he swearing-in ceremony of the newItalian government led by Silvio

Berlusconi took place on May 8 before thePresident of the Republic.

The new government, located in PalazzoChigi, is the third to be led by Mr. Berlusconiand the Republic’s 60th.

In his speech, the President of the Councilof Ministers laid particular emphasis on theneed to stimulate change in the country. Thisshould result essentially from the adoptionof important institutional reforms, ensuringstability and commitment of governmentaction and, above all, lay the foundations forrenewed economic growth.

In a passage from his acceptance speech

Mr. Berlusconi stressed that Italy “has thepotential for rapid growth which must bereawakened. Growth is not only an economicparameter but also a measure of a country’scivil progress. Only through growth will Italyrevive its talents, enabling the country tomaster its destiny without leaving anyonebehind. Growth means exporting our talentsand abilities, improving the position of ourenterprises in the markets, opening andmodernising the ways in which we faceproblems such as health, welfare, protectionof the environment. Only be reassessing thework, by making the country more secureand qualified, will we be able to guaranteeour future.” <>

o honor the 60thanniversary of its

independence Israel wasinvited as the officialguest country at theTurin InternationalBook Fair. The Fair,Europe's largest andopen to both specialistvisitors and the generalpublic, is the main eventin Italy dedicated tobooks, reading andculture. Each year the Fair hosts the cultureof a different country, its authors andpublishers, exhibitions, shows, artists,viewpoints and in-depth analysis.

The Israeli pavilion was inundated byvisitors, the most prominent of which were thePresident of the Republic Giorgio Napolitano,the President of the Senate Renato Schifani

and the Minister of CultureSandro Bondi.

“I am here to identifywith the ideals embodiedin this event, which eachyear honors and cultivatescultural values that shouldnot be d is turbed ordistracted by politicalconsiderations,” saidPresident Napolitano in hisspeech at the openingceremony. “Israel was

invited to participate as guest of honor becauseof its rich historical and cultural patrimony andits contribution to universal human values. Nodialogue is possible if there is a refusal torecognize Israel, and there can be no rejectionof the reasons for [Israel's] birth or of its rightto exist in peace and security." This was a right,added the President, “that can and must be

combined with the right of the Palestinian peopleto give birth to their own state”.Around 10,000 copies of Israeli titles were soldat the fair, with works by Aharan Appelfeldtopping the list, followed by those of A.B.Yehoshua, Amos Oz, Etgar Keret, Orly Castel-Bloom and Meir Shalev. The most sought afterbook was “When the Fish and the

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NOTIZIE ITALIANENewsle t t er o f the Embassy o f I ta ly in I srae l No. 50 May 2008

TIsrael official guest at Turin International Book Fair

New Berlusconi Government takes officeT

oreign Minister Franco Frattini wasborn on March 14, 1957 in Rome where

in 1979 he received a degree in law. In 1986he was appointed Councillor of State.

Among his numerous posts Franco Frattinihas served as Secretary General of thePresidency of the Council of Ministers and in1995 was nominated Minister for PublicAdministration and Regional Affairs in thegovernment headed by Lamberto Dini.

From 1996 until 2001 Frattini was a member

of several parliamentary commissions beforebeing appointed Minister for PublicAdministration and Coordination of Informationand Security Services. From November 2002until November 2004 Franco Frattini served asForeign Minister in the second Berlusconigovernment, before being appointed VicePresident of the European Commissionreponsible for Justice, Freedom and Security,a post he held until the recent elections. <>

FFranco Frattini returns to Foreign Ministry

(cont. p.6)

President Giorgio Napolitano with A.B. Yehoshua andPresident of the Piedmont Region Mercedes Bresso

President Giorgio Napolitano visiting the Israelipavilion at the Turin International Book Fair

Foreign Minister Franco Frattini

Silvio Berlusconi, President of the Council of Ministers

NOTIZIE ITALIANE May 2008

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Members of the new Italian government at the swearing-in ceremony at Palazzo Quirinale

Foreign Affairs: Franco FrattiniInterior: Roberto MaroniJustice: Angelino AlfanoFinance: Giulio TremontiEconomic Development: Claudio ScajolaEducation: Mariastella GelminiHealth: Maurizio SacconiDefence: Ignazio La RussaAgriculture: Luca ZaiaEnvironment: Stefania PrestigiacomoTransport: Altero MatteoliCulture: Sandro Bondi

Silvio Berlusconi, President of the Council of Ministers

Edited by:The Embassy of Italy in Israel(Economic and Commercial Office)

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New Berlusconi Government takes officeFranco Frattini returns to Foreign MinistryIsrael official guest at Turin Book FairMembers of the new Italian GovernmentStrengthening ties with LombardyItalia Ebraica exhibition catalogueGiorgia De Parolis joins the EmbassyConference on Leonardo da VinciDecorative ceramics seminarItalian stand in Rishon LeZionEuropean languages on Tel Aviv streetsIsrael Opera performs in RomeItalian-Israeli science and technology forumTourism agreement signedAlfa Romeo 8c on view in IsraelIsrael celebrates Puccini anniversaryLibyan Jews during the ShoahConductor with ‘soul’ returns to Tel AvivPreparing students for Italian universitiesEvents in IsraelSummer event at the Nahon MuseumEvents in ItalyItalian Trade Fair calendar

