CALENDAR OF CULTURAL EVENTS 2016

Events are listed in inverse chronological order

SEPTEMBER, 2016

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm IL MUSEO – ITALIAN CULTURAL CENTRE 3075 Slocan Street, Vancouver

Vancouver, City of Contrasts: Breaking Down the Fourth Wall An exhibition of photographs and poems by Guido Bertelli and Diego Bastianutti

Italian-Canadian poet Diego Bastianutti and photographer Jon Guido Bertelli explore life in the Downtown Eastside through word and image, in this event organized by the Italian Cultural centre in collaboration with the Consulate General of Italy. These artists reveal that the world of the city core is one of contrast and contradiction contained within the span of a few streets. Contiguous to the design houses of Gucci, Chanel

and Versace: spaces of high affluence, economic abundance and cutting edge aesthetic fashion, are the dwelling places of the city’s most impoverished. The artists underscore that there is very little, humanly speaking, that sets these two worlds apart. The exhibit will remain on view until October 5. Free admission. Info: www.italianculturalcentre.ca

Please note: On Wednesday, September 21, from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm, Diego Bastianutti will give a Power Point presentation, followed by a Q&A session, at the Vancouver Public Library's Britannia Branch (1661 Napier Street, Vancouver). Free admission.

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12

New Session of Italian Courses at the Vancouver Italian Language School

The Vancouver Italian Language School offers Italian lessons for all levels and Italian conversation classes. All courses are held in downtown Vancouver by experienced Italian native teachers and are organized in collaboration with the Consulate General of Italy in Vancouver, the Italian Cultural Institute in Toronto, the Dante Alighieri Society of BC and the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Canada – West. For more information and registration, check the weekly schedule and

the next available starting dates here or contact the School at school@iccbc.com or 604 682 1410. Places are limited. Registration for the Fall Session (September 12th – November 24th, 2016) will close on September 5th.

JULY, 2016

SUNDAY, JULY 3, 1:30 PM ROUNDHOUSE – PERFORMANCE CENTRE 181 Roundhouse Mews (Davie & Pacific), Vancouver

Italian Maestro Gianluigi Trovesi at the Vancouver International Jazz Festival Performing with Israeli pianist Anat Fort

A rare opportunity to experience two of modern jazz’s most eclectic and masterful musicians in an intimate duo setting. A major figure in the Italian avant-garde, chamber jazz, and improvised music scenes since the late 1970’s, composer and clarinet maestro Gianluigi Trovesi is “a visionary spirit and a conceptualizer who reimagines jazz in vivid Mediterranean hues, dancing folkloric themes, and bursts of vivid color” (JazzTimes). A daring improviser, Israeli pianist/composer Anat Fort’s

“reflective yet probing style” (New York Times) is “a skillful mix of the romantic and the cerebral, like watching a flower open; an enthralling combination of geometry and color” (Jewish Week). Watch for their new ECM album Birdwatching.

This event is presented in collaboration with the Istituto Italiano di Cultura in Toronto, the Consulate General of Israel in Ottawa, the Novara Festival (Italy) and with the support of the Consulate General of Italy in Vancouver. Info and tickets ($10): www.coastaljazz.ca

JUNE, 2016

THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 7:30 pm ROYAL ALBERTA MUSEUM 12845 102 Ave NW, Edmonton

Symphony of Hope: A Benefit Concert for Fort McMurray

The Alberta Symphony Orchestra, in collaboration with the Consulate General of Italy in Vancouver and several organizations of the Italian community in Edmonton, is pleased to present a concert to benefit the victims of the Fort McMurray wildfires. The programme of the concert, which will take place under the baton of Maestro Emilio De Mercato, will feature music by Italian composers, particularly Nino Rota and Ennio Morricone. The Orchestra, composed by over 20 elements, will be enriched by the voice of Cara Brown, a soprano from FortMcMurray. All proceeds from the concert will be donated to the Canadian Red Cross. Info and tickets: www.albertasymphony.ca

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THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 7:00 pm Il CENTRO – ITALIAN CULTURAL CENTRE 3075 Slocan Street, Vancouver

FLAVOURS OF ITALY / SAPORI D’ITALIA

A food fair and wine tasting of products and wines from a number of different regions of Italy. Representatives of Italian companies from 8 Regioni will attend the evening. The fair / tasting will be followed by a folk music concert. The event is presented in collaboration with the Consulate General of Italy.

Free admission, no pre-registration required.

