National Congress of Italian Canadians, Edmonton District (NCIC)

Celebrating Italian Families of Edmonton Society (CIFES)

Edmonton Festival City

Verdi and Spoken Word

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Edmonton is a Canadian leader with respect to spoken word events. Verdi and Spoken Word has been organized by an established poet and spoken word artist Adriana (Albi) Davies, who is also the Verdi Festival’s Program and Communications Chair. The performance blends music, song and spoken word, and is a collaboration of poets, musicians and librettists. There will be two performances on September 18th, 2013: 12:00 noon and 7:00 pm. The 7:00 pm performance is longer and includes the I Lombardi work. Both are free of charge.

Performance 1: The Hidden Verdi: Lovers and Daughters

Poster for the world premiere of La traviataThe love theme is supreme in Verdi’s work with other themes revolving around it. At the heart of this exploration is the duet from the first act of La Traviata titled “Un di, felice, eterea” [translation: One day, you, happy, ethereal, appeared in front of me] sung by Alfredo (tenor) and Violetta (soprano). This aria encompasses the dichotomies of love (delight and despair), sensual pleasure, fate and destiny, and the love-death connection. Verdi had a long-term affair with soprano Giuseppina Strepponi, who he later married. She bore five or six children out of wedlock (at least some to Verdi) and parental betrayal, lost children and related themes are important in his operas. Performers include Adriana Davies, soprano Denice Bennett, tenor Ron Long, pianist Emilio De Mercato, pianist Stephanie Kwan, and Festival Co-Chairs Antonella Cianbicello-Normey and Carlo Amodio. There will be two, one-hour-long performances at City Hall (12:00 noon and 7:00 pm) on Wednesday, September 18th.

Performance 2: Themes from I Lombardi alla Prima Crociata (The Lombards on the First Crusade)

The Vaughan QuartetLibrettist, poet and classical music critic Mark Morris has commissioned the writing of a quartet based on Act III of Verdi’s opera I Lombardi and created a performance intertwining music with spoken word. This will be performed only at 7:00 pm and features Mark Morris and the Vaughan Quartet (Vladimir Rufino - Violin I, Mattia Berrini - violin 2, Fabiola Amorim – Viola, and Silvia Buttiglione - cello).

Verdi and Spoken Word at the Edmonton City Hall - Photos

Adriana Davies - Spoken WordAntonella Ciancibello Normey - Spoken WordCarlo Amodio- Spoken WordRon Long - Verdi and Spoken Word at the Edmonton City HallDenice Bennett - Verdi and Spoken Word at the Edmonton City HallThe Italian Centre Shop is an Edmonton Verdi Festival sponsor and catered the Verdi and Spoken Word concerts at City Hall.Verdi and Spoken Word at the Edmonton City HallVerdi and Spoken Word at the Edmonton City HallVerdi and Spoken Word at the Edmonton City HallVladimir Ruffino - Verdi and Spoken Word at the Edmonton City HallVerdi and Spoken Word at the Edmonton City HallVerdi and Spoken Word at the Edmonton City HallVerdi and Spoken Word at the Edmonton City HallVerdi and Spoken Word at the Edmonton City HallVerdi and Spoken Word at the Edmonton City HallCity of Edmonton Councillor Tony Caterina and Lynn Mandel, Edmonton Verdi Festival Honorary Chief Patron. Stephanie Kwan and Emilio De Mercato - Verdi and Spoken Word at the Edmonton City HallDenice Bennett and Ron Long - Verdi and Spoken Word at the Edmonton City HallStephanie Kwan and Emilio De Mercato - Verdi and Spoken Word at the Edmonton City HallAdriana Davies, Carlo Amodio, Antonella Ciancibello Normey and Vladimir Ruffino - Verdi and Spoken Word at the Edmonton City HallDenice Bennett and Ron Long - Verdi and Spoken Word at the Edmonton City HallStephanie Kwan - Verdi and Spoken Word at the Edmonton City HallStephanie Kwan and Emilio De Mercato - Verdi and Spoken Word at the Edmonton City HallEmilio De Mercato - Verdi and Spoken Word at the Edmonton City Hall
Verdi and Spoken Word program that was performed at the Edmonton City Hall, is available here.

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The National Congress of Italian-Canadians, Edmonton District (NCIC)
and The Celebrating Italian Families of Edmonton Society (CIFES)