Trade Tower, 25 HaMered Street, Tel Aviv 68125Te l : 0 3 - 5 1 6 . 1 7 4 4 F a x : 0 3 - 5 1 6 . 1 7 5 5www.ambtelaviv.esteri.it Sportellounico.telaviv@esteri.it

The Hebrew catalogue of the exhibition Italia Ebraica: 2000years of encounter between Italian culture and Judaism,held at the Eretz Israel Museum (Dec. 2007 - Feb. 2008),is available for purchase at the Museum, at the ItalianInstitute of Culture and at the Sipur Pashut bookstore(www.sipurpashut .net ) , pr ice NIS 180. <>

Italia Ebraica exhibition catalogue

Reform: Umberto BossiSimplification: Roberto CalderoliImplementation: Gianfranco RotondiEC Policy: Andrea RonchiEqual Opportunities: Mara CarfagnaRegional Affairs: Raffaele FittoYouth Policy: Giorgia MeloniRelations with Parliament: Elio VitoInnovation: Renato Brunetta

Ministers with portfolio Ministers without portfolio

Members of the new Italian government

he political office of the Embassy in TelAviv welcomes a new member of the

diplomatic staff, Giorgia De Parolis. Born inRome in 1978, Giorgia entered the diplomaticservice in 2003 and after a period at the Officefor Italians Abroad and Migratory Policy, shesubsequently served in the Directorate forMediterranean countries and the Middle East,including relations with Israel. Benvenuta! <>

T

Giorgia De Parolisjoins the Embassy

n May 18-19 the Israel-ItalyChamber of Commerce

hosted the visit to Israel of amultisectorial delegation from Italy.The visit was organized in collaboration withPromos, the special agency of the MilanChamber of Commerce for internationalactivities.

The Italian delegation was composed ofrepresentatives from five companies in thefollowing sectors: ICT, Cosmetics and Training,and was intended to strengthen economic ties

between the Lombardy Region andIsrael.

The Israel-Italy Chamber ofCommerce, in collaboration with the

Federation of the Israeli Chambers of Commerceand the Israel Export and InternationalCooperation Institute, coordinated the meetingsbetween Italian representatives and their Israelicounterparts. The visit once again demonstratedthat there are countless areas of opportunity forcollaboration between Israel and Italy.www.italia-israel.com <>

OStrengthening ties with Lombardy

n a n i n c r e a s i n g l ycompartmentalized and

specialized world, in which theneed for connection anduniversalism is dramatically feltand needed, the Embassy ofItaly and the Italian CulturalInstitute of Tel Aviv saw inLeonardo da Vinci - therecognized and mostbeloved embodiment ofcomprehensive, multipleunderstanding - the perfectsubject for an internationalm u l t i d i s c i p l i n a r yconference in order tod i s c o v e r , t h r o u g hinvestigation of the manyfields of Leonardo’s expertise,points of connection and unity among differentdisciplines in a broader, all-encompassing formof knowledge.

The international conference “Leonardo daVinci: Knowledge and Transgression in EarlyModernity” was initiated by Bar Ilan Universityand planned with the Embassy of Italy’s

Scientific Attaché Prof. StefanoBoccaletti and the Italian Instituteof Culture, directed by Dr.Simonetta Della Seta, as a homageto the State of Israel for the 60th

Anniversary of its independence.Between May 12-14 a scholarly

team, of the highest distinction andof heterogeneous composition,

convened at Bar I lanUniversity to present anddiscuss on-going researchon the thought, methodand work of this pillar ofItalian and universalculture, breaking theborders between scientificand artistic disciplines in

a truly multidisciplinaryconvention. For three intensive and rewardingdays, which were inaugurated by AmbassadorSandro De Bernardin, experts in art-history,intellectual history, science, philosophy andliterature explored, from differentiated andunconventional perspectives, Leonardo’smanuscripts, anatomic studies, and the pervasive

and fascinating “unaccomplished-ness” andopenness of all his work.

Italian participants were Prof. Carlo Vecce,University “L’Orientale” of Naples, Prof. TitoArecchi, University of Florence, Prof.Francesca Fiorani, University of Virginia, Prof.Jacopo Mascetti, Bar Ilan University, Prof.Alessandro Nova, Künsthistorisches Instituteof Florence, Prof. Domenico Laurenza,University of Florence, Dr. Fabio Frosini,University of Urbino, and Prof. Giulio Busi,Free University of Berlin. Among theinternational lecturers, Prof. Lea Dovev, BarIlan University and Bezalel Art Academy ofJerusalem, and Prof. Hubert Damish, Ecoledes hautes Etudes en sciences sociales, Paris.

