THE TEATRO FILARMONICO IN VERONA IS DESTROYED

Today, The Grandma has been reading about the Teatro Filarmonico in Verona, that was destroyed by fire on a day like today in 1749.

The Teatro Filarmonico is the main opera theater in Verona, Italy, and is one of the leading opera houses in Europe. The Teatro Filarmonico is property of the Accademia Filarmonica di Verona.

Having been built in 1716, and later rebuilt after a fire of January 21, 1749, and again after the allied bombing of February 23, 1945.

Verona needed an opera house, so the Accademia Filarmonica di Verona decided in the early 18th century to build a theatre worthy and large.

Work began in 1716 and lasted 13 years. Finally, inauguration was on the evening of January 6, 1732, with the pastoral drama La fida ninfa by Antonio Vivaldi, a libretto by Scipio Maffei.

The opera season became famous, and the performances led society events. But on January 21, 1749, fire eventually spread in the theatre. Rebuilt, the theater was re-dedicated in 1754 with the opera Lucio Vero by Neapolitan composer Davide Perez. The opera had a limited success.

Corsican in the 18th century, during the French invasion, a long series of celebrations were held in the theater, such as the Cantata per la Santa Alleanza of Gioachino Rossini. The theater hosted international singers, and among its repertoire appear the most famous works of Italian and foreign melodrama.

On the tragic night of February 23, 1945, the theater collapsed under the Anglo-American bombing. 

The Academy Philharmonic announced that it would try to rebuild the theatre exactly as it had been before. The proceedings lasted a long time: the theatre was inaugurated again in 1975, with the opera Falstaff by Antonio Salieri.

The theatre still hosts opera, ballets and concerts seasons.

The operatic repertoire is one of the most famous for Italian operas and international (La sonnambula, The Barber of Seville, Tosca...) and the works of non-repertoire (A day of the kingdom, Manon Lescaut of Auber, Loreley of Catalani...).

More information: Teatro Filarmonico

 To sing opera, one needs two things:
the voice and the passion -and above all, the passion.

Andrea Bocelli

SEE YOU SOON, ITALY!

Asun Holmes & Corto Maltese in Venice

Yesterday, The Holmes reviewed some aspects of grammar and talked about adverbs of manner. They also created a Personal Message, discussed about job webpages and its difficulties and read a little more of Charles Dickens’ A Carol Christmas. The family stayed all the weekend in Venice enjoying the carnival and sailing by gondola thanks to Asun.

The Grandma explained a story about Navajo Language and Culture and how difficult is keeping them nowadays.

More information: Naval History and Heritage Command

Today, The Holmes have reviewed The Superlatives and some modal verbs like Must, Have to and Should. Moreover, they’ve created a composition using this new theory and they have worked Social English, too.

More information: Adverbs of Manner

For other hand, the family is spending its last hours in Italy. This morning they’ve visited Pisa; this afternoon Verona and in this moment they’re having dinner in Siena.

More information: Superlatives Adjectives

In a few hours, they’re flying to Belgium and later to London. Tomorrow, the family is going to continue its adventures. The Grandma is going to explain them some stories about numbers and they’re going to prepare new budgets and invoices.

More information: Must vs. Have to

More information: Shall vs. Should 

The new cooperative is ready and they must start to work in it.

 

How far that little candle throws his beams! 

So shines a good deed in a weary world. 

William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice

IRIS APFEL & EUROVISION: ART & TRADITION

Yesterday, The Holmes reviewed Past Simple & Past Continuous, Articles, Present Continuous and the connectors While & When.

They also created a song for participating in the next Eurovision Contest Song. After some moments of emotion and nerves, the winners were Geni and Núria with the beautiful song “Idiot”. Both of them represented Belgium.

While the most part of The Holmes were creating their songs, Rosa was in Milano with The Grandma and Iris, an old friend of her, taking information about some new fashion business to invest.

For other hand, Geni must leave the family during some days because she must attend some personal business.

The family continues its Italian tour. After visiting Pisa, Siena and Verona they arrived to Venice where they are prepared to spend some beautiful moments enjoying the Carnival.

When you don't dress like everyone else, 

you don't have to think like everyone else.

 Iris Apfel

TELEPHONING IN ENGLISH

The Panthocrator of Taüll, Alta Ribagorça

Today, The Holmes have read another new chapter of Oscar Wilde's The Ghost of Canterville. It seems that the ghost is a little desperate with his new American family.

Next, they've listened to a new Grandma's story. This time it has been about Gypsy Culture and religious symbols like Pantocrator and the Black Virgins.

After that, they've gone shopping to practise countable & uncountable. They also have written a shopping list paying attention to money (coins & bills) and numbers (decimals and fractions).

Finally, they’ve started a new manual about Telephoning in English and they have practised some listening.

This weekend, they’re preparing a new journey. They want to go to Italy, from south –Sicily- to north -Milano, Verona, Siena, Pisa, Venice and Florence-, stopping in the way in Naples and Rome.   

  

  

I have two masters: God and the Devil.
 I work for the Devil until lunch, then I follow the Lord.

 Gypsy Proverb