SABATO MUSICALE

This week I've been reading the autobiography of the soprano Katia Ricciarelli, so let us hear from this interesting lady in Sicily's favourite opera:

Katia Ricciarelli - Casta Diva [Norma di Vincenzo Bellini]

SABATO MUSICALE

Let's hear from soprano Daniela Schillaci, who is to perform in the wonderful setting of Modica's Villa Anna tomorrow night. Here she is in Norma at the Teatro Antico, Taormina, in 2012:

Daniela Schillaci - Casta Diva [Norma]

OPERATIC PIZZA

Pasta alla Norma is one of my favourite Sicilian dishes and I was thinking of it as I walked home past my local pizzeria last night. The aroma was just too much for me, so I went in and emerged, fifteen minutes later, with this delicious pizza alla Norma.

The pizza was of course enjoyed to strains of Bellini!

SABATO MUSICALE

I've spent a pleasant day in Catania so here is something to honour the great maestro of that fair city:

Bellini - Casta Diva from Norma:  Daniela Dessi

ITALY MAGAZINE ROUND-UP - 23

Here is my pick of last week's Italy Magazine articles:

In the run-up to next year's celebrations of 150 years of Italian Unity the Italian flag is being honoured in an exhibition in Rome . Twenty-four  of the country's top designers have been asked to contribute their interpretation of the tricolore and their creations form the highlight of the show.  Elsewhere the Unity celebrations have caused a row as the organisers of next February's Sanremo Song Festival argue over which songs to include on a night dedicated to the anniversary. 

Never mind:  Italian researchers have proved that a healthy sex life is good for us and  in more good news Italian footballing hero Roberto Baggio received a well-deserved award.

For my Patti Chiari column I wrote about Vincenzo Bellini and his relationship with the city of Catania and the pasta dish named for his most famous heroine.  The recipe is here, too.

Happy reading.

VIVA VINCENZO

Vincenzo Bellini
Image:  Wikimedia Commons

The city of Catania is having difficulty in raising sufficient funds to stage its second Bellini Festival, due to begin on 29th November.   I'm sad about this as the city is justly proud of its most famous son, whose birthplace is one of the nicest museums of its kind anywhere.  And you just have to like a composer who inadvertently graced a pasta dish with the name of his best known heroine.

The Catanesi are hoping that the Regional Government will come up with the funds but just in case it doesn't, let's have a mini Bellini festa on Sicily Scene tonight.   

Clara Polito e l'Orchestra del Teatro Massimo Bellini di Catania - Casta Diva [Norma]

Cincin, Vincenzo!