Info: www.italianculturalcentre.ca

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 7:00 pm Il CENTRO – ITALIAN CULTURAL CENTRE 3075 Slocan Street, Vancouver

Opera Night: The Glory of Italian Opera

Italian opera has brought unsurpassed vocal melody, thrilling drama, and riotous comedy. In a concert of solo arias, duets, and ensembles, four exciting young singers will celebrate the glory of Italian opera. Il Centro favourites Shadan Saul (soprano) and Sunny Shams (tenor) will be joined by a baritone and a mezzo-soprano, accompanied by David Boothroyd (piano), and introduced by host Tom Durrie. The evening is presented by the Italian Cultural Centre in collaboration with City Opera Vancouver and the Consulate General

of Italy, as part of the celebrations for the Festa della Musica 2016. Info and tickets ($20): www.italianculturalcentre.ca * * * * *

SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 12pm – 8pm Commercial Drive, Vancouver

Italian Day on the Drive 2016

Now into its seventh year since its return in 2010, Italian Day on The

Drive represents the celebration of Italian culture and the contributions

made to Vancouver by Italian immigrants and their children. A vibrant

cultural street festival, Italian Day is a community driven event, attracting

over 300,000 people and spanning 13 blocks along Commercial Drive in a

day long celebration, while showcasing all that is Italian to Vancouver’s

multi-cultural community of all ages.

As a special feature to the event, we celebrate the official ‘Little Italy’

designation, paying tribute to over 50 years of Italian heritage on

Commercial Drive, where 8 blocks will be christened with banners and

crosswalks.This year there will also be a special section (“Piazza Italia”, on Commercial and 3rd Avenue)

dedicated to the main actors of the Italian community: the Consulate General of Italy, the Italian

Cultural Centre and the Italian Chamber of Commerce of Canada-West. As an added bonus, a

delegation from the Italian Ministry of Education, Universities and Research will also be present,

together with representatives from 5 hospitality-oriented vocational high schools of Italy. Come see us

at the intersection of Commercial Drive and 3rd Avenue!

This event is free and open to the public

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THURSDAY, JUNE 9, 7:00 pm Famee Furlane of Vancouver 2605 E. Pender St., Vancouver

Violinist Luca Ciarla in Concert

Italian folk and traditional music revisited by eclectic fiddler Luca Ciarla

Considered one of the most interesting and creative violinists nowadays, Luca Ciarla has performed in Albania, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Croatia, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Macao, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, Portugal, Scotland, Slovenia, Switzerland, Turkey and the US. His music is often described as a fascinating balance among written compositions, jazz improvisation and knowledge of folk and classical musical traditions, giving life to an intriguing

acoustic sound appreciated all over the world. This event is part of the celebrations for the "Festa della Musica" 2016 and is presented by the Consulate General of Italy and the Famee Furlane of Vancouver. This event is free, no pre-registration required. Please note: The venue is not wheelchair accessible. We apologize for the inconvenience.

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THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 6:00 pm Italian Cultural Centre – Main Hall 3075 Slocan Street, Vancouver

Festa della Repubblica 2016

Come celebrate the Italian National Day with the Italian community of Vancouver! Along with the traditional ceremony and specialty foods, this year the Festa della Repubblica also features a unique concert by Italian band Terrasonora! Hailing from Naples, TERRASONORA is a band whose mission is to revisit traditional Neapolitan folk rhythms to make them sound more modern, while respecting the fundamental musical characteristics that have made Naples a global centre of production and dissemination of world music.

The concert is presented by the Consulate General of Italy in Vancouver together with the Italian Cultural Centre, the Istituto Italiano di Cultura in Toronto, Aquilini Investment Group and Newway Group, with the support of the Associazione Campani nel Mondo, the Famee Furlane of Vancouver, Sorgent.e and Bella Gelateria.

This event is free, no pre-registration required

APRIL, 2016

FRIDAY, APRIL 1 Italian Cultural Centre 3075 Slocan Street, Vancouver

The Largest Italian “Reunion” in Western Canada!

2016 marks 60 years at UBC and 25 at SFU since Italian

courses were first offered at these institutions!

The UBC Dept. of French, Hispanic and Italian Studies and

the SFU Italian Program have organized an unmissable

party to celebrate these significant milestones, under the

auspices and with the support of the Consulate General of

Italy in Vancouver.

A unique opportunity to remember and reunite, as well as to re-ignite our common love for Italian

language and culture.

Presented in collaboration with the Italian Cultural Centre, the event will feature great food, music,

dancing, and cherished memories as we commemorate the proud history of Italian scholarship in

Vancouver.

