LA CANADA SINGS IN ST. PETER'S SQUARE

La Canada High School Choirs are homeward bound

The La Canada HS Choirs under the direction of Mr. Jeff Brookey, their family and friends have bid farewell to Italy after a fantastic farewell concert at the beautiful church of Sant' Agnese in Agone. We say thank you arriverderci! Your Incantato Tours Team

Incantato Tour Sight: The Colosseum in Rome

The Colosseum in Rome, Italy, is an elliptical amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, Italy, the largest ever built in the Roman Empire. It is considered one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and Roman engineering. Occupying a site just east of the Roman Forum, its construction started in 72 AD under the emperor Vespasian and was completed in 80 AD under Titus, with further modifications being made during Domitian's reign (81–96).
Capable of seating 50,000 spectators, the Colosseum was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles such as mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, and dramas based on Classical mythology. The building ceased to be used for entertainment in the early medieval era. It was later reused for such purposes as housing, workshops, quarters for a religious order, a fortress, a quarry, and a Christian shrine.
Although in the 21st century it stays partially ruined because of damage caused by devastating earthquakes and stone-robbers, the Colosseum is an iconic symbol of Imperial Rome. It is one of Rome's most popular tourist attractions and still has close connections with the Roman Catholic Church, as each Good Friday the Pope leads a torchlit "Way of the Cross" procession that starts in the area around the Colosseum. The Colosseum is also depicted on the Italian version of the five-cent euro coin.

La Canada HS at Teatro Di Rieti singing Esto Les Digo

April 4, 2011 - Rieti Theatre

High Mass at Saint Peter's Basilica (Vatican City) on Tuesday, April 5, at 5 PM with La Canada High School Concert Choir and Chamber Singers

The La Canada High School Concert Choir and Chamber Singers under the direction of Mr. Jeff Brookey will sing and celebrate High Mass at Saint Peter's Basilica on Tuesday, April 5, 2011 at 5:00 PM.

The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter is located within the Vatican City. St. Peter's Basilica has the largest interior of any Christian church in the world, holding 60,000 people. It is the symbolic "Mother church" of the Catholic Church and is regarded as one of the holiest Christian sites. It has been described as "holding a unique position in the Christian world" and as "the greatest of all churches of Christendom".
In Catholic tradition, it is the burial site of its namesake Saint Peter, who was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus and, according to tradition, first Bishop of Rome and therefore first in the line of the papal succession. Tradition and some historical evidence hold that Saint Peter's tomb is directly below the altar of the basilica. For this reason, many Popes have been interred at St Peter's since the Early Christian period. There has been a church on this site since the 4th century. Construction of the present basilica, over the old Constantinian basilica, began on April 18, 1506 and was completed on November 18, 1626.
St. Peter's is famous as a place of pilgrimage, for its liturgical functions and for its historical associations. It is associated with the papacy, with the Counter-reformation and with numerous artists, most significantly Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni (1475-1564), an Italian Renaissance painter, sculptor, architect, poet, and engineer. Michelangelo took over a building site at which four piers, enormous beyond any constructed since the days of Ancient Rome, were rising behind the remaining nave of the old basilica. He also inherited the numerous schemes designed and redesigned by some of the greatest architectural and engineering brains of the 16th century.
Incidentally there are over 100 tombs within St. Peter's Basilica, many located in the Vatican grotto, beneath the Basilica. These include 91 popes, St. Ignatius of Antioch, Holy Roman Emperor Otto II, and the composer Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina. Exiled Catholic British royalty James Francis Edward Stuart and his two sons, Charles Edward Stuart and Henry Benedict Stuart, are buried here, having been granted asylum by Pope Clement XI. The most recent interment was Pope John Paul II, on April 8, 2005.

