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 Newsletter Book Presentation: Il mondo in italiano A Leonardo da Vinci: A Chinese Scholar Lost in D Dante Alighieri Society in Hong Kong Renaissance by Angelo Paratico

Date: Thu, 30 Jul 2015 V O L . 2 6 JULY|AUGUST 2015 Time: 19:00 – 20:30 Place: Dante Alighieri Society in Hong Kong Fee: $150 per person  (Guests receive a free signed copy included in the price) T H I S I S A Registration: www.ladante.cc/event_registration.html M O N T H L Y NEWSLETTER FROM DANTE A L I G H I E R I Italian and Latin courses SOCIETY IN New Italian courses and Latin courses are open for enrollment. H O N G K O N G

For details, please go to www.ladante.cc/language.html. D A N T E ALIGH I E R I An evening with Giovanni Allevi Corso intensivo di mandarino per italiani SOCIETY IS AN ITALIAN By Giulia Joynt familiar, do re mi fa so la ti do - orable and truly inspiring is Gio- Period: Every Thu, from 6 Aug to 8 Oct 2015 C U L T U R A L further explaining to us how the vanni's unique insight into and Time: 19:00 – 21:00 SOCIETY THAT The evening of July 2nd we were Place: Dante Alighieri Society in Hong Kong pentatonic Chinese musical scale for those who are a little different P R O M O T E S lucky enough to host the interna- Fee: $1,920 THE ITALIAN excludes the 'semi-tones' - fa and to everyone else. This is how he tionally renowned musician and Registration: please email to [email protected] L A N G U A G E ti - resulting in a different basic characterises himself and many STUDIES AND , Giovanni Allevi. We model for all musical composi- of his fans. He explained his be- In 8 lessons, you can complete the whole Beginner I course and then go C U L T U R E organized an exciting Q&A ses- tion. While unable to identify his lief that it takes someone who is a directly to the Beginner II course!! THROUGHOUT sion between Giovanni and our favourite between the broad two little divergent, a little different T H E W O R L D students, and he (shyly at first!) styles, Giovanni has long been from the crowd, to advance be- PLIDA exam B1, B2 but always happily obliged us and remains to be uniquely in- yond it. Taking a page from the with our many questions. The spired by Asia and Asian culture, book of this uniquely inspiring Date: Mon, 24 Aug 2015 discussion topics ranged from the sharing a special bond with Ja- man, it seems worthwhile to nur- Time: to be confirmed basic facts of his life, to his music Place: Dante Alighieri Society in Hong Kong pan. This connection and appreci- ture, rather than intuitively sup- and unique composing style, to For further information, please go to www.ladante.cc/plida_news.html. ation on Giovanni's part will press those things that make us a the musical significance of Asia surely allow him to be a lasting little different from everybody and Asian culture in his own influence in modern Asian cul- else, as these are the very differ- Doposcuola per bambini italiani work and more generally in mu- ture. ences that allow us to be those (età 9-13 anni) sic. innovative and pioneering mem- Designed for children with intermediate Italian, as a Giovanni's unique personality bers of society - like Giovanni One memorable highlight shone through not only in our Allevi. supplement to school learning amongst many that evening con- discussion - which ended up last- Period: Every Tue, from 18 Aug to 15 Dec 2015 sisted of an especially interesting ing almost an hour longer than We were especially lucky to have Time: 16:30 – 18:00 question posed by one of our stu- expected! - but also after as mem- authentic Italian gelato that even- Place: Dante Alighieri Society in Hong Kong dents, "quale sono le differenze Fee: $4,050 bers of the audience got to en- ing thanks to i-Scream Gelato, For further information, please go to www.ladante.cc/bambini.html tra la musica cinese e la musica gage with him on a more person- which was promptly demolished occidentale, e quale preferisci?", al, conversational level as well. by all those attending. The sup- asking Giovanni to explain the Being also a published author, port of the Italian Cultural Insti- For further information and registration, please go to our website differences between Asian and Giovanni shared with us his expe- tute in Hong Kong is also al- Western music, and identify his www.ladante.cc or call us at 2832 9799. rience with the various trials and ways greatly appreciated, as they favourite. He simply yet expertly tribulations that every artist must made the evening possible and

explained the concept of a West- go through before - and if - they undoubtedly a success! 

ern musical scale - the

Dante Alighieri Society in Hong Kong  achieve success. Especially mem-

Address: 1/F Honest Building, 9 - 11 Leighton Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong TEL: +852 2832 9799 FAX: +852 2831 9082 EMAIL: [email protected] WEBSITE: www.ladante.cc Italian Summer Festivals L’estate nel Nord Italia