Italian pianist Maurizio Baglini and cellistSilvia Chiesa concluded the event with a concertat the Music Department’s Auditorium in thepresence of the Ambassador De Bernardin. Theprogram featured works related to Leonardo’srenaissance world by Busoni, Corghi and Britten,

The Italian duo appeared again on thefollowing day, May 15, at the Felicia BlumentalMusic Center, where they were warmlyapplauded by a very enthusiastic audience. <>

Dialogue around the lathe” was the titleof a highly successful seminar on

ceramic decorative techniques organized andpromoted by the Italian Cultural Institute ofTel Aviv on April 21-28 at the Art Gallery inUmm El Fahem, the most important Arab cityin the Lower Galilee region.

The Art Gallery in Umm El Fahem wasestablished in 1996 by local artists to bringmodern art to the region and to encourage thedevelopment of original Palestinian and Arabart. Over the years the Gallery has become ameeting point between different peoples andcultures, which made it an ideal venue for thew e e k l o n gs e m i n a r t h a tattracted Arab,Chr is t ian andJewish ceramicistsw h o w e r einstructed by fourleading Italianceramic artists.

The initiative,s t r o n g l ysupported by theEmbassy of Italy,was organized andprepared over the course of a year by theDirector of the Italian Institute of CultureSimonetta Della Seta, under the patronage ofthe Department of Education and Culture of

the Region of Sicily, the Municipalityof Sciacca and the National Union ofArtisans and SME's (CNA).

Present were Dr. Bruno Maglioccoof the Sicily Region, CNA VicePresident Daniele Vaccarino andArtistic Director Maurizio Troiani.Italian artists invited by the IIC includedGiacomo Alessi and Mario Montaudo(Caltagirone) Gaspare Cascio (Sciacca)and the Sicilian artist Angella Gallaro,who were welcomed by the Institute's Dr.Teresa Lorenzi.

Present at the gala ceremony on April 24were AmbassadorS a n d r o D eB e r n a r d i n ,Simonetta DellaS e t a , G a l l e r yDirector Said AbuShakera, BrunoMagliocco of theS ic i ly Reg ion ,Daniele Vaccarino and Mauriz ioTroiani o f theC NA , l e a d i n grepresentatives from

local authorities as well as the four Italian artistsinvited to lead the seminar, Giacomo Alessi,Mario Montaudo, Gaspare Cascio andAngela Gallaro.

The project, enthusiastically supported bya mixed Arab/Jewish group of approximately50 Israeli artisans, chosen carefully on the basisof talent, experience and willingness tocontribute to dialogue, was applauded by theIsraeli Ministry of Culture and stronglysupported by Amitei Italia, the association ofIsraeli ex alumni affiliated with the Embassy.Among those participating were well knownartists such as Manal Marcus, Magdalena Hefez,Muhammad Kalash, Rami Saadi e LeaKrugman, as well as a large contingent of localenthusiasts and students during open day.

As a result of the initiative a similar seminarwill be held in Italy under the auspices of theCNA, as well as a second edition of the eventnext year in Israel. An exhibition of works byartists participating in the seminar will be heldin the autumn accompanied by a catalogue inHebrew, Arabic and Italian. <>

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NOTIZIE ITALIANE May 2008

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“Decorative ceramics seminar

Understanding connections: conference on Leonardo da Vinci

A selection of items produced by participants at the decorative ceramicsseminar

Self-portrait of Leonardo da Vinci

Ambassador Sandro De Bernardin with Said Abu Shakera (standing,4th right), Director of the Umm El Fahm Art Gallery, SimonettaDella Seta (1st left) and members of the Italian delegation

n May 12 the Municipality of RishonLeZion organized a European Day to

celebrate relations between Europe and Israelon the occasion of Israel’s 60th anniversary.

The day, under the sponsorship of Slovenia,the current President of theEC, opened in the presenceo f A m b a s s a d o r s a n drepresentat ives of theEuropean diplomatic corps,Foreign Minister TzipiLivni, Education MinisterYuli Tamir, the Mayor ofRishon LeZion Meir Nitzan,educational and youthcouncillors from RishonLeZion as well as students from numerous publicand private schools in the city. Italy wasrepresented by Ambassador Sandro De

Bernardin and Simonetta Della Seta, Directorof the Italian Institute of Culture.

The students participated actively in theprogram outlined by the Rishon LeZionMunicipality and the EC, including a parade,

concerts and the mountingof stands representingEuropean countries.

Preparation for the eventstarted months previously,when a list from the RishonLeZion Munipality arrivedpairing classes from eachschool with a Europeancountry as the object ofstudy. Italy was assigned to

a class of 13 year old girls from the Makif Betreligious school. Preparatory meetings took placebetween members of the school and Dr. Teresa

Lorenzi ofthe ItalianCu l tu r a lInstitute toassist thestudents insetting upthe stand with relevant material. The stand, asidefrom supplying printed material on differentregions of Italy as well as on the country’s artisticachievements, was constructed in the form of aplastic gondola in the front, with inscriptions inItalian and Hebrew written in Italy’s nationalcolors in the rear.