Concert Panorama from Rieti

Impressions from the La Canada HS Italy Performance Tour

The La Canada HS Choirs in Cocert at the Teatro di Rieti

La Canada HS Choirs make the news in Rieti

A Journey of Light, a Rieti il concerto per coro dei licei La Cañada e JSerra Lunedì prossimo al teatro Flavio Vespasiano dalla Redazione sabato 2 aprile 2011 «Un concerto di musica corale che risveglia i sensi, ispira l’anima e scalda il cuore». Così Sandra Weinacht, titolare di Incantato Tours, definisce il concerto per coro che si terrà il 4 aprile al Flavio Vespasiano , il cui tema è “A Journey of Light” (Un viaggio di Luce). Dopo il successo di critica e pubblico riportato dal concerto del coro della South Carolina University, il prossimo lunedì 4 aprile alle 18.30 secondo appuntamento di prestigio al Flavio Vespasiano, con le serate organizzate da Incantato Tours e l’Assessorato alla Cultura del Comune di Rieti nel quadro del progetto di Wealbiz .  Sandra Weinacht, Gianfranco Formichetti e Diego Di Paolo sottolineano con soddisfazione che l’iniziativa sta riscuotendo grande consenso, sia per la qualità dei cori in tournee europea che passeranno da Rieti, sia per il coinvolgimento della realtà scolastica locale che approfitterà di volta in volta di queste presenze per stringere accordi di collaborazione con le scuole americane.  È un’operazione che interessa non solo l’ambiente artistico della città ma anche quello culturale e turistico, ed il fatto che non comporti alcun costo ne’ per l’amministrazione pubblica, ne’ per gli spettatori (i concerti sono ad ingresso libero) ne fa ovviamente un modello di sviluppo sostenibile che viene osservato con molta attenzione . Lunedì pomeriggio sarà la volta del liceo di La Cañada , piccola cittadina della contea di Los Angeles con un altissimo tenore di vita. La scuola, premiata due volte nel 1993 e nel 2004 con il Blue Ribbon, onorificenza americana riservata alle scuole d’eccellenza , è in questo momento classificata al 23 posto tra le scuole pubbliche degli Stati Uniti.  Il coro è diretto dal Professor Jeff Brookey, ed eseguirà un programma che include brani di Monteverdi, Schubert, Durufle , Whitacre, canti spiritual afro-americani e musica Gospel. Sempre nell’ambito dello stesso progetto, martedì 5 aprile alle 17 , nella mistica quiete del Santuario di Fonte Colombo, sarà la volta del coro del liceo JSerra . Il coro ha volutamente scelto un’esibizione lontano dal clamore, che si terrà alla presenza dei frati novizi e di pochi fortunati spettatori. Il tema del concerto sarà “I saw Eternity “ un pellegrinaggio spiritual attraverso la musica del passato e del presente.  I ragazzi provengono dalla cittadina californiana di San Juan de Capistrano, fondata come missione francescana da Giovanni da Capistrano nel 1776. Alle già citate collaborazioni istituzionali si somma in questo caso il neonato Comitato degli Amici del Cammino di Francesco e l’iniziativa vuole essere un momento di promozione del Cammino di Francesco nel mondo. L’ingresso per entrambi i concerti è libero. Per saperne di più: http://www.amicicamminodifrancesco.it

Highlight Concert: La Canada High School Concert Choir and Chamber Singers perform at Teatro Flavio Vespasiano in Rieti on Monday, April 4 at 6:30 PM

The La Canada High School Concert Choir and Chamber Singers will perform at feature concert at the Teatro Flavio Vespasiano di Rieti on Monday, April 4, 2011 at 6:30 PM. The Theatre Flavio Vespasiano is the main theater of Rieti, a town in the commune of Lazio in central Italy. The current structure dates back to December of 1883 but was not officially inaugurated until September 20, 1893, featuring productions of Goethe’s Faust and Pietro Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana. The theater, named for the Roman Emperor Vespasian, required ten years of construction under the direction of Milanese architect Achille Sfondrini. The theater underwent complete restoration from 2005 through 2009. A grand re-opening celebration commenced on January 10, 2009 featuring conductor Marcello Rota, and soloists Karina Grigoryan, Jessica Pratt, Anna Gorayacheva, and Roman Burdenko. The Secretary to the Prime Minister as well as Senator Franco Marini were in attendance. The restoration efforts totaled more than 3.3 million Euro.

