Culture – This week saw numerous reports dedicated to Italian culture: The New York Times concentrates on Milan’s La Scala, reporting on the works planned for July – Prima la Musica e Poi le Parole (“First the music and then the words”) and Europa Riconosciuta (“Europe Revealed”) “by Antonio Salieri (June 19 – Mozart’s Rival Returns to La Scala in a Double Bill With Puccini*) – and recounting the maintenance and preparation activities performed in August when the theatre is closed (June 19 –La Scala May Slow Down in Summer, but the Show Goes On). The New York daily also devotes coverage to the works of Natalia Ginzburg, “one of the Great Italian Writers of the 20th Century” (June 18 – Reintroducing Natalia Ginzburg, One of the Great Italian Writers of the 20th Century); El Mundo, on the other hand, recounts the death of Caravaggio, an “impulsive and violent genius” (June 18 – El final de Caravaggio en Nápoles: un genio impulsivo y violento que huye de una condena a muerte).
A great deal of coverage is devoted to Franco Zeffirelli (Sueddeutsche Zeitung, June 15 – Italienischer Regisseur Franco Zeffirelli ist tot; The Guardian, June 15 – Franco Zeffirelli obituary): the pupil of Luchino Visconti (El Mundo, June 15 – Muere el director de cine y escenógrafo italiano Franco Zeffirelli; L’Orient le Jour, June 17 – Zeffirelli, un esthète disciple de Visconti et fou d’opéra), the “ambassador of Italian cinema” (El País, June 15 – “Fue un embajador italiano del cine”) is remembered for his “romantic vision” (Bloomberg, June 16 – Italian Director Franco Zeffirelli Dies at Age 96) for his “extravagance” (The New York Times, June 17 – Franco Zeffirelli Made Subtle, Striking Opera. Until He Exploded.*; Libération, June 16 – FRANCO ZEFFIRELLI, PRISES EN SURCHARGE), for his “conception of cinema close to opera” (El País, June 15 – Muere el director de cine italiano Franco Zeffirelli), and for his “sumptuous, realistic style” (The New York Times, June 15 – Franco Zeffirelli: The 9 Films and Operas That Defined a Director*).
Coverage is also devoted to music with the festival being held in Tunisia by the Italian Cultural Institute in Tunis, with the collaboration of Rome’s Parco della Musica (La Presse, June 14- “Voyage en Italie” avec les solistes de l’Orchestre populaire d’El Parco della musica de Rome et l’ensemble des danseurs du ballet: Des traditions à écouter et à voir!).
Fashion – The spotlight is also on men’s fashion runways getting in touch with their green side. Financial Times reviews the new Zegna collection in which 20% of the materials is recycled (June 16 – Recycling chic at Ermenegildo Zegna Couture and techy times at Emporio Armani — Milan men’s SS20 kicks off*), while The New York Times and The Guardian recount the “greening” of other brands, including Marni (June 17 – Men’s Wear, With the Earth in Mind*; June 16 – Marni designer Francesco Risso shows his ‘humanistic’ side). The American daily also reviews other offerings, from Versace to Emporio Armani, to Fendi, explaining how this edition of the men’s fashion runways has seen new locations aside from the traditional venues of Milanese fashion (June 15 – Versace to Emporio: Men’s Looks Shine, Literally, in Milan*; June 17 – Fendi, Armani Close Milan Fashion Week in Fresh Venues*).
Lifestyle – Lastly, lifestyle is also covered, with the growing success of the “wellness holiday” market in Tuscany (Financial Times, June 14 – Tuscany: property sellers target wellness market*). Der Standard, on the other hand, covering food, publishes the recipe for pasta al forno in all its regional variations (June 18 – Pasta al forno: Überbackene Ricotta-Rote-Rüben-Nudeln).
*Article available for pay / at registration