Researching all about Italy

Jun 07 2010

Italian Memories

2 responses so far

2 Responses to “Italian Memories”

1.   # Mary Podestaon 09 Jun 2010 at 4:33 pm

   My father-in-law remembers a trip to Italy when he was very small. his mother took him and his older brother and sister back to visit her parents. They lived in a very tiny village in the mountains above Genoa. The village is called Santa Maria del Taro. While the family was there, one of the children became ill and had to go back to England suddenly. My father-in-law was left behind with his aunt and grandmother and was only collected about two and half years later! By then he only spoke Italian and had forgotten all his English.

   Much later he went back on a visit and a very old man, over 90, came out of one of the houses and spoke to him. He told him that he remembered playing with my father-in-law when he was a small boy.

2.   # Ms. R Orron 07 Jun 2010 at 10:52 pm

   Italy

   Home to grand opera performed in Verona’s Arena.

   Famous composers include Verdi and Puccini.

   Some of their music is currently used to support modern day advertisements.

   This is the arena in Verona:-
   http://www.arena.it/en-US/arena/schedule-2010.html

   I had the privilege of performing Verdi’s opera La Traviata in the Gala Theatre in Durham. I visited Lake Garda in Italy and took a trip to Verona and saw La Traviata performed in this huge arena.

   The opera doesn’t start until it gets dark around 9pm. Everyone picks up handfuls of candles as they climd the stone steps to find a seat. There are cushion seat pads to sit upon. Staff sell small bottle of wine on the steps of the arena. Just before the opera starts everyone lights their candle and the most amazing scene of light is seen right across the arena.
   The opera singers do not use microphones and yet the sound resounds throughout and around the entire arena.

   There is a short video clip of an aria from La Traviata on my website http://www.operadiva.me.uk. The character is Violetta Valery and I had such fun performing the role.

   Aside for the Arena in Verona where operas are still performed every summer to this day, other famous buildings and sights include St Mark’s Square and the brdige of sighs in Venice, Juliet’s balcony and the leaning tower of Pisa.

   Have fun finding out more about Italy.

   Ms R. Orr
   Head Teacher