CONGRATULATIONS to Sons of Italy, UNICO, and IAOV!!!!
Once again a collaborative UNIFIED effort resulted in a success!!!!!!
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SOPRANO'S SONGSTER'S COLO SHOW RUBBED OUT AFTER PROTESTS

By John Moore 
Denver Post Staff Writer

Tuesday, August 28, 2001 - Uncle Junior's concert career in Colorado is 
singing with the fishes. 

Dominic Chianese, the 70-year-old actor who plays the singing Soprano in 
HBO's hit television series, won't be singing soprano here. 

Pressure from national Italian-American organizations has prompted House of 
Blues Concerts to cancel a Sept. 19 concert that was to feature Chianese 
performing with famed soprano Cynthia Lawrence at Fiddler's Green 
Amphitheatre. 

One Stop Italian America, the American Italian Defense Association and the 
Committee for Social Justice are national groups that have protested "The 
Sopranos" television show for perpetuating negative stereotypes about 
Italian-Americans, and have encouraged members to fight all singing 
appearances by the actor who portrays Corrado "Uncle Junior" Soprano. 

House of Blues head Barry Fey said he and event sponsor Opera Colorado 
received dozens of e-mail complaints from around the country. He said at this 
early date, only a few hundred refunds will have to be issued. 

"It pains me to do this, but if people are that offended, then forget it," 
Fey said. "We do not want to offend anyone. Music is supposed to be a joyous 
and happy thing." 

Local Italian-American groups emphasized Monday that they played no part in 
protesting the concert, which was to benefit the Museum of Outdoor Arts. 
George Vendegnia, founder of the Sons of Italy New Generation Lodge 2702, 
said the cancellation borders on censorship, which goes against everything he 
has been fighting for to keep Denver's Columbus Day parade alive amid 
protests from Native American groups. 

"Personally I don't have a problem with "The Sopranos,'" Vendegnia said. "I 
think everyone deserves their right to freedom of speech. That's what the 
Constitution is all about." 

Attempts to reach national protest leaders were unsuccessful Monday night. 

But among the e-mails Opera Colorado received was one from Philip Celeste of 
Boston, who calls himself a "fringe activist." In his e-mail he asked, "How 
could you mix such lowbrow trash with opera? Given the misdirected 
consternation of the Native Americans in your state over Columbus Day, ... I 
would say any negative portrayal of Italian-Americans in Colorado would only 
intensify the hatred that is apparently fermenting in your area." 

Celeste called the cancellation outstanding news. "This is truly encouraging 
news for the Italian-American community and I applaud the responsible 
decision made by Opera Colorado," he said. 

Walter Santi of Bloomingdale, Ill., wrote Fey saying, ""The Sopranos featured 
side by side with grand Opera is like mixing manure with whipped cream." 

Chianese has just released his first CD, "Hits," ranging from traditional 
Italian tunes to traditional American songs. 

His singing career got a boost when he was featured in the recent season 
finale of "The Sopranos."
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Addendum: Please note that the Denver I-As, whom we supported with their 
Columbus Day Parade, might need some instruction on what constitutes 
"Freedom of Speech". There was no CENSORSHIP. It was our Persuasion 
that "convinced" the promoter the merit of VOLUNTARILY canceling the Concert 
after having hearing the views and opinions of the Italian American Community.
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