share experiences, to have a good time. The chosen title, Melting Pot, is a metaphorical one, designed to demonstrate how people can live in harmony, despite all the differences they bring to the table.

“Directing Melting Pot was truly been like hosting an international dinner party where everyone has brought a little gift from back home,” said Riccardo Sai.  Born and raised in Italy, SAI, an honorary member of the Academy of Apulia, has found success in London. Who better than Sai could have filmed Melting Pot?  

Produced by HOME.corp, Melting Pot will be released mid February 2012 – watch this space!

 

About Accademia Apulia UK

Launched in October 2008, Accademia Apulia UK is a non-profit organisation based in London, which has been set to foster a cultural and professional exchange and innovation between communities across Europe. Accademia Apulia UK comprises established professionals, all with different professional, cultural and national backgrounds. This eclecticism makes the organization a vibrant and exciting arena for those looking to develop their careers or pass on their experience onto the next generation. Members include politicians and leading executives whose distinguished careers provide an exemplary template for aspiring young professionals.

www.accademiaapulia.org

About Riccardo Sai

Riccardo is a versatile, highly motivated award-winning film director with an innovative approach and a strong sense of style.

He has directed promos, commercial and documentary films for Nike, BBC, Microsoft, Red Cross, Agent Provocateur, Intesa Sanpaolo, Unilever, European Union, to name but a few.

Wim Wenders, Luis Bacalov, Vivienne Westwood, Dita Von Teese, Shara Nelson, Gino Paoli, John Rankin are only some of the personalities he has worked with

www.riccardosai.com

About Beatrice Furlotti

Beatrice is a talented copy writer, with solid experience with international advertising agencies such as JWT, Leo Burnett, DDB. She is the recepient of several awards, Eurobest and the New York Festivals amongst others. She has written successful commercials, corporate and documentary videos for Volkswagen, Fiat, Kellogg, Nestlè, Mediaset, Intesa Sanpaolo, Brunello Cucinelli.

www.beatricefurlotti.com

At the London Library – The  London library acquires material in all areas of italian literature. The Italian literature collection include all the major Italian writers, from Dante, Petrarca, Boccaccio, Macchiavelli, Ariosto, Tasso, Leopardi, Verga, D’annunzio Calvino, sciascia and Moravia.

The London library maintain a strong collection in all areas of italian literature and drama, from the medieval and Renaissance periods anwards, ingluding literary philosophy and theory. Critical studies, scholarly edition and work of reference are present too. The Dante Colletion merits special mention.

A Sizeable number of work were donate in 1910 by the Dante scholar Dr. Paget Jackson Toynbee, Fellow of the Oxford Dante Society. In addition to several edition of Dante’s complete works and critical commentaries both in Italian and English, the Library Possesses the series Lectura Dantis for the years 1889- 1934, Il Giornale dantesco for the years 1894-1915, the original edition of Paolo Colomb de Batines Bibliografia Dantesca, published 1845-1846, and the recently acquired Enciclopedia dantesca.

Of note are the commedia di Dante degli Allagherii col comment di Jacopo della Luna author of one of first commentaries an Dante’s Divine comedy and the so colled Dantino, one of the smallest- sized edition of the Divine comedy ever produced using typography characters.

There is also, a fiction section complements the holdings and offers a rich array of work from the “ classics” to contemporary authors such as Umberto Eco, Andrea Cammilleri and others. The section includes scarce work which are not Longer readily available, as for example the novel Clelia by Giuseppe Garibaldi, Published in 1870.

The Italian History section is Located on level 3 of the back stacks, includes work covering the history of the Italian  Peninsula from Prehistory  to the present with an emphasis  on the  renaissance the Risorgimento in particular, the First and Second World War Period and Fascist Italy.

The depth of the holding covering the Unification of Italy  and the Risorgimento was praised in a letter by the historian G.M. Trevelyan  which is  preserved in the London Library’s archives. Post 1945 history is also well represented. The core of the Collection, dating from the 19 th century, has been maintained and continuously augmented and the Library possesses many 19^th and 20^th century standard historical work such ad Spellanzon’s Storia del Risorgimento, storia d’italia by Enaudi.

RARE BOOKS COLLECTION

The Library possesses a notable collection of early printed books dating from the early 16^th century including various works in  Latin and Italian or otherwise printed in Italy.

The Oldest book owned by the Library would appear to be the work in Italian by Benivieni Girolamo ( a portrait of whom can be seen at the Nation Gallery). In among the  riches of the Italian material within  the rare book Collection, the work of the venetian print Aldo Manuzio mentis special mention. The library has in its possession a 1502 edition of Dante’s Terze rime. Other rarities include a first edition of Pietro Bembo’s Gli Asolani, printed in venice in 1505 by Aldus Manutius and a first edition of Antonio Corso’s rime Printed in Venice in 1550 of which only six copies are Known to be extant.

The London Library is surely an amazing place where people can get concentred and experienced a  “ little Italy” in a big London.

read more:

The London Library Italian collections