Events
Special Events
Thursday, September 23, 2010

Maria Callas
Gala Celebration and Exhibition Opening

Under the auspices of the Consul General of Italy Fabrizio Marcelli, and the Consul General of Greece Ioannis Andreades, the Italian Cultural Institute of San Francisco presents an unprecedented and sumptuous collection of Maria Callas’ historic stage costumes, stunning jewels, rare documents, books, letters, and photographs on loan from the Hellenic Parliament Foundation.

Join us at the Opening Gala of the Maria Callas exhibition on Thursday, September 23, 2010 at the new location of the Italian Cultural Institute of San Francisco, 814 Montgomery Street at Gold.

Mr. Bruno Tosi, President of the Associazione Maria Callas, will be present at the Opening Gala as he shares his passion and personal knowledge of the original Diva. The Gala will also feature pre-dinner cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, and fine Italian and Greek cuisine and wines.

The soprano Felicia Bongiovanni will perform a tribute to Maria Callas, accompanied on the piano by Ian Scarfe of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. The performance will comprise some of the most famous arias of La Divina’s repertoire: “Vissi d’arte, vissi d’amore” from Tosca by G. Puccini, “Casta Diva” from Norma by V. Bellini, “Sempre libera” from La Traviata by G.Verdi.

The Honorary Committee for this landmark event is composed of: Ambassador of Italy to the U.S. Hon. Giulio Terzi di Sant’Agata, the Honorable Gavin Newsom and Jennifer Siebel Newsom, Hilary Newsom Callan and Geoff Callan, Francis Ford Coppola, Charles Delapalme, SVP Louis Vuitton North America, Ruth Felt, David Gockley, Randall Kline, Graham Leggat, Lois Lehrman, Nicola Luisotti, Carey Perloff, and Yvonne and Angelo Sangiacomo.

The exhibition will excite all patrons of the arts and inspire all aficionados of culture, opera, fashion, and design. It is accompanied by the book The Young Maria Callas, celebrating the greatest opera singer of the twentieth century. Exhibition installation by Terje Arnesen and Antonio Pio Saracino.

The proceeds from this event will enable the Italian Cultural Institute to expand its programming and continue its mission of promoting Italian culture.

Following the Opening Gala, the exhibition will be on view Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, through November 12.