The highlight of the fun occured at the endwhen participants flocked to the Italian stand,attracted by the aroma of freshly baked pizzasdistributed by the students of the Makif Betschool. <>

mong the numerous fixtures scheduledby European institutions in celebration

of Israel’s 60th anniversary was an open-busevent, organized by the Italian CulturalInstitute, the Goethe-Institut, the l’InstitutFrançais and the Instituto Cervantes, featuringa bus decorated with welcoming signs in fourlanguages which criss-crossed the city of TelAviv for the entire course of Friday May 9.

The initiative, offered as a homage to Israelby Italy, Germany, France and Spain, wasintended to celebrate the European roots ofIsrael’s cultural heritage and to accomodate theexpansion of interest demonstrated by Israelisfor a deeper knowledge of European languagesand culture. A new tendency in Israel, for years

oriented towards the adoption of Americancultural values, has shown an increasedpreference for European models. The tendencyis clear: as Israeli schools over the past few yearsintensify their requests for exchange programswith European educational institutions in placessuch as Florence, Paris, Prague and Athens,larger numbers of Israeli students are opting forstudy in European rather than US universities.Today an annual average of 600 Israeli studentschoose to study in Italy alone, an increase overprevious years, as more and more familiesorganize trips to Europe to rediscover their roots.The latest fashion for newly demobilized Israelisoldiers is no longer for prolonged trips to Indiaor South America but a rail trip for extended

travel through Europe.The open bus, decorated with colorful

welcoming signs and playing music in fourlanguages, stopped at various points in the city,arousing the curiosity of many residents whowere able to briefly sample the flavor and soundsof European language and culture. <>

n celebration of Israel’s 60th anniversaryon May 8 the Opera of Rome hosted the

Israel Opera’s production of “Voyage to theend of the Millenium”, with music by JosephBardanashvili based on a libretto by A.B.Ye h o s h u a . T h eproduction was thefirst time this operahas been seen outsideof Israel.

Attending the soldout event were theP r e s i d e n t o f t h eRepublic GiorgioNapolitano, who waswelcomed by Rome’snew Mayor GiovanniAlemanno, Presidentof the Chamber Gianfranco Fini, formerPresident Francesco Cossiga, Ministers Franco

Frattini and Sandro Bondi, Chiefof the Prime Minister's OfficeGianni Letta, Lazio RegionPresident Piero Marrazzo, Democratic Partyleader Walter Veltroni, Israel’s Ambassador to

Rome Gideon Meir,as well as members ofI t a l y ’ s J e w i s hcommunities, RenzoGattegna, Presidentof the Union of ItalianJewish Communities(UCEI), RiccardoPacifici, President ofR o m e ' s J e w i s hcommunity and ChiefR a b b i o f R o m eRiccardo Di Segni.

Simonetta Della Seta, Director of the ItalianInstitute of Culture of Tel Aviv, accompanied

the Israeli Opera and author A.B. Yehoshua toRome.

The libretto, adapted by the author from thenovel of the same name, takes place at the endof the first millennium and recounts the storyof Ben-Attar, a rich Jewish merchant fromTangier, and his young nephew Abulafia. Themusic was composed by Joseph Bardanashvili,a musician from Georgia who immigrated toIsrael in 1995, whose music features a uniquesynthesis of classical and avant-garde westerninfluences with the traditions of the music ofcentral Asia and of the Jewish synagogues.

Directing the Rishon LeZion SymphonyOrchestra was Asher Fisch, who this year alsoconducted Parsifal at the San Carlo Theater inNaples. <>

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NOTIZIE ITALIANE May 2008

AEuropean languages in the streets of Tel Aviv

OItalian stand at 'European Piazza' in Rishon LeZion

IThe Israeli Opera performs in Rome

The European open bus attracted much curiosity duringits Independence Day tour of Tel Aviv

At the Italian stand with Ambassador SandroDe Bernardin, Simonetta Della Seta and thegirls of the Makif Bet school.

Ambassador Sandro De Bernardin withFM Tzipi Livni at the Italian Stand

festive presentationof Italian design

and quality embodied inAlfa Romeo’s new 8cCompetizione was hostedby Ambassador SandroDe Bernardin in thegarden of the ItalianResidence.

MCA (MediterraneanCar Agency Ltd.), theimporter of Fiat and Alfa

Romeo to Israel,p resen ted theexclus ive andbeautiful Alfa 8c only toits clientele and the media,who examined the carwith great interest, somefrom the driver’s seatenjoying the unmistakablydistinctive sounds of theAlfa’s powerful Maseratiengine. Among the guests

w e r e M i k iHaimovitch from Channel 10, DanniKushmaro of Channel 2, celebrated chefs,actors, athletes, and business people. Theoutstanding car, an emblem of beauty, speed andsafety, costs several hundred thousand euros,and will not be imported into Israel. It arrivedespecially for the Auto Motor event that takesplace every Passover in Tel Aviv. <>

he 60th anniversaryof the establishment

of the State of Israel is alsothe 60th anniversary ofItalian-Israeli diplomaticrelations. The Embassy ofI t a l y, a m o n g o t h e rcelebrations, organized a special conferencehighlighting scientific and technologycollaboration between the two countries.

