Matteo Maria Boiardo
Opere di Italiani
Il Coinciso
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La Rondine is published monthly by The Italian Club of St. Louis
President
Franco Giannotti
Internet Edition
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MARCH MEETING
Saving The Treasures Of Venice |
| The city of Venice has a long and distinguished tradition as a major center for art and artists; however, due to its climate and canals, many Venetian works of art have been exposed to severe conditions resulting in significant deterioration. Thankfully, there exists Save Venice, Inc., a New York based organization dedicated to raising funds to save as many of Venice's highly prized treasures as possible. Our speaker will be Honorary Italian Club member, Dr. Judith Mann, Co-Chair of the Art Museum's highly successful 1997 program, Italian Celebration, who will describe the artistic traditions and treasures of Venice with particular emphasis on how Save Venice, Inc. has helped restore and preserve the city's masterpieces. She will discuss Byzantine mosaics, major Venetian Renaissance artists, some of the most important of Venice's art works, and finally show how Save Venice, Inc. through hard work, dedication, and fundraising has been able to restore many of them. Judy has a Ph.D. in 17th. Century Italian Art, has taught art history at Washington University, UMSL, and Old Dominion University and has written extensively on Medieval Art and on 16th and 17th Century Italian Art. She is Curator of early European Art and Director of Programming at the Saint Louis Art Museum |
RECAP OF FEBRUARY MEETING
Partigiani
| The February program presented a topic with which many contemporary
Italian-Americans are not familiar - the role of the partigiani,
the resistance fighters who harassed German troops in the mountains of
northern Italy in the last years of World War II. The program was in a
format different from what is usually presented at our meetings. Vice President
Roger Gennari, a clinical psychologist, acted as moderator and discussion
leader with Valerio Bianco and Harry Burger, who, as teenagers,
served as partigiani in Italy. Valerio and Harry answered questions
and shared insights as to their experiences in guerrilla operations against
German and Fascist Army units. These two men, although from very different
backgrounds, shared a similar experience - their coming of age while fighting
for survival under extremely dangerous and rigorous conditions.
Valerio Bianco, born in Torino, Italy, joined the partisans at age 14 and served in the area of Asti from 1944 to 1945. Obviously deeply moved at recounting his experiences, Cav. Bianco described partisan operations to blow up bridges to disrupt German Army movements, the receipt of supplies from Allies by airdrop and submarine, and how the partisans eventually built their own airstrip to bring in supplies and evacuate the wounded. He acknowledged how grateful the partisans were to the local farmers who helped them at great risk to their own lives and gave particular recognition to the work of the Bishop of Asti, who assisted the partisans, again at great personal risk. Harry Burger was born in Vienna to a prosperous, Jewish family. In 1938, Germany annexed Austria and the Burger family fled to Nice, in southern France; however, with the German invasion of Poland in 1939 and the subsequent conquest of France in 1940, the family's problems began anew. The Germans left the administration of the south of France to the Italian Army, but pressured unsuccessfully the Italians to persecute the Jews living there; however, with the surrender of Italy in 1943, conditions abruptly changed and German forces took control in the south of France. Jews then came under intense persecution. Burger's father was arrested and ultimately sent to Auschwitz. A number of Jews, Burger and his mother among them, fled France and settled in Valleri, Italy, where they were befriended by the local Italian citizens, but the German military was still in control and many Jews were arrested. While attempting his escape, Burger met a partisan unit and asked if he could join. He was handed a rifle, given 15 minutes of basic training, and became un partigiano, assuming the identity of Lt. Enrico Biancastella. He was 19 years old. Burger wrote Biancastella: A Jewish Partisan in World War II, a book recounting his experiences, and recently was invited to Cuneo, Italy, for a reunion of partigiani and a celebration of the history of the area. As the presentation ended, member Vito Tamboli expressed everyone's feelings by thanking Cav. Bianco and Mr. Burger for their service. The program closed with a standing ovation by the entire audience. |
POPE PIUS XII, THE ITALIANS AND THE HOLOCAUST
