by Dianne Hales | May 18, 2021 | Books, books on Italy, culture, Italian, Italian opera, Italy, Language, learning Italian, Music, Travel, Web/Tech, Weblogs
La Scala recently re-opened after months of silence imposed by Covid-19 restrictions. The news made my heart sing—and brought back the memory of my first night at this iconic concert hall. Years ago, when my research for LA BELLA LINGUA led me to Milan, I eagerly...
by DHales | Oct 20, 2015 | Books, culture, Florence, history, Italy, Language, Music, Travel, Web/Tech, Weblogs
L'italiano della musica, la musica dell'italiano The Italian of Music, the Music of Italian Music, the theme of this year’s Settimana della Lingua Italiana (Italian language week), has echoed through Italy since the time of the Etruscans, whose flautists lured...
by DHales | Oct 28, 2013 | culture, Italy, Language, Music, Sayings and expressions, Travel, Web/Tech, Weblogs
la liricaopera La lirica (from l’opera lirica, or work in lyrics) is the most Italian of inventions, a splendid confection of music, words, drama, costumes, sets, special effects, and complete suspension of belief that could not have emerged in any other...
by DHales | Apr 4, 2013 | culture, history, Italy, Language, Music, Sayings and expressions, Travel, Web/Tech, Weblogs
Giuseppe Verdi(1813-1901) As part of the Year of Italian Culture (l'anno della cultura italiana), Italy is celebrating the 200th birthday of Giuseppe Verdi–fondly nicknamed “Peppino”–the Michelangelo of Italian opera. In more than...