Catch The Finale of Unexpected Italy With Superb Swiss-Italian Pianist Francesco Piemontesi

Unexpected Italy Finale!
Music Director Gianandrea Noseda continues the Kennedy Center's spring celebration of his home country! In his NSO debut, superb Swiss-Italian pianist Francesco Piemontesi lends his depth, intensity, and sincerity to Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Rachmaninoff's well-loved homage to extraordinary Italian violinist Niccolò Paganini. The program also features Respighi's charming "Ancient Airs and Dances" and Casella's Symphony No. 2—one of Noseda's favorite symphonies of all time. Presented in collaboration with the Embassy of Italy and the Italian Institute of Culture.  Thursday, May 30, 2019 - Saturday, June 1, 2019.  Concert Hall. Kennedy Center, 2700 F Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20566.   More information and tickets here. Use code: CIAODC for 15% off!

National Symphony Orchestra

Gianandrea Noseda, Conductor
Francesco Piemontesi, Piano
Respighi: Ancient Airs and Dances – Suite No. 2
Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
Casella: Symphony No. 2
To watch live stream.  The concert will begin at 7 pm EST and will feature the following program.

CiaoDC Chats With The Visionary Behind The Italian Place!

CiaoDC Chats with the visionary and owner of The Italian Place, Adriana Penachio-Sifakis on the recipes behind the Italian storefront; her vision to bring the flavors of Boston's North End to DC and the celebrities that frequent her store.  Plus, learn about upcoming special events, future locations, gifts and the perfect bites for Father's Day!  Listen to interview here.  

The Italian Place, Bringing a Taste of Italy to Old Town, 6 Wythe Street, Alexandria, VA  22314. www.theitalianplaceofoldtown.com

"Growing up...my Grandma (Nonni) would spoil me and cook for me everyday and teach me how to make pizza and Italian subs...a lot of these recipes (at The Italian Place) come from my grandma"...The two most popular subs are the "Eva" Italian Sub and the "Nonni" Meatball Sub named after my grandma...If you grew up Italian or in the North East, you'll find yourself at home at The Italian Place."  

-Adriana, Owner, The Italian Place 

CiaoDC Offers Promotional Tickets to "Unexpected Italy" at The Kennedy Center this May!

Unexpected Italy A Celebration of Italian culture at the Kennedy Center Enjoy 15% off the following concerts with promo code CIAODC Washington National Opera Performances Tosca May 12, 14, 20 & 22 Washington National Opera Puccini:  Tosca Speranza Scappucci, conductor WNO presents one of the most famous of all Italian operas, Giacomo Puccini's  Tosca . This story of love and politics set in 19th-century Rome will feature Keri Alkema and Latonia Moore in the title role of Tosca, Riccardo Massi and Robert Watson as Cavaradossi, and Alan Held as the villain Scarpia.     Colors (Family Theatre) May 18 & 19 Ages 5+ National Symphony Orchestra Gianandrea Noseda, conductor Enter a world where colors become a place of relationships and emotions. Italy’s Compagnia TPO and Teatro Metastasio explore children’s perceptive, emotional, and creative relationships to colors with a physical dance piece. Dancers maneuver a set brought to life with fabric, projections, and sensors for exciting movements and sounds. Performers will interact with audience members—and some may even have the chance to get up on the stage and join in the colorful landscape! 5+. The show will follow with an optional 25 minute interactive experience in which audience members can come on stage and dance with the responsive projections. Rossini & Liszt May 16 & 17 Maestro Noseda and the NSO will be joined by a quartet of celebrated singers in Gioachino Rossini's dramatic  Stabat Mater . This program also features Franz Liszt's  Dante Symphony , based on Dante Alighieri's journey through Hell and Purgatory, as depicted in  The Divine Comedy .  Mario Biondi May 21 Born in Catania, Italy, singer and composer Biondi has presented memorable collaborations with Chaka Kahn and Michael Bolton. His most-recent album, Brasil , was released in 2018.  Simona Molinari May 26   Born in Naples, Italian singer/songwriter Simona Molinari started singing as a child, showing an early fondness for jazz and graduating from the Conservatory of L'Aquila. Her hits include  In Search of You  and  Egocentrica.   Doctor 3 May 28   An Italian jazz trio formed by Danilo Rea on piano, Enzo Pietropaoli on double bass, and Fabrizio Sferra on drums, Doctor 3 has recorded several hits since 1997. National Symphony Orchestra Gianandrea Noseda, conductor Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini May 30 & June 1 This program showcases Respighi's  Ancient Airs and Dances – Suite No.2 , Casella's Symphony No. 2 , and Rachmaninoff's best-known work,  Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini , featuring pianist Francesco Piemontesi.