| Sister Margherita Marchione, Ph.D., a Religious Teacher Fillippini, will present the Kenkel Lecture at the annual Saint Joseph Dinner of the Catholic Union of Missouri. Sister Marchione, the author of Yours Is a Precious Witness: Memoirs of Jews and Catholics in Wartime Italy, is Professor Emeritus of Italian Language and Literature at Farleigh Dickinson University, Madison, New Jersey, and a well-known speaker and researcher on the Holocaust. As this is an important topic by a well-known speaker, members are urged to attend. The dinner will be at the Salad Bowl Restaurant, 3949 Lindell Blvd. on March 20th. Cash bar opens at 6:30 pm and dinner at 7:00 pm. Reservations are $20.00 per person and are due by March 18th. Make checks payable to Central Bureau, CCUA and mail to 3835 Westminster Place, St. Louis, MO 63108. |
NEW SOUND SYSTEM IMPROVES PROGRAMS
| The club works hard to improve continuously the overall quality of our programs and presentations. Through a generous contribution by the Southwest Bank, made possible through member Ed Berra, SWB President, a new and sophisticated sound system was introduced at our February meeting. This system greatly improves the ability to hear presentations. In addition, it enables us to have musically-based programs on opera, Italian composers, and similar aspects of Italian culture, an area not properly covered in the past because the old sound system was inadequate. In addition, we soon hope to have background music during meals. The equipment is completely portable and can be moved to different locations. The project was handled by member James Tognoni and vice-president Roger Gennari. |
| One of our members, Marianne Peri-Sack, is compiling a cookbook of authentic Italian recipes and would greatly appreciate submission of recipes and related information by May 31, 1999, if possible. In addition to the recipes, the book will contain the recipe’s background, information on certain Italian feast days, interesting anecdotes, and various historical items pertaining to Italian culture. All profits form the sale of the book will go St. Ambrose Church on the Hill. Please contact Marianne Peri-Sack ( 837-8830) or Tony Lombardo (638-3446) to submit recipes or for additional information. |
L'angolo del presidente
by Gene Mariani
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Because some people did not call in advance to make reservations, members and guests were subjected to delays, confusion, and serious inconveniences at the February meeting. A total of 13 people came to the meeting without bothering to call in advance. Fortunately we were able to get everyone seated, but it created unnecessary problems for the Club and for Baldo. The situation was particularly serious because the meeting fell on Ash Wednesday, a day on which Roman Catholics are subject to strict dietary restrictions. Because so many people did not call, the restaurant did not have enough fish for everyone. This was unfair both to the individuals who did call as well as to Baldo, who does his best to cooperate with us. We have a very simple system for making reservations. CALL MARIE WEHRLE AT 644-1645 BY THE TUESDAY EVENING BEFORE THE MEETING. IF MARIE OR GEORGE ARE NOT AT HOME, LEAVE A MESSAGE ON THEIR RECORDER. (DO NOT CALL BALDO TO MAKE RESERVATIONS) |
| ITALIAN CLUB DUES MAY BE TAX DEDUCTIBLE
Just as a reminder. Since the Italian Club holds 501C3 status as a non-for-profit corporation, annual dues and contributions made to the Club may be tax-deductible. We don’t want to give tax advice - so we are being cautious, but they probably are. Check with your tax advisor to be certain. Obviously, this does not apply to monthly charges for the dinners. |
| ITALIAN HERITAGE AWARD
In June, the Club presents its Italian Heritage Award to an individual who has distinguished himself or herself through community service. Members who would like to nominate someone should send their nomination, in writing, to Gene Mariani or to Club Secretary Marie Cuccia-Brand, including a brief explanation giving the reasons why you think the person should receive the award. |
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I capolavori della poesia italiana 7. Matteo Maria Boiardo (Scandiano, Reggio Emilia 1441 - Reggio Emilia 1494) è l’autore del famoso poema in ottave Orlando Innamorato, interrotto al IX canto. Tra il 1472 e il 1476, il Boiadro riorganizzò nell’opera Amorum libri tres il vasto materiale poetico (centottanta componimenti) ispirato dall’amore per una giovane di Reggio, Antonia Caprara. Nella successione delle liriche si coglie il percorso e l’evoluzione del suo amore. Già vidi uscir di l’onde1 una matina il sol, E vidi la rogiada matutina E vidi a la stagion prima e novella4 E vidi una legiadra donna e bella 1 dalle onde. 2 circondato. 3 che chiunque avesse guardato da lontano, avrebbe pensato. 4 (La primavera). 5 suole. |
OPERE DI ITALIANI AL MUSEO DI ST. LOUIS
| Allievo di Bernardo Strozzi, Giovanni Andrea de’ Ferrari (Genova 1598
- 1669) fu un altro pittore genovese di singolare maestria. Egli dipinse
quasi esclusivamente quadri di soggetto religioso e pare che eccellesse
soprattutto nella rappresentazione di scene bibliche, a cui sa dare un
tocco umano per mezzo di una narrazione esauriente e limpida.