The first Italian-Israeli Scientific andTechnology Forum was held in Tel Aviv on April28-30 and included the participation of a groupof over 40 Italian experts, the largest contingentever to visit Israel within the framework of theAgreement on Scientific, Industrial andTechnological cooperation. Among thoseattending were representatives of Italy’s majorindustrial and scientific enterprises includingthe Ministry of Education, ENEA, CNR, andrectors and experts from over 15 universitiesand research centers.

The occasion provided anopportunity to review the state ofscientific cooperation between Italyand Israel, particularly in medicine,nanotechnology, environmentalscience, technology transfer andengineering, and to discuss ways offurther developing these ties. TwoMOU’s were signed during the threeday conference: the first on the jointestablishment of a nanophotoniclaboratory between LENS ofFlorence and the Weizmann Institutein Rehovot, and the second betweenthe College of Nurses in Bergamoand Tel Aviv’s Tel Hashomerhospital for the organization ofcourses in emergency medical training.

Significant in this regard were the meetingsbetween the two representatives of the IsraeliMinistry of Industry (Dr. Mina Goldiak andDr. Ilana Lowi) and their Italian counterpart(P ro f . Francesco Be l t rame ) , w i threpresentatives of ENEA (Prof. Piero di Porto)CNR (Dr. Giancarlo Righini), and therepresentative of the Conference of Italian

University Rectors (Prof. Patrizio Bianchi).The first day of the Forum concluded with

a reception at the residence of First CouncillorDavide La Cecilia at which Israeli HealthMinister Yakov Ben Izri was also present.

The following days included around 80presentations by members of both delegations,

among which were those given byLombardy Region Health DirectorLuciano Bresciani, Prof. MassimoInguscio, an international expert onthe condensation of atoms, Prof.Massimiliano Fabbricino of theUniversity of Naples on watertreatment techniques and Prof.Giuseppe Rega of La SapienzaUniversity of Rome on prospectsand sys t ems in s t ruc tu ra lengineering.

Israeli presentations of noteincluded those by Dr. Amitai Ziv,Director of Israel’s National Centerfor the Simulation of MedicalEmergencies, Prof. Nir Davidsonof the Weizmann Institute of

Science, and Professors Sam Saguy, Yona Chenand Jaap van Rijn of the Hebrew Universityon new agricultural technologies and Dr. RifaatSadadi on new techniques and research inepathology.

The participation of over 200 delegates atthe conference testifies to the extraodinarysuccess of the event in Israeli scientific andindustrial circles. <>

NOTIZIE ITALIANE May 2008

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TFirst Italian-Israeli Science and Technology Forum

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Lombardy Region Health Minister Luciano Bresciani(seated, 2nd right) at the Italian-Israeli Science andTechnology Forum

Memorandum of Understanding oncommercial tourism was signed on

May 15 between Interporto, a multi-modejunction located in the Veneto Region ofItaly integrating road, train and maritimeconnections, and Aviation Link, an Israelitour operator. The MOU was signed in thepresence of the Mayor of Rovigo FaustoMerchiori.

The intiativewa s p r o m o t e djo in t l y by t he'Rovigo TouristCity' Consortium,by Agenfor Italiaand EuroIsrael todevelop tourism inRovigo and the areafrom Mantua toVenice along theRiver Po and theWhite Canal. The Consortium has allocatedresources for the encouragement of tourismto and from the Veneto Region and the MiddleEast, with Israel as the first market in thisplan. Israeli tourism to Italy numbers around40,000 visitors annually, with Aviation Link’s108 flights accounting for around 40% of thisvolume.

Italy’s honorary consul for northern Israel,Dr. Carlo Gross, accompanied the Israelison their tour.www.rovigoturismo.it <>

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Alfa Romeo 8c on view in Israel

Via X Luglio in Rovigo

Piazza Garibaldi in Rovigo

Tourism agreementsigned

Ambassador Sandro De Bernardin examines theAlfa 8c with Doron Vadai (CEO, MCA) and OrenHasson

or its endeavor and dedication to thepromotion and diffusion of Puccini’s

work among the widest audiences, includingthe very youngest, the Israeli Opera has thisyear been awarded the International PucciniPrize, granted by the Puccini FestivalFoundation and the Italian Ministry ofForeign Affairs, to institutions, performersand personalities which have distinguishedthemselves in promoting the music of the greatItalian composer.

Turandot, Madama Butterfly, La Bohèmeand Tosca were staged at the Israeli Opera tocelebrate the 150th anniversary of thecomposer’s birth.

Turandot, directed by Marco Gandini, wenton stage for 12 performances at the OperaHouse in Tel Aviv on March 7-22. In the roleof Calaf was Italian tenor Pierro Giuliacci,well known to Israeli Opera audiences for hisperformances in Il Trovatore and Un Ballo inMaschera , whereas soprano Susanna

Branchini was makingher company debuts i n g i n g L i u .Madama Butterflyfol lowed for 10p e r f o r m a n c e sbetween April 9-22.