The reopening of the theater also fostered the formation of the Flavius Vespasian Foundation, aiming to promote international artistry and music. The Rieti Theatre also annually hosts the Rieti Dance Festival, the International Competition for the New Opera Voices of Mattia Battistini, and the National Competition for Young Actors. The theatre is well known for its excellent acoustics, a characteristic that earned the structure the very first National Award for the Acoustics. In referring to the acoustics, Professor Bruno Cagli, president of the National Academy of Saint Cecilia, once called the theatre “the world’s best in that respect”.

Impression from the Florence Concert

The La Canada Choirs under the direction of Mr. Jeff Brookey presented their first formal concert of the 2011 Italy Performance Tour at the beautiful Church of San Lorenzo in Florence on Sunday evening. More pictures and videos will follow as the internet connections improve.

Destinations: Learn more about Rieti

On April 4, the La Canada High School Concert Choir and Chamber Singers will perform at the Teatro Comunale Flavio Vespasiano in Rieti. But where's Rieti?

Though most international travelers know about and have visited big Italian cities like Florence and Rome, or famous smaller ones like the towns of Cinque Terra or the Amalfi Coast, few know just how many hidden gems are sprinkled throughout the Italian countryside. Rieti is one of these - a town that's important to Italians (and Italian history) and virtually unknown to American tourists.

(Bonus fun fact: One notable exception is Kobe Bryant, who went to school in Rieti - and speaks fluent Italian - because his dad, Joe, played basketball in Rieti from 1984 to 1992.)

Rieti is the name for both a city and a province (like a county) in the region (like a state) of Lazio. Many Italians know Rieti because it's along a major route to get to Rome (also, incidentally, in Lazio). As the capital of the region of Rieti, the town also is a major cultural and commercial center for the many tiny towns in northern Lazio and southern Umbria.

Historically, Reiti was a major site in the Sabine nation long before Italy was united, and later became a strategic point in the early Italian road network that linked Rome to the Adriatic Sea. Rieti also became a favorite Papal seat and was the site of several important historical events, including the marriage of Constance Hauteville in 1185, the crowning of Charles I by Pope Nicholas in 1289, and the celebration of the canonization of St. Dominic by Pope Gregory IX in 1234.

Interesting features of modern Rieti include the Cathedral, with a stunning Romanesque bell tower built in 1252 and a statue of St. Barbara by Giannatonio Mari; the Palazzo Vescovile – or Bishops Palace – with its Renaissance windows and a Grand Hall housing the Diocese Gallery; and the Santa Maria in Vescovio, an 8th century church with frescoes from the 13th and 14th centuries depicting the Last Judgment and scenes from the Bible.

As the center of the Rieti province, the town of Rieti also features a number of gelaterias, clothing stores, delicious restaurants, and the surprisingly diverse music store Mussicisti.

The Rieti Valley also is an important part of the Cammino di Francesco, or Saint Francis Walk. Along with Assisi and the Verna, Saint Francis made the Rieti Valley his home. It is here that he created the first Nativity in Christianity in 1223, wrote the Rule of the Franciscan Order, and most likely composed The Canticle of All Creatures.

Blast from the Past: La Canada & J Serra Exchange in Florence

La Canada & J Serra meet for the first time in Florence at the Church of San Lorenzo last Sunday, April 3rd.