6:00 pm - Welcome Reception

7:00 pm - Dinner and Presentations

9:00 pm - Entertainment

For info and tickets please contact www.italianculturalcentre.ca or call 604.430.3337

MARCH, 2016

MARCH 31 to APRIL 2 UBC Campus: Penthouse, Thea Koerner House (March 31) / Green College, Coach House (April 1-2)

International Conference: “Regional Identities on a Global

Scale: Translation, Audiences, Reception. Transnational

Perspective in Italian Studies”

This three-day conference brings together experts in a variety of

disciplines (Literary Studies, Theatre, Film, Opera), professional

translators, artists and publishers. The objective is to highlight the role

of translators as cross-cultural mediators, and to underline the power

dynamics at play when regional representations circulate beyond

national and linguistic boundaries. In the Italian context, from Pasolini’s

Friulian poetry to Emma Dante’s Sicilian plays to Nino Ricci’s Italian

Canadian fiction, countless artists have engaged with the cultural,

linguistic and ethnic diversity that characterizes Italian communities

within and beyond the nation state. These works have always constituted a particular challenge for

translators; however, recent developments such as the extraordinary success of Elena Ferrante’s

Neapolitan series and of Camilleri’s Sicilian crime fiction among Anglophone readerships testify to a

growing interest in narratives marked by distinctive cultural/linguistic features. During the conference,

participants will address case studies that draw attention to how cultural specificity is recreated for a

variety of audiences.

The conference includes a series of comparative panels about translations from “minor” to global

languages in different settings, and about the implications of publishing translations in Canada and

North America. Some of the talks will address specific theoretical issues. The event also features a

translation theory workshop open to all graduate students and a presentation by the theatre company

Bellaluna Production.

This event is presented in collaboration with the Consulate General of Italy in Vancouver and the

Italian Institute of Culture in Toronto.

This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. To register or to view the

complete schedule please visit http://blogs.ubc.ca/translationaudiencesreception/

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THURSDAY, MARCH 31st AND SATURDAY, APRIL 2nd

Italian Cultural Centre 3075 Slocan Street, Vancouver

Sapori di Puglia / Flavours of Puglia

Don’t miss this edition of the annual opportunity to enjoy the

characteristic flavours of the renowned region of Puglia, through a

couple of events presented in collaboration with the Consulate General

of Italy in Vancouver.

On Thursday, March 31st at 7pm, “mercato” of specialty products and

wine tasting, with demonstrations and desserts. Free admission.

On Saturday, April 2nd at 6pm, Dinner, Show & Dance, featuring a

menu with typical dishes from Puglia and live performances.

For info and tickets please contact associazionepugliese.bc.ca or

604.299.0866

FEBRUARY, 2016

FEBRUARY 20 - 28 Various locations in Vancouver

Italy is Theme Country at the Vancouver

International Wine Festival 2016

As Theme Country of the 2016 edition of the Vancouver International Wine Festival, some 60 Italian wineries will be

featured from among the best in Italy and they will showcase Italy’s millennial traditions of wine-making and wine culture, which represent key elements of the Italian and the Mediterranean civilization. From Piedmont’s Barolo to Puglia’s Salice Salentino, from Veneto’s Prosecco to Tuscany’s Brunello di Montalcino, you will have plenty of events during the course of over a week to discover, learn and appreciate the best that Italy has to offer in a glass! The 2016 Festival is organized in collaboration with the Consulate General of Italy in Vancouver. Info and tickets: http://vanwinefest.ca

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FEBRUARY 27 - 29 Norman & Annette Rothstein Theatre, Vancouver 950 West 41st Avenue, Vancouver

Italy’s “Spellbound Contemporary Ballet” at Chutzpah! 2016 In their Western Canada debut, Rome-based “Spellbound Contemporary Ballet” brings a wonderful evening of mixed repertoire to Chutzpah! The company has defined itself in the

European dance community for its dynamic choreography by Artistic Director Mauro Astolfi, and the virtuosic technique of the company’s dancers. This event is presented in collaboration with the Istituto Italiano di Cultura in Toronto, with the assistance of the Consulate General of Italy in Vancouver. The company (www.spellbounddance.com) will perform three shows in Vancouver: Sat, Feb. 27 – 8 pm Sun, Feb. 28 – 2 pm Mon, Feb. 29 – 8 pm

Info and tickets: www.chutzpah.com

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 7:30 PM Playhouse Theatre 600 Hamilton Street, Vancouver

Alberta Symphony: Stradivarius Tour

This is a rare opportunity for Canadians. Known as “The Man of the

Stradivari”, Italian Maestro Matteo Fedeli is the only person in the world

who has performed on 25 of the 60 playable Antonio Stradivari violins—and

for this tour, he plays the extraordinary and prestigious Antonio Stradivari

1715 ‘ex-Bazzini – De Vito’ violin.

