Thursday, May 11, 2006

Obit: Pietro Garinei, 87, Italy`s Father of the Stage Musical

The ANNOTICO Report

Pietro Garinei, told romantic tales of Italy and its people through plays and songs such as "Arrivederci Roma".

With Sandro Giovannini, Garinei wrote songs and produced musical comedies that were hits in Italy and overseas. The two were among Italy's most successful playwrights and impresarios, casting for the stage top Italian actors including Anna Magnani, Marcello Mastroianni and Alberto Sordi.

The song "Arrivederci Roma" won international fame when it was performed in English by Perry Como, becoming one of the symbols of the "dolce vita," the romantic, carefree life of 1950s and '60s Rome. The song was featured in the 1958 Hollywood musical "The Seven Hills of Rome".

Garinei was born in the northeastern town of Trieste in 1919 but focused much of his work on the atmosphere and history of Rome.

Garinei and Giovannini's 1962 musical, "Rugantino", is the story of two lovers in 19th century Rome, performed in the city's traditional dialect. The play ran on Broadway in 1964 and was made into a movie.

"Today the whole of Italy, and Rome in particular, will be a little sadder," Rome Mayor Walter Veltroni said in a statement. "But his theatre, his passion, will continue to live."

http://www.mytelus.com/music/

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ITALY'S FATHER OF THE STAGE MUSICAL DIES

MonstersandCritics    

May 10, 2006

ROME, Italy (UPI) -- The man known as the father of Italy`s musical theater, Pietro Garinei, died in Rome Tuesday at at age 87.

At the time of his death, Garinei was working on a stage musical inspired by Frank Capra`s 1961 film, 'A Pocketful of Miracles,' ANSA reported.

Among Garinei`s many credits were the lyrics for 'Arrivederci Roma.'

He brought 'Ciao Rudy' featuring Marcello Mastroianni as Rudolph Valentino to Broadway in 1966 and was credited with making Rome`s Sistina theater a gathering place for fans of the modern musical.

Garinei and his late partner, Sandro Giovannini, wrote Italy`s first musical, 'Attanasio Cavallo Vanesio' in 1952.

Among their many hits were 'Giove In Doppio Petto,' 'Buonanotte Bettina,' 'Rinaldo In Campo,' 'Rugantino,' 'Alleluja Brava Gente' (1970)   and 'Aggiungi Un Posto A Tavola.'

 Radio host Fiorello devoted his Tuesday show to Garinei.

'We dedicate this program to him and we`ll try to entertain you as much as we can because that`s the way he would have wanted it,' he said. 'I can assure you of that because I knew him personally.'

http://arts.monstersandcritics.com/

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