Next season willfeature a revival oft h e c l a s s i cF r a n c oZ e f f i r e l l iproduction ofLa Bohème,first presented by the company a decade ago,as well as a revival of the cinematic Hugo deAna production created for the Israeli Operaabout eight years ago, with live shooting fromthe actual Roman locales interspersed withinthe sets. Michaela Carosi, Pierro Giuliacciand Alberto Mastromarino/Silvano Carolliwill perform the three leading roles. <>

Shark First Met", based on a tale written by kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit.The book fair is a huge event that annually attracts more than 300,000 visitors. More than 1,400publishers were represented this year, and the overall program included more than 2,000 speakersat nearly 1,000 conferences, debates and other events. <>

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NOTIZIE ITALIANE May 2008

Tel.03-5161361

ItalianCulturalInstitute

Tel.03-5161361

ItalianCulturalInstitute

FIsrael celebrates Puccini’s 150th anniversary

Conductor with “soul” returns to Tel Aviv

(cont. from p. 1)

Israel official guest at Turin International Book Fair

Libyan Jews duringthe Shoah

n audience of around 400 peopleattended the presentation of Eric

Salerno’s book “Uccideteli tutti. Libia1 9 4 3 : g l i e b r e i n e l c a m p o d iconcentramento fascista di Giado. Unastoria italiana”, which took place at theDiaspora Museum on April 27 . The eventwas organized by the World Organizationof Libyan Jews of Or Yehuda incollaboration with the Italian CulturalInstitute.

The book, an important historicaldocument for Jews of Libyan origin livingin Israel, was presented by LilianaPicciotto, one of Italy’s most notedhistorians of the Holocaust, Irit Abramskiof Yad Vashem and Prof. Rachel Simon ofthe Hebrew University, and recounts therelatively unknown and tragic history ofthat persecuted community during theShoah.

“For many years the world believed thatthe Shoah affected only European Jews,”explained Prof. Abramski, “but recentresearch has revealed that many differentNorth African and Mediterranean Jewishcommunities, such as the ones in Greeceand Libya, suffered the same brutal fate astheir European brothers.”

“The relatively unknown story ofLibya’s Jews during the Holocaust is anemotional chapter in the history of thatcommunity”, said Yaacov Haggiag Liuf,President of the World Organization ofLibyan Jews, referring to the book and topersonal testimonies recounted during theevening by survivors and relatives of LibyanJews who were deported to the Giado andAuschwitz concentration camps during thewar. The evening was moderated bySimonetta Della Seta, Director of theItalian Cultural Institute, and Jack Arbib,a member of the Or Yehuda community,and included the presence of Avi Dichter,Israel’s Minister of Internal Security, whois also of Libyan origin. <>

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Author Eric Salerno (left) with Simonetta Della Setaat the Diaspora Museum

n celebrat ion of Israel 's 60thanniversary Riccardo Muti conducted

the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra in aBeethoven program on May 22. The followingarticle by Hanoch Ron was published in YediotAcharonot on May 18.

Riccardo Muti is not just another giftedconductor but one of the five most talenteddirectors of an orchestra alive today.

When Muti conducts the orchestra singsand his musicians touch the depths of humanfeeling. The amazing Mr. Muti, born in 1941,impregnates his music with the sounds andsunshine of his native Neapolitan origins.

Riccardo Muti studied composition withNino Rota, famous as Fellini’s musicalcollaborator, who quickly recognized the youngMuti’s talent and encouraged him to enter theGuido Cantelli conducting competition in 1967,where he was unanimously awarded first prizeby the jury. Since then the rise in his career hasbeen meteoric, with engagements at the helmof the world’s leading musical institutions suchas the Philharmonia Orchestra of London, thePhiladelphia Orchestra and the Orchestra of LaScala, Milan. Just this month Riccardo Mutiwas appointed principal conductor of theworld’s best orchestra, the Chicago Symphony.He deserves it. Muti belongs to that rare species

of conductor steeped in the grand tradition ofmusic, from the Baroque to our age. When heconducts, the extraordinary creativenessemanating from his hands becomes almostpalpable.