La Bibbia racconta che un giorno tre uomini andarono a visitare Abramo ed egli diede loro una generosa ospitalità di cibo e bevande. Prima di andarsene, gli ospiti gli dissero che sarebbero tornati l’anno successivo, quando Sara, la moglie già anziana di Abramo, avrebbe partorito il figlio Isacco. De’ Ferrari dipinge la storia nella versione adottata dalla tradizione cristiana (in cui i tre ospiti sono trasformati in tre angeli) e dà alla scena importanti e realistici dettagli. Due angeli sono seduti a tavola e parlano tra di loro, mentre il terzo muove il braccio verso Sara, che se ne sta dietro la porta con aria umile e attenta. Tutti stanno a guardare con curiosità e interesse gli alati ospiti, persino un cagnolino che sembra un po’ confuso dalla loro presenza. In primo pianoAbramo si affretta a servire agli ospiti un piatto di agnello appetitoso. Sotto il braccio proteso dell’angelo, si vedono una donna e un bambino, che potrebbero essere Agar e Ismaele, la schiava e il figlio che Abramo aveva avuto da lei dietro suggerimento della moglie Sara, che era sterile. Ma l’immagine della donna e del bambino funge anche da simbolo della prossima maternità di Sara. Pittore di temperamento esuberante e spirito satirico, Salvator Rosa (Arenella, Napoli, 1615 - Roma 1673) |
Il linguaggio dell'Italia di fine secolo
| L’enciclopedia Treccani ha accettato ufficialmente il linguaggio comune
con la creazione di un apposito vocabolario, il Coinciso,
che nasce con l’intenzione di metabolizzare nella lingua italiana i più
svariati termini d’uso comune, finora assenti dall’indice dei tradizionali
vocabolari presenti nelle nostre case.
Era da tempo che si sentiva la necessità di aggiornare il lessico della lingua italiana con parole nuove di matrice estera, spesso legate al mondo della comunicazione e dell’informatica, entrate a far parte del linguaggio comune dei media e della carta stampata. Per chi ne cercasse il significato o le loro origini, era impresa difficilissima trovare delle risposte ai propri quesiti. Ma da oggi in poi potremo sfogliare le pagine dell’enciclopedia più famosa d’Italia e trovare il significato dei termini più strani e disparati, ormai quotidianamente presenti su giornali e riviste. Da cubista a zapping, da gufare a spinellare; questi sono solo alcuni dei termini che la nuova opera include nel suo indice. Il Coinciso va ad arricchire la nuova serie dedicata alla lingua italiana, che già comprendeva cinque volumi e un cd-rom. L’opera è stata redatta dal linguista Raffaele Simone ed è sicuramente tra le più aperte alla lingua colloquiale. Nelle sue 2000 pagine comprende 90 mila voci principali, 500 mila accezioni e 300 disegni originali. Per la sua realizzazione si è reso necessario attingere dallo straordinario materiale lessicale della lingua d’uso comune, che nasce sempre più dalla terminologia dei media, della burocrazia e della cultura giovanile di massa. Ecco così comparire termini come gambista, tangentopoli, by-passare, e hacker, tutti vocaboli senza una propria matrice lessicale ma ormai ampiamente metabolizzati dal linguaggio comune delle nuove generazioni. Il vocabolario Coinciso, che sarà in vendita soltanto con l’opera completa di aggiornamento, segna la presa di coscienza da parte degli ambienti linguistici del fatto che la lingua italiana, così come è sempre stata tradizionalmente intesa, non basta più a spiegare il modo di comunicare e interagire degli italiani del nuovo millenio. |