o passato tre settimane stu- attraversando tutta la città. Il centro di By Giulia Joynt in 1489 renounced her throne in favour it commemorates Constantine's victory pefacenti in Italia questa Bologna è piccolo, con la forma di un ased on actual, exciting of Venice. The event involves a parade over Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge estate. La prima settimana esagono. Si può girarlo tutto in un’ora historical events, Italian of boats decorated in 16th-century in 312, where Constantine is reported sono stata in vacanza alla circa. E’ stata un’esperienza attraver- Hspiaggia, San Michele vicino il Conero, sare i vicoli, i vie, le piazze e strade e summers offer a whole host style and powered by crews in period to have seen a flaming cross inscribed nelle . perdersi. Scoprivo sempre qualcosa di of festivals. Some are costume. with the words "in this sign thou shalt Bunique to villages, towns, or regions, nuovo. conquer". Every year Constantine's while others are celebrated nation-wide Music festivals charge is recreated with a monumental in fancy dress, with special food and horse race held on the grounds of the fun activities. Festivals offer the op- Arena di festival - Verona, Santuario Di San Costantino. portunity to witness not only people Veneto - July-August dressed in outlandish period costumes, Calcio Florentino - Florence, Toscana but also contests between neighbour- The Verona Arena Festival is an annu- hoods or towns, flag throwers, carnival - third week of June Sono state tre settimane memorabili. al celebration of (predominantly) opera Ho conosciuto nuove amiche, ho fatto masks, historic regattas and fireworks. that takes place throughout summer Calcio fiorentino, or calcio storico grandi esperienze e ho migliorato il mio italiano!!  Historic festivals months. Taking place since 1936, it is (meaning historic football) is an early

a much revered cultural event that has form of football originating in the 16th La Quintana - , Marche - Caryn Lee, from our Beginner V course.. made the names and careers of a num- century. Every year matches between All photos included are courtesy of Caryn the first Sunday in August ber of singers, including Maria Callas. four teams representing each contrada Lee. The performances take The procession and joust that make up are played in Piazza Santa Croce. Poi sono stata a Bologna per le ultime Ho fatto un corso di italiano per due this festival are revived traditions, Santa Croce (Blues), Santa Maria Novella (Reds), Santo Spirito due settimane. Bologna è il capoluogo settimane mentre ero a Bologna. Le based on medieval documents and art- dell’Emilia Romagna conosciuta per la lezioni erano dalle nove all’una del (Whites) and San Giovanni work. The festival begins with a medi- sua architettura, la cultura e la cucina. pomeriggio. C’erano tra i quattro e eval-themed parade (Greens) all battle it out to win Qui c'è la più antica università del mon- i sei studenti tutti i giorni. Alle un- through the town's the prizes. These include not only do, fondata nel 1088. dici, tutti andavamo al bar vicino per beautifully preserved the Palio, but also a Chianina cow il caffè. Sedevamo fuori al sole e Le prime cose che ho notato erano gli parlavamo delle cose divertenti che centre, it includes for the team winner! The final edifici bassi e i tetti rossi. Gli edifici avevamo fatto il giorno prima. some 1,500 residents occurs each year on June 24, the day of San Giovanni, Patron Saint sono in colori pastello dal giallo all’a- Quindi tornavamo a finire la lezione. of the town, all wear- rancione, e creano un bellissimo qua- Il pomeriggio era pieno di attività, of Florence. ing impressive 15th dro. come la visita alle due torri – un century costumes, torre famosa per la bella vista della Bizarre festivals marching to the beat città, solo dopo aver salito 498 gra- of a drum. After the dini!! Abbiamo visitato anche la Game of the bridge - Pisa, Basilica Santuario di San Stefano parade, spectators Toscana - the last Sunday of con le sette chiese. crowd into grand- June stands around the jousting field to Every year, the city of Pisa watch the exciting celebrates a festival known event unfold. Resi- as The Game of the Bridge, dents of the town cheer for one of six an ancient tradition dating place in the champions, each representing a specif- back to 1568, when oppos- Verona Are- ic sestiere (neighborhood) in the town. ing factions from different parts na, an ancient Roman amphitheatre Scores are posted and loud cheers of the city fought for ownership of a which can seat up to 30,000 spectators. erupt from fans of each sestiere. bridge over the Arno river. On this Performances traditionally begin at day, before the 'battle', a parade of peo- dusk and spectators on the stone seats Historic Regatta - Venice, Veneto ple dressed up in wonderful 18th- of the arena bring small candles ('i century costumes representing both the Every year, on the first Sunday of Sep- mocoletti') which are lit as darkness Con gli studenti ci incontravamo northern - known as Tramontana - and tember, Venetians row like they are in falls and the performances begin. Molti sapranno che Bologna è famosa per l’aperitivo la sera e cenavamo southern - Mezzogiorno - sides of the 1489. If you are travelling in Venice per la sua cucina. Per esempio, le ta- insieme, seguito dal Jazz in Via Arno River, march along the banks of gliatelle al ragù, La mortadella, il pro- Mascarella. La via è chiusa in during this period, you will have the Sporting festivals the river. The following 'battle' consist sciutto, la piadina, i tortellini in brodo e estate e molti gruppi jazz si esibi- chance to see spectacular rowing races L'ardia di San Costantino - Sedilo, of pushing a wooden trolley into the i gelati sono anche parte fondamentale vano dal vivo. Siamo andati al on the Grand Canal commemorating Sardengna - 5-7 July opposing team’s territory, and the win- della cucina Bolognese. Ecco perché’ cinema sotto le stelle con Isabella the welcome given to Caterina Cor- ha il soprannome di “La Dotta, La Rossellini che ha presentato il ning faction claims the ownership of naro, wife of the King of Cyprus, who One of the biggest festivals in Sardinia, Grassa, La Rossa”. Trovavo un nuovo film “Casablanca”. the bridge.  posto per mangiare tutti i giorni, anche