The Carnival of Venice is one of the most famous in the world and has very ancient origins, by the end of 11th century. At the age of the “Serenissima” the carnival began on December 26 and ended the mardi gras but in some special years carnival lasted for 180 days. During the period of greatest glory of Venice (in the sixteenth century) there were more sumptuous celebrations, even though the century in which is identified the Carnival of Venice is the eighteenth. In that period was allowed to wear the mask, which made it impossible to make the difference between plebeian and patrician, young and old and rich from poor, then, at least in those days, the social tension was cancelled.

The place of celebration of Venice Carnival has always been St. Mark’s Square. It hosted performances of all kinds often arranged by the ”Compagnie della Calza”(Companies of Socks), which have been authentic private committees that organized special events (they were controlled by the “Council of Ten”, yet). The “Compagnia della calza” called ”I Antichi” (The Ancients), founded by Paolo Emanuele Zancopè in 1979, is very active in preparing shows and festivities.

The Carnival in Venice was celebrated throughout the magnificent eighteenth century although the Venetian Republic was in an obvious state of decline. At the fall of the Republic of Venice the carnival was suppressed by the French rulers before, then by Austrians, also fearing that the frenzy of celebrations could begin the popular conspiracy. Fell into oblivion for almost two centuries, the first modern Carnival was held in 1979, celebrated only by Venetians. The first “free radios” of those years offered the soundtracks of those memorable first editions of the reborn Carnival of Venice, setting up stages in St. Mark’s Square and in some areas of Venice. Unfortunately the spirit of the new Venetian carnival lasted for a short time. Already in the late eighties the event was sponsored by car manufacturers and it could be considered without the participation of Venice citizens. Currently it can be estimated that about 90% of beautiful masks that you admire during the carnival come from outside Venice, mostly from France and Germany. However, the magnificent masks are still a major spectacle in the magical scenario of Venice and hundreds of photographers are still seeking the best shots of Carnival in St. Mark’s Square.

The first Sunday of Venice Carnival is celebrated the ancient ”Festa delle Marie”. This anniversary will recall a legendary episode. On the 31st of January 942 while there was a collective wedding in San Pietro di Castello, there was an incursion of pirates Narentani catching 12 wives. The pirates have been defeated and killed by the Doge Pietro Candiano III close to Caorle and the 12 girls saved. Since then the Doge in any anniversary gave the dowry to 12 poor wives. Currently, the Feast of Marie is the parade with costumes of the 12 most beautiful girls in Venice, which are carried in triumph in the Square and then rewarded. At midnight on Fat Tuesday to conclude the carnival are exploded fireworks in St. Mark’s Basin.

Other than the ativities linked with the Opera tradition, classic and symphonic music, the established partnership wants to rise as big cultural irradiation center, through the promotion of prose, dance, contemporary music, projections, film festivals, exhibitions and artistic performances.

The “Opera” wants to “chat” with the different art expressions that are present, through a dialogue that get Tradition and Innovation to interact between them. In this way, a new public, heterogeneous, will be catched!

The event falls on the occasion of the bimillenium anniversary of his death. He died on  August 19th, 14 a.C. His importance, beyond the great number of reforms he made, is due to the fact that he was the person that reprented the transiction, the passage, between the Repubblican era and the Princedom one.

Every day, 1 different event and for this reason the French city has obtained the title of “European capital of the Culture for the 2013″. We need to wait the end of this year for knowing exactly of which events we are talking about. What we know is that there will be connections with the usual summer apppointment of the region, such as the Aix en Provence liric Festival, the Arles photography meetings, the Avignon Festival.

The general Director of the association that will organize the entire events, Bernard Latarjet, has told in advance that there will be urban and maritime parades and one exhibition on the immigration history. There will be also a lot of art exhibitions, from Van Gogh to Bonnard, from Cezanne to Matisse.

Parties for everyone, everybody will enjoy the 2013 in Marsille! It’s certain!