Not many people are aware that over theyears Muti has been a strong supporter of theWeizmann Institute, while two years ago heorganized a special concert for peace at LaScala, where he performed with pianists ItamarGolan from Israel and Palestinian Salim AbudAshkar. In 2000 was awarded the prestigiousWolf Prize. Riccardo Muti also supportsresearch in melotherapy, a science that usesmusic to treat disabilities in children. Muti isa conductor with soul. You don’t find many ofhis kind today. <>

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Accordone at the Israel FestivalJune 7, Jerusalem

Accordone, an Italian musical ensemble directedby two major exponents of Renaissance andBaroque music, Marco Beasely (voice) andGuido Morini (organ, harpsichord), in ViaToledo, a program of traditional Sicilian folkmusic. Also participating are Pino De Vittorio(voice and guitar), Stefano Rocco (lute, baroqueguitar), Fabio Accurso (lute), Franco Pavan(theorbo) and Mauro Durante (tamburine).Friends of the Italian Institute of Culture are entitledto a 20% discount.Tel: 02-6237000

Paintings by Mario Doretti and IlanaOfer DorettiJune 12, Tel AvivMario Doretti, born in Rome, is an architect,painter and art historian. Ilana Ofer Doretti, bornin Jerusalem, is a ceramic artist and painter whostudied at the Bezalel Academy of Art and atthe Accademia di Ceramica in Faenza. Since2000 the couple have signed their works ILMAR,referring to their four handed compositions.

Guided TourJune 13, departure at 08.00With marine archeologist Ehud Galili, IsraelAntiquities Authority. A visit to the neolithicvillage of Atlit, believed to have been detroyedby a Tsunami resulting from an eruption at

Mount Etna; a panoramic view of the bay ofHaifa from Stella Maris and the story of theretrieval of the Italian submarine Shiré; and atour of Haifa’s Maritime Museum.

Why gold and diamonds?June 19, Ramat GanConference on futuretrends and ethicalquestions in jewelrydesign organized bythe Italian CulturalI n s t i t u t e i ncollaboration with theShenkar College ofEng inee r ing andDesign in celebration of Israel’s 60th anniversaryand 60 years of Italian Israeli relations.The event will focus on Italy’s contribution todesign, particularly in jewelry and diamonds,and serve as an occasion for Israeli professionaljewelry designers to meet their Italiancounterparts.The conference will examine questions of mutualinterest and highlight opportunities forcooperation on subjects such as ethics,intellectual property rights, original designs andreplicas, the use of synthetic materials in jewelryand the re la t ionshipbetween jewelry andfa s h i o n . I t a l i a n sparticipating in theevent include Prof.Alba Cappel l ie r i ,design historian andcritic of the Politecnico diMilano, Alba Polenghi Lisca,jewelry artist, Mario Maioli, architect anddesigner for Gruppo FIAT, Carlo Montebello,goldsmith, and Dr. Ciro Cacchione, founder andpresident of San Lorenzo, Milan.<>

wo intensive courses, known in Hebrewas Mechiná, initiated by the Italian

Institute of Culture to prepare students forentry into science faculties at Italianuniversities, have opened in Haifa and TelAviv.

Preliminary pilot courses opened in 2005with 14 students, a number that increased to25 participants the following year and 43 in2007. The course, divided into artistic andscientific sections, has also seen a progressiveincrease in the number of enrolled students.

As in the past, this year’s program consistsof 240 hours of study: 50 hours for each oneof four scientific subjects (mathematics,physics, chemistry and biology) and 40 hoursof Italian language studies. The course in TelAviv also includes general culture, art andarchitecture. The university level courses,given by native speakers with doctorates intheir fields of research, are intended forstudents who have already completed aminimum of 360 hours of Italian languagestudies. This year’s programs started on May11 in Tel Aviv and on May 18 in Haifa andrun for a total of 10 weeks. <>

Antique synagogue ark curtainThe oldest synagogueark curtain (parokhet) inthe world, from the year1572, is on display at theMuseum. The parokhetwas donated to theMuseum by the Tedeschi family about ten yearsago, in conditions of almost total disintegration.After extensive restoration work, researchrevealed embroidered Hebrew inscriptions onthe parokhet, including its date of dedication,Shavuoth 5332, which translates to the year 1572!No other parokhet has ever been found with anolder verifiable date of manufacture.

Concert: O “Solo” MioJuly 4, at 11amAn intimate concert in intimate surroundings:three virtuosi evoke the purest sounds of theirinstruments in the enchanting frescoed room ofthe Museum’s baroque Conegliano Venetosynagogue. The concert features works by Berio,Messiaen, Penderecki, Bach and Ligeti.Info: Christina.beck@gmx.at

Italian Experience on Hillel StreetThursdays, from July 17Activities for parents and children includingguided visit, preparation of REAL Italian pizzaand play in the Museum and on the redeveloped

Hillel St. The activity lasts about two hours,tickets NIS 25.

Italian Art and Pasta FestivalAugust 12-14

Traditional ItalianArt and PastaFestival, held inthe picturesquemuseum piazzaon 27 Hillel Sreet,f r o m 6 p m t o11pm! Come and

enjoy a festival of art, music, theatre and cuisinefor the whole family! Entrance free. <>

27, Hillel st., Jerusalem Tel: 02-6241610 Fax: 02-6253480 www.jija.org jija@netvision.net.il

Summer at the Museum of Italian Jewish Art June - July 2008

Tel.03-5161361

ItalianCulturalInstitute

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NOTIZIE ITALIANE May 2008

Events in Israel

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Preparing students forItalian universities