The La Canada High School Concert Choir & Chamber Singers perform at the Church of San Lorenzo in Florence on April 3 at 7 PM

The La Canada High School Concert Choir and Chamber Singers present a feature concert together with the JSerra Catholic High School Chamber Choir  at 7 PM, at the Church of San Lorenzo in Florence on Sunday, April 3, 2011.
The Basilica di San Lorenzo stands as one of Florence, Italy’s largest churches, situated in the center of the city’s main market district. It is one of several churches claiming to be Florence’s oldest, having been consecrated in the year 393. The Basilica di San Lorenzo served as the city’s cathedral for 300 years until the Bishop’s official seat was moved to Santa Reparata.
In 1419 parishioner Giovanni di Bicci de Medici offered to finance a new church to replace the Romanesque building. Filippo Brunelleschi, the leading Renaissance architect of the first half of the fifteenth century, was commissioned to design the new structure, although the new building did not reach completion until after the architect’s death.
 The church is part of a larger monastic complex that boasts numerous additional important architectural works including the Laurentian Library by Michelangelo and the New Sacristy based on Michelangelo’s original designs. The sanctuary’s left aisle displays a large fresco by Bronzino depicting the Martyrdom of Saint Lawrence, and the marble choir loft was designed by Donatello, as were the two bronze pulpits.

La Canada HS Choirs visiting Florence on Day 5 of their 2011 Italy Performance Tour

The students from La Canada High School in California along with their entourage of family and friends are sure keeping busy as they are exploring the beautiful Renaissance city of Florence today. A special highlight will be the first formal concert of their 2011 Italy Performance Tour at 7 pm at San Lorenzo Church (see special blog entry). Here are some city facts about Florence:

• Florence is the most populous city in Tuscany, with 367,569 inhabitants.
• A centre of medieval European trade and finance and one of the richest and wealthiest cities of the time, Florence is often considered the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance; in fact, it has been called the Athens of the Middle Ages.
• The historic centre of Florence attracts millions of tourists each year and was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1982.
• It has been the birthplace or chosen home of many notable historical figures, such as Dante, Botticelli, Michelangelo, Galileo Galilei, Roberto Cavalli and Emilio Pucci.
• Florence being historically the first home of Italian fashion is also home to the legendary Italian fashion establishment Salvatore Ferragamo, notable as one of the oldest and most famous Italian fashion houses.
• Florence has been a setting for numerous works of fiction and movies, including the novels and associated films, such as "Hannibal", "A Room with a View", "Tea with Mussolini" and "Virgin Territory".
• The city is one of the great wine-growing regions in the world. The Chianti region is just south of the city, and its Sangiovese grapes figure prominently not only in its Chianti Classico wines but also in many of the more recently developed Supertuscan blends.

And more to say on Day 4: Pisa

• The present inclination of the Leaning Tower, Pisas most important sight, is measured to be about 10 percent. The reason behind the inclination still remains a mystery. However, it is believed that the inclination was due to the subsidence of the foundation soil, which was a mixture of varied deposits and clayish material.
• Pisa was the birthplace of the important early physicist, Galileo Galilei.
• Pisa's origins remained unknown for centuries. The presence of an Etruscan (civilization of ancient Italy) necropolis (large cemetery), discovered during excavations in the Arena Garibald (mulit-use stadium) in 1991, allowed to clarify its Etruscan origins.
• The city has two sister-cities in the USA: Niles, Illinois, and Coral Gables, Florida.
• Football is the main sport in Pisa; the local team, Pisa Calcio, currently plays in the Italian Serie B (second-highest division), and has had a top flight history throughout the 1980s and the 1990s, featuring several world class players such as Diego Simeone, Christian Vieri and Dunga.
• Pisa is also known for its excellent university, which was established in 1343 and has become one of Italy's top schools.

Next stop for La Canada on Day 4: Verona

Verona is a city in Veneto, northern Italy, home to approx. 265,000 inhabitants and one of the seven provincial capitals of the region. It is the second most populated municipality of the region and the third of North-East Italy. The metro area of Verona has an area of 1.426 km2 (0.55 sq mi) and has a population of 714,274 inhabitants. It is one of the main tourist destinations in northern Italy, thanks to its artistic heritage, several annual fairs, shows, and operas, such as the lyrical season in the Arena, the ancient amphitheatre built by the Romans. The city has been awarded world heritage site status by UNESCO because of its urban structure and architecture.