The general shape is a cupola shape, which extends from a cylindrical base and is usaually about 12-15 cm high for a panettone weighing 1 kg. It contains candied orange, citron and lemon zest, as well as dry raisins. It is served in slices, vertically cut, accompanied with sweet hot beverages or wine such as Moscato d’Asti that is sweet.

Some polemics on the fact that it has been transmitted the Wien concert: in the year of the Italian Unity it is really curious that they decided to transmit the concert from the Wien Theatre with the Strauss Radetzky March. In Venice we proposed Verdi, Traviata, Nabucco and Trovatore.a

The capacity of the Big Hall is of 1800 seats, the Auditorium one of 1000 seats; on teh roof you will find an outdoor Amphitheatre with 2000 seats. The stage of the Big Hall have been designed inside an architectonic wave without the traditional parapets. From every point of the Big Hall, the stage appears close and the visibility is great!

The acoustic is excellent!

Even without shows, the New Theatre will be open to all who whish to visit it!

Mixture, hybridization, freedom, improvisation are the ingredients which, added with knowledge of notes, creatingthe unmistakable appeal of jazz. Each, with its appeal, from the great icons of the past like Bessie Smith, LouisArmstrong, Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, among others, to those of today, which give the jazz melodies, inspired to new cultures and other music. In search of the ”jazz appeal,” the new aesthetic of this music is timeless, is dedicated to the thirty-fifth edition of the Rome Jazz Festival.  The result is a parallel Neu Jazz (New European), with the new interpreters of the European Jazz, which will perform in the most famous clubs in the city, thanks to a collaboration with leading international jazz associations, European embassies and cultural institutes with the aim to give rise to an intense cultural exchange.

In the festival program, not just concerts, but experimental projects, able to talk to different cultures, to improvise on other tunes, from folk to opera to pop. This is the case of drummer Roberto Gatto, who Friday, November 11offers a tribute to progressive rock, which has always beenpassionate. With him on the stage of the Sala Petrassi,special guest John De Leo, voice, Roberto Rossi, trombone,Luke Mannutza, piano, Fabrizio Bosso, trumpet, MaurizioGiammarco, sax, Claudio Cecchetto, guitar, FrancescoPuglisi, low.

Life of S. Martin
Martino was born in Pannonia, now known as Hungary, in 316. He was the son of a Roman official, and was a member of the Roman Guard till fiftheener. Martino came to learn about Christianity by secretly frequenting a Christian assembly. He is remembered like an extraordinarily humble and caring man by his acts of charity, and of seeing all men as equal. For example, it is said that Martino behaved towards his military attendant and his brother in the same way, often cleaning his shoes.
After Martino was released from further military duties by the Emperor, he travelled to Poiters, where he was baptised and given the sacraments by Bishop S. Ilario. The many memorable events of his life include his building of the monasteries of Ligugè and Mamontier, and his time as the Bishop of Tours. Martino died on the 11^th of November, 397 a.d., in Candes and is buried in the cathedral at Tours. San Martino is the patron saint of France, and is traditionally depicted on horseback making the gesture of cutting his cloak.
San Martino is in fact best known for the story of his cloak. On a cold and rainy 11th November, Martino was out riding when he came across an old man on the road who was stumbling along and suffering from the freezing temperature. Martino wanted to help the man, but had no money or cover to offer him. So he took out his sword, cut his cloak in half, and then offered half to the man. He then rode on with his hearth full of joy. The weather then improved, and through a break in the clouds sunshine appeared. That night Martino dreamed that Jesus, with his cloak in hand, thanked him for his compassionate gesture. Today, the warm days of November are still referred to as the “summer of San Martino”.
It is an odd coincidence that Armistice Day, marking the end of the First World War, is also 11^th November

Right now, in Venice, like in other parts of Italy, in the day of St. Martin, time ago and still today, people celebrate the feast eating seasonable goods, like chestnuts and red wine.

But this Feast is also remembered in Venice, because young boys go around the shops in Venice, with pots and bells, asking for gifts and singing the song of St. Martin.

The typical St. Martin cake, traditionally from Venice, is made with short pastry and coloured sugar, with the St. Martin on the horse shape.