Flick or treat? - Opera by Dario Argento

The last event about Verdi’s Macbeth took place yesterday at the IIC with the screening of “Opera”. This horror movie, by Italian director Dario Argento, tells the story of Betty, a young opera singer, who gets her big chance when the previous star of a production of Verdi's Macbeth is run over by a car. She accepts, although the play is notorious for bringing bad luck, and becomes the target of a psychopath. This misterious assailant stalks Betty, capturing her by tying her up and taping pins to her eyelids, so she is forced to watch as he violently murders the people around her.  The killings are very shocking and bloody and create an unforgettable atmosphere of dread and fear, in a classic Argento - Style, which the audience at the Institute seemed to enjoy. Some of the guests came in costume and a special refreshment with gummi eyes, cookies and skeleton candies was offered. This was an occasion of celebrating a Halloween, an American tradition, in an Italian way!

Cooperation between Italy and Switzerland

Yesterday the Italian Cultural Institute of Chicago showed how strong the ties are between Italy and Switzerland. The lectures given by Marco Cameroni and Paola Piffaretti about 17th century Swiss-Italian artists who worked in Italy, rounded up a multi-language audience which was very satisfied to discover Ticino, an Italian-speaking region of Switzerland,  which gave birth to many talented people.  As the event was organised on the occasion of the 10th Italian Language Week, both lectures were given in Italian. An English translation of the speeches was at the audience's disposal. The meeting was organized by the Italian Cultural Institute in collaboration with Consulate General of Switzerland in Chicago. A reception followed, with traditional Swiss specialties and wines graciously offered by the Consul General of Switzerland, Giambattista Mondada.

Once You Are Born You Can No Longer Hide draws a wide audience

Such a great audience yesterday at the Italian Cultural Institute for the screening of “Quando sei nato non puoi piu’ nasconderti” (Once You Are Born You Can No Longer Hide)!  The conference room was crowded with people and students from Loyola University and Harold Washington College, interested both in the Italian language and in the ticklish theme of immigration. The movie, directed by Marco Tullio Giordana, made the audience laugh at the very beginning, depicting in a flimsy way the life of a young and well-to-do Italian boy ; later moved it, showing the terrible conditions in which immigrants attempt to reach Italy. This was the second movie of a series dedicated to the Italian Language Week. Two more are scheduled: “Io, l’altro” (I, the Other) by  Mohsen Melliti on Nov 18, 5.30 pm and “Good Morning Aman” by Claudio Noce on Dec 15, 5.30 pm.

Moving lecture-performance by G.Ghermandi at Northwestern

An astonishing lecture-performance by novelist Gabriella Ghermandi took place yesterday at Northwestern University. She caught the attention of a wide audience, mostly made up of students and teachers interested in the theme of immigration and cultural exchange. She combined her free speech about her family, childhood and the history of Ethiopia with the reading of some extracts of her novel “Queen of Flovers and Pearls”. She also showed her abilities as a performer by singing some traditional songs of her country and gave a visual representation of her being Italian and Ethiopian at the same time by changing her clothes on the scene. This moving performance ended up with Gabriella sharing bread with the audience, just as is supposed to be done with friends in the Ethiopian tradition.

"New Italians, New Literature": Roundtable discussion with Ghermandi and Kubati

The 10th Italian Language Week began yesterday with authors Gabriella Ghermandi and Ron Kubati  giving an intense reading of their latest novels at the Institute. They discussed with moderator Cristina Lombardi-Diop and the audience about the recent phenomenon of Italian literature written by immigrants.

Ghermandi recalled her childhood in Ethiopia and the importance of Italian as a Father Language to her, especially when she finally got to Italy at the age of 14. To Kubati Italian has definitely meant something different: he learned this language as he came to Italy, when he was already 19. To him, it represents the language of his studies, of his mature friendships, of his development.

Gabriella Ghermandi is not only a novelist, but also an accomplished performer and singer. She will be tonight at 7pm at McCormick Tribune Center Forum - Northwestern University, for a lecture-performance from "Queen of Flowers and Pearls", a novel based on the life of an Ethiopian family in Italy.

Verdi's Macbeth told by the Lyric Opera protagonists

Yesterday evening director, Barbara Gaines and conductor Renato Palumbo spoke to the Institute’s audience about Lyric Opera’s current production of Verdi’s Macbeth. The discussion was moderated by Speranza Scappucci. After a brilliant introduction by vocal coach Scappucci, Palumbo told many interesting and somewhat amusing details concerning the history of the composition of the tragedy by Verdi while Gaines talked about her first lucky experience as an opera director, insisting on the difference between working with actors and singers and declaring her immense and quite unexpected appreciation for the play.

Both Palumbo and Gaines confessed to be highly satisfied with the outcome of their collaboration and were glad to answer the numerous questions and curiosities of the audience.

The Institute reminds you that two movies concerning Macbeth will be screened soon:

- Tue, Oct 12, at 5 pm, “Macbeth” (1987) by Claude. It brings Verdi’s celebrated opera to life with superb musical performances. Conducted by Riccardo Chailly, the exceptional cast features singers of the highest caliber: Leo Nucci performs Macbeth and Shirley Verrett takes on the role of Lady Macbeth.

- Tue, Oct 28, at 5.30 pm, “Opera” (1987) by Dario Argento. A young opera singer named Betty gets her big break when the previous star of a production of Verdi's Macbeth is run over by a car. Alas, she becomes the target of a psychopath while working on the production and her big break becomes a curse. Opera is considered by many to be the last of Argento's masterpiece horror films, and it was included in the book 100 Greatest Horror Films You've Never Seen.

Successfull opening Toccafondo exhibition "Fleeting Frames"

Gianluigi Toccafondo’s personal exhibition opened yesterday at the Italian Cultural Institute.
After a short introduction by Director Silvio Marchetti, Professor and Cinema expert Chris Sullivan provided the audience with useful details about Toccafondo’s personal experience and artistic career, highlighting how his process of making art was inspired by his father’s pottery activity. Sullivan also explained the fascinating techniques Toccafondo uses to produce his original short animation films. The audience’s response to Sullivan's lecture and to the Italian animator’s work was enthusiastic.

Both the artist’s original short films and colourful drawings will be on display at the Institute until January 14, 2011.

exhibition: Gianluigi Toccafondo @ the Italian Cultural Institute, Tuesday Oct. 5, 6pm

Exciting, dreamy, funny: the videos by Gianluigi Toccafondo are made with hundreds of drawings, magically assembled in a succession of screen-shots. In order to give viewers an in-depth understanding of Toccafondo’s unique world of ‘painting in motion,' the preparatory drawings and sketches for his animation art will be displayed in the Institute’s gallery. A special section will be dedicated to the work Toccafondo created specifically for the United States.

Gianluigi Toccafondo (1965) has exhibited his artwork in numerous shows in Italy and abroad. In addition to making a variety of short films, Toccafondo has composed theme songs for television programs and published illustrated books. He has collaborated creatively with the world’s best magazines, and also designed covers for the influential publishing house Fandango. Most recently he was assistant director to Matteo Garrone for the celebrated movie Gomorrah.