Courtyard at the University of Pavia

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NOTIZIE ITALIANE May 2008

Italian Trade Fair Calendar June – July, 2008

Events in Italy

IL SENSO DEL LUSSO5 - 8 June, ParmaLuxury goodswww.fiereparma.it

FIERA D'ESTATE7 - 15 June, TriesteHandicrafts and Tourismwww.fiera.trieste.it

CAMPIONARIA D'OLTREMARE13 - 22 June, Naples

International trade fairwww.mostradoltremare.it

MILANOCHECKUP11 -14 June, MilanMedical Science Expowww.fieramilanotech.it

EXPO RIVA SHUH14 - 17 June, Riva del GardaFootwear and componentswww.exporivaschuh.it

PITTI IMMAGINE UOMO18 - 21 June, FlorenceMenswearwww.pittimmagine.com

MILANO MODA UOMO22 - 27, June, MilanMenswearwww.cameramoda.it

SPOSAITALIA COLLEZIONI27 - 30 June, Milan

Bridal and ceremonial clotheswww.sposaitalia.com

PITTI IMMAGINE BIMBO27 - 29 June, FlorenceChildren's wearwww.pittimmagine.com

PITTI IMMAGINE FILATI2 - 4 July, FlorenceYarns, fibres and knitted fabricswww.pittimmagine.com

Renoir Tradition and InnovationUntil June 29, Rome

Exhibition ofapproximately130 works byt h e g r e a tImpressionistartist Pierre-Auguste Renoir,o f pa in t ings

inspired by a trip he took to Italy in 1881/82,an experience that redefined the artists’ style.www.roma-o-matic.com

Ravenna FestivalJune 13 - July 19, RavennaThe 19th edition ofthe Fes t iva l i scentered on womenfigures in myth andart. The feminine theme of the Festival will givenew life to a series of exceptional women, eitherfamous or less renowned: from Rosvita, a"playwriting" nun of year 1000, to AnitaGaribaldi, and Juliette Greco. The program alsoincludes jazz, cinema, painting and musicals.www.ravennafestival.it

Florence Opera FestivalJune 13 – August 3, FlorenceThe Opera Festival’s rich calendar includes bothclassic and modern operas performed at fourprestigious and famous locations in Tuscany.This year the melodrama also embracesmusicals, with the original production of ‘Cats’.www.festivalopera.it

Festival of the Two WorldsJune 27 – July 13, SpoletoThe festival opens with therarely performed opera"Padmavati" by AlbertRoussel. Included in theprogram are several Frenchplays, a ‘Threepenny Opera’directed by Robert Wilson,world music ensembles, aperformance by the Orchestraof the 18th Century conducted by Frans

Bruggen, chamber music concerts dedicated toMessiaen and Ravel, and an evening of maledance including Savion Glover and others. Thefestival closes with a concert by the LondonSymphony Orchestra, conducted by DanielHarding.www.festivaldispoleto.it

Puccini CelebrationsUntil December, LuccaAn international event of resonance to celebrate150 years since the birth of one of the bestknown composers in the world. A calendar richin events, concerts, conferences, and shows thatruns until the end of the year.www.puccini2008.it

Francis BaconEnds June 29, Milan

Palazzo Realeaccommodatessixty works ofone of the mostwell known ofcontemporaryEnglish artists, ina full overview ofhis artistic career.The masterpiecesof Bacon, rich oft e n s i o n ,

witnesses of an inner drama of the sense of life,are intense and exciting, allusive and symbolicand powerfully express the individual feelingsand discomforts of modern man.www.francisbacon.it

Galileo’s TelescopeEnds December, FlorenceExhibition on Galileo’st e l e s c o p e a n d t h eobservations he made withit. The displays will consistof rare and preciousinstruments (among themthe only two existingtelescopes by Galileo),manuscripts and ancientbooks. Interactive exhibits

and multimedia will facilitate comprehensionof optical and astronomical principles.www.imss.fi.it

Pinocchio ParkOpen all year, CollodiCollodi Park,e n t i r e l ydedicated tot h e l i t t l ew o o d e np u p p e t ,includes aworkshop as well as shows, exhibits andentertainment. Picnic areas are availablethroughout the park, which centers around theItalian Pinocchio imagery and not the Disneyversion of the character. A fun and pleasant wayto spend a few hours in the peaceful Tuscancountryside.www.pinocchio.it

Chianti Sculpture ParkOpen all Year, Pievasciata

Parco Sculture del Chiantiis the first Italian parksituated in a natural woodt o t a l l y d e v o t e d t ointernational contemporarysculpture. From April toOctober always open from10 a.m. to sunset exceptMondays.

www.chiantisculpturepark.it

Teatro alla Scala, MilanJune 20083, 5, 7, 9, 12, 17, 20, 23, 25, 27Verdi, La Traviata,Conductor: Carlo Montanaro

16, 19, 21, 21, 24, 26, 28, 30Prokof'ev, The Gambler,Conductor: Daniel Barenboim

July 20087, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, 22, 23Puccini, La Bohème,Conductor: Gustavo Dudamelwww.teatroallascala.org <>