CIAODC - The Best Source for Everything Italian in the DMV! https://ciaodc.blogspot.com/

Taste of Italy in Old Town, Sunday, May 19, 3-5 at The Italian Place!  Savor the flavors of bell'Italia in historic Old Town, Alexandria this Spring! Enjoy an Italian tasting tour at The Italian Place for a guided wine tasting, Italian delicacies and learn to speak Italian! $15 includes wine tasting, antipasti and 45 minute Italian lesson. Limited space available. Register here. 621 WYTHE STREET, ALEXANDRIA, VA, 22314

Get an Inside Look at the Italian Embassy (Free Event)!

Next Saturday, May 11th, the Embassy of Italy will participate in the annual EU Embassies' Open House in Washington.  Visitors will be able to look inside the embassies and experience the cultures of the countries they represent.

The Italian Embassy will feature Paolo Angeli, a Sardinian musician known for his innovative pieces and unique, hybrid guitar playing.  Visitors are welcome to taste the food, learn more about Italian design, art, fashion, and culture, and listen to Angeli's memorable concert. 

May 11th, 2019

10am-4pm

Embassy of Italy 

3000 Whitehaven Street NW 

Washingon, DC

Commedia dell'Arte Celebrates 10 years with a Murder Mystery!

CIAODC SPECIAL OFFER: Buy 1 Regular Ticket Get One 50% off with code STUDIOBOGO50

Listen to CiaODC's Chat, Getting Behind the Mask of Faction of Fools' 10 year Anniversary Celebrating The Great Commedia Hotel Murder Mystery.

SPECIAL EVENT: "Coffee and Conversation" on Saturday, May 11th at 1pm at Gallaudet University's Elstad Annex. Free entrance with ticket to the following 2pm matinee of The Great Commedia Hotel Murder Mystery! Italian biscotti and coffee generously donated by the Signing Starbucks on H Street will be provided.  Enhance your viewing experience!  Get caffeinated, learn all about the style and characters of Commedia dell'Arte, AND get a sneak peak into the creation of The Great Commedia Hotel Murder Mystery from Producing Artistic Director and Murder Mystery Playwright Paul Reisman. 

About The Great Commedia Hotel Mystery: Faction of Fools Theatre Company, DC’s Commedia dell’Arte theatre company, brings the stunning conclusion their 10th Anniversary Season with this world-premiere production! Mustachioed detectives, zanni bellhops, femme fatales, and more make this one for the books. In the grand tradition of Agatha Christie, Clue, and Sherlock Holmes, this love letter to classic mysteries is not to be missed.  Join the Fools for laughter, murder, and mayhem as only the Fools can provide. You'll be guessing “whodunnit” until the very end! 

As DC's Commedia dell'Arte theatre company, Faction of Fools Theatre Company’s mission is to entertain, educate and elucidate through the practice and performance of Commedia dell’Arte by bringing productions to the stage infused with Commedia's best attributes: physical discipline, spontaneous imagination, collaborative energy, and joyous wonder. The Fools are the Helen Hayes Awards recipients of the 2012 John Aniello Award for Outstanding Emerging Theatre Company. Faction of Fools' Producing Artistic Director Paul Reisman serves as playwright and director for The Great Commedia Hotel Murder Mystery. A founding member, Reisman has directed and produced many recent favorites including Henry V, The Cherry Orchard, The Merchant of Venice, and Foolish Fairytales, which he also wrote. He directed and adapted Pinocchio! (nominated for a Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Production, Theatre for Young Audiences), co-adapted Faction’s acclaimed A Commedia Romeo & Juliet, and has directed and appeared onstage in many other Faction of Fools productions since 2011. 

The Great Commedia Hotel Murder Mystery features a multi-talented cast filled with Faction veterans as well as new, exciting players. The merry band of hotel guests, employees, and suspects are portrayed by Tori Boutin (Rorschach Theatre, We Happy Few), Francesca Chilcote (Faction’s The Cherry Orchard; Adventure Theatre, Nu Sass), Colin Connor (Constellation, Chesapeake Shakespeare Company), Darius Johnson (Faction's Bravo, Zan Angelo!: The Workshop), Ben Lauer (Faction’s Henry V & Merchant of Venice; Constellation, Ally Theatre Company), Kelsey Painter (Adventure Theatre, Chesapeake Shakespeare Company), Graham Pilato (Faction’s The House with Two Doors; Constellation, The Welders), Kathryn Zoerb (Faction’s The Cherry Orchard & Our Town; Folger Theatre, WSC Avant Bard), and Gallaudet student intern, Chukwudi Kalu. The world of the Hotel MacGuffin is brought to vibrant life by lighting designer Chris Curtis (Faction’s Henry V, The Merchant of Venice; Taffety Punk), costume designer Kitt Crescenzo (Faction’s The Cherry Orchard; Washington National Opera), set designer Bridgid K. Burge (Solas Nua, Silver Spring Stage), original music composition by Jesse Terrill (Faction’s Henry V, The Cherry Orchard; Arena Stage, Constellation) and masks by Aaron Cromie & Tara Cariaso (Faction's Titus Andronicus, The Lady Becomes Him, Hamlecchino, A Commedia Romeo and Juliet). For more information.