NapoliCaruso, Bideri foundation celebrates the great tenor

by time news

twelve o’clock, October 12, 2021 – 5.45 pm

In Praiano in the suggestive seventeenth-century chapel of the former Congrega del Rosario

The exhibition created by the Bideri foundation to remember Enrico Caruso and his relationship with Neapolitan songs is called “NapoliCaruso”. Set up in Praiano, in the evocative seventeenth-century chapel of the former Congrega del Rosario, the exhibition traces Caruso’s career through the display of images, unpublished documents, 78 rpm and period materials belonging to the Bideri Foundation. Rare scene photographs tell of his debut in the operatic repertoire, with the acclaimed performances in the Campania theaters and in the Cathedral of Maiori in July 1894. NapoliCaruso then testifies to international triumphs and the landing in New York, where Caruso became the first star of the then nascent record industry.


The exhibition also gives space to the skilled caricaturist Caruso, as revealed by the exhibition of a pencil portrait by Ernesto De Curtis dated May 1921. The narrative path of NapoliCaruso also recalls Caruso’s love for his land and for the family with a series of shots taken at the Vittoria hotel in Sorrento together with his wife Dorothy Benjamin and daughter Gloria. These are images of the weeks preceding his death, which are a sad counterpoint to those of his funeral in Piazza del Plebiscito.

NapoliCaruso, for, above all, a journey into the Neapolitan songs of Caruso, the great classics and those he himself composed. On show the records of the Victor Talking Machine, the autographed verses of Manella Mia, signed by Ferdinando Russo, and the original scores of the Bideri Foundation, the passion for the great classics such as ‘O sole mio e Core’ ngrato, the predilection for two songs now you forget: Mamma mia, what do you know ?! and the poignant “Sin?”.

The talent of Caruso composer of Neapolitan songs comes to light, however, thanks to four elaborations by Professor Luigi Ottaiano of the “Nicola Sala” Conservatory of Benevento. Visitors will be able to discover ‘Canzona a dispietto’, hitherto unknown to most people, as well as’ Fenesta abandunata ‘and’ No! Nun of ‘ca so’ was i ‘!’.

Finally, a truly unique version of ‘Tiempo antico’ is proposed, created for the exhibition. The most famous of the Neapolitan songs composed by Caruso, in fact, can be listened to via smartphone in a new arrangement that combines his original voice and the instrumental accompaniment of the students of the Benevento Conservatory.

NapoliCaruso remembers an extraordinary interpreter, but above all an initiative designed to return to contemporary use a musical memory that has ended up in oblivion, says Ferdinando Bideri, president of the Fondazone. NapoliCaruso was built with the contribution of the Campania Region; with the patronage of the Municipality of Praiano; with the collaboration of the State Conservatory of Music “Nicola Sala” of Benevento; with the support of Gennarelli Bideri Editori and Radio Napoli. The exhibition can be visited free of charge until 31 December in compliance with the regulations in force for the fight against the epidemiological emergency from COVID-19.

12 October 2021 | 17:45

© Time.News


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