Maestro Fedeli will play in a duo formation with Edmonton-based Italian pianist Emilio De Mercato, who is also the Chair of the Alberta Symphony Orchestra. The program of the recitals includes a variety of wonderful works for violin

and piano by composers such as Rachmaninoff, Brahms, Grieg, Saint-Saëns, Franck, Paganini and others.

Since 2013, Maestro Matteo Fedeli has been an ambassador for Italian Culture in the USA and has played on two tours with a series of 30 concerts in more than 12 States. He has also been awarded the Paul Harris Fellow in recognition of his artistic career— the highest honour available by The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International. Schooled by Luciano Patrignani in Milan and Albert Kocsis in Austria, Maestro Fedeli’s concert series, A Stradivarius for the People, has given over 400,000 audience members the opportunity to listen to the unique sound of some of the world’s most iconic and recognizable instruments. Stradivari violins are transported with armed escorts and move with rigid transfer protocols enforced on

every diplomatic mission with musicians and owners guided by extremely careful curators. Something

this closely guarded can’t be missed.

To learn more about the Alberta Symphony and about the musicians: www.albertasymphony.com

Tickets at Ticketmaster

JANUARY, 2016

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 7 PM Norman and Annette Rothstein Theatre (Jewish Community Centre) 950 West 41st Avenue, Vancouver

On the occasion of the International Holocaust Remembrance Day

The Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre and the Consulate General of Italy in Vancouver, in

partnership with the Norman and Annette Rothstein Theatre, present

“My Italian Secret: The Forgotten Heroes”

Screening of the documentary film by Oscar-nominee Oren Jacoby, narrated by Isabella Rossellini

My Italian Secret tells the story of sports idol Gino Bartali and other courageous Italians who carried out ingenious schemes to rescue Jews, partisans and refugees from Nazi-occupied Italy. Gino Bartali is a sports legend; but his most daring triumph came when he risked his life over and over to save Jews threatened by Nazi extermination. The story of Bartali and the secret network he worked with stands in for the stories of thousands of Italians who risked their lives to save others from capture and death. As an entire continent was engulfed in a genocide which took the lives of most Jews in Nazi occupied Europe (nearly 6 million people), more than 80 percent of Italy's Jews survived. Bartali, like most of the rescuers, never sought recognition or reward. Few of those he helped knew his name or what role he played in their rescue. (Text: http://myitaliansecret.com)

(2014, colour, 92 minutes, in English and Italian with English subtitles)

Admission is free, no pre-registration required. Admission and seating on a first-come, first-served

basis. Please arrive early (doors open at 6:30pm).

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JANUARY 8 – 14, 2016 Vancity Theatre 1181 Seymour Street, Vancouver

The 2016 edition of the Italian Film Fest Vancouver

If you need something to look forward to once the holidays are over, look no more! The third edition of the annual Italian Film Fest Vancouver will welcome you as early as Friday, January 8, 2015 with an opening gala featuring live music, refreshments and two Italian movies. The Festival, which is a collaboration involving Il Centro Italian Cultural Centre, the Vancouver International Film Festival and the

Consulate General of Italy in Vancouver, will run until January 14, featuring 2 to 4 screenings per day: Italian classics from the '50s, '60s and '70s will alternate with award-winning hits released in 2014 and 2015. Among the names of the filmmakers featured in this edition, we have Federico Fellini, Paolo and Vittorio Taviani, Lina Wertmüller, Luchino Visconti and Bernardo Bertolucci, alongside recent directors such as Cristina Comencini, Francesca Archibugi and Mario Martone. The 2016 edition intends to pay a special tribute to the genius of Pier Paolo Pasolini - who was brutally murdered exactly 40 years ago - through a photo exhibit highlighting one of his most famous movies, “Arabian Nights” (Il fiore delle Mille e una notte, 1974), which will also be screened during the festival, as well as through Abel Ferrara’s biopic on the last days of Pasolini’s life (Pasolini, 2014). The photo exhibit, which will be on view during the Festival in the lobby of the Vancity Theatre, is sponsored by the Istituto Italiano di Cultura in Toronto and the Consulate General of Italy in Vancouver. To learn more about the films and the opening gala, or to buy advance tickets, go to http://iffest.ca Note: Unless otherwise noted, minors are not allowed at Vancity Theatre screenings.

For more info on Vancity Theatre policies, please visit http://www.viff.org/theatre/tickets-memberships#membership

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