The Official Italian Week Celebrations

Italian Week 2009 Program of Events

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The program of events for Italian Week 2009 produced by Alessandro Sorbello for the Italian Government in Australia.

A Message from The Ambassador Of Italy

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The Italian Ambassador to Australia, H.E. MR. Gian Ludovico DE MARTINO di MONTEGIORDANO interviewed by Executive Producer Alessandro Sorbello http://www.alessandrosorbello.com/ for Italian Week http://www.italianweek.com.au/ the official Italian Festival in Brisbane Queensland supported by the Italian Government.

Italian Week is now on Facebook - Become a Fan

2009-01-05T15:38:00.000-08:00

Italian Week Fan Club now on Facebook An Invitation to Join!!

From the catwalks of Milan to the Emerald Beaches of Sardegna, from the relics of Ancient Rome, to the crystal blue waters of the Mediterranean, the warmth and excitement of Italy is right here in 2009 when the Italians once again exhibit the best in Italian culture during the now popular Italian Week 2009 celebrations.

The week long celebrations focused on Italy, the Italians and the Italian lifestyle captivates the essence of what Italy and the Italians are all about, art, language, culture, food, wine, music, fashion, sports but most of all love and seduction. Italy and the Italians have been seducing the world for thousands of years making it one of the world’s most attractive and culturally enriching tourist destinations.

Please tell all your Italian (and all those as passionate about Italy as you) contacts and ask them to join. We hope to build one of the largest Italian Communities on Facebook. Join now on http://www.facebook.com/pages/Italian-Week/57025546704

Highlights of Italian Week 2008

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Highlights of Italian Week 2008 Concert

2008 Christmas Concert

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The films above will play sequentially

The Italian Consulate in Queensland and Northern Territory in conjunction with Co.AS.It present the 2008 Christmas Concert. Filmed and edited by Alessandro Sorbello http://www.alessandrosorbello.com/ for New Realm Media http://www.newrealm.com.au/ and hosted by Damian Anthony Rossi. A Vespa Studios project http://www.vespastudios.com/ Featuring Anna Maria La Spina http://www.anna.com.au/ and Mark Watson and Featuring the Australian Girls Choir and Zosia Kilmartin http://zosiakilmartin.com/

Following last year’s tradition, this Consulate of Italy, in cooperation with Co.As.It. Brisbane, organized a free concert to celebrate Christmas together with the Italian Community and the whole city of Brisbane.

The Concert took place at the Old Museum of Brisbane (Gregory Terrace, Bowen Hills), on Sunday December, 14th 2008, from 3pm to 5pm.

Performing Artists included Anna Maria La Spina (http://www.anna.com.au/), two world tours with the 20 million album selling group "Savage Garden", accompanied by the pianist Mark Watson and the Australian Girls Choir (http://www.ausgirlschoir.com.au/) who will sang traditional Christmas carols. Zosia Kilmartin also performed at the concert which was enjoyed by over 500 people

Italian Panettone and Champagne will be served after the concert, thanks to the kind support of Com.It.Es. for Queensland and Northern Territory.

Hoping to have the opportunity of wishing you all a Merry Christmas on this occasion

I send you my best regards

Francesco Capecchi
Consul of Italy
For QLD and NT

Italian Week 2009 to incorporate Ball

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The 2009 Italian Week Festival will incorporate the Co.as.it Ball. A new collaboration has been achieved and the Italian Community continues to support the initiatives of the Italian Consulate. Thank you Dina Rainieri!

Italian Week 2008 Concert at Southbank

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The Italian Week team was delighted to meet with the Italian Ambassador to Australia

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The Italian Week team was delighted to meet with the Italian Ambassador to Australia, His Excellency Stefano Starace-Janfolla in Brisbane at Gianni’s.

The Ambassador praised the team for the work in promoting Italian Culture in a modern context and for the high level of cultural and artistic expression demonstrated during Italian Week 2008 and thanked the team for supporting the Consuls initiative.

From Left –Alessandro Sorbello (producer Italian week, His Excellency Stefano Starace-Janfolla (Italian Ambassador), Dr Francesco Capecchi (Consul of Italy for Queensland and Northern Territory) Anna-Maria La Spina, Phillip Di Bella, Mario Calli’ and Cav. Stephen Pellegrino

Opening of Puccini Spectacular by the Italian Consul.

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Presented As part of Italian Week 2008. Dr. Francesco Capecchi, Consul of Italy for Queensland and Northern Territory officially opens the Puccini Spectacular featuring Rosario La Spina. The Puccini Spectacular was held at St John’s Cathedral in Brisbane. Internationally renowned artist born in Brisbane Italian/Australian Tenor with experiences at ‘La Scala di Milano’ Rosario La Spina recreates the power and passion of Italian composer Giacomo Puccini as we mark the 150th anniversary of his birth. You will be moved by beautifully stirring arias and choruses from Turandot, Madama Butterfly and La Bohème then experience a full production of Act I of Tosca, culminating in the magnificent Te Deum procession. With a star-studded cast in the majestic surrounds of St John’s Cathedral, this spectacular celebration of Puccini’s extraordinary musical legacy will inspire and uplift. Jacqueline Mabardi as Tosca, Rosario La Spina as Cavaradossi, Jeffrey Black as Scarpia Brisbane Symphony Orchestra & The Queensland Choir, conducted by Antoni Bonetti.

The Honarable Grace Grace - Festa Della Repubblica

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Opening Speech by Dr Francesco Capecchi Consul of Italy

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Dr Francesco Capecchi opening Speech for the Festa della Repubblica May 31st 2008 at the QUT Art Musuem.

Italian Week 2008 Concert Suncorp PIazza

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Francesco Capecchi, Elio Marzullo, Anna-Maria La Spina, Alessandro Sorbello, Ronnie Peers, Frank Paolino, Enxa Pantano, Emily Bourke, Shandell Tosoni, Georgia Cupples, Jason Barry-Smith, Damian Rossi, Peter Cupples, Alex Raineri. Italian Week 2008 www.ItalianWeek.com.au - Alessandro Sorbello - Producetions

Promo clip for Italian Week 2008

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Promo clip for Italian Week 2008

Italian Week in the News

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Italian Food and Wine Tastings. Brisbane Queensland Showcasing Italian producers, Sirianni’s Fine Foods brings together as selection of Italian food and beverage suppliers to offer exhibitions and tastings.
http://www.foodandwinetrails.com.au/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1803

The world of the Italian music doesn’t usually come up in Brisbane’s music scene, but with the help of Italian week 2008, Brisbane is about to discover a whole new music world.
Italian week 2008 will be from the 26th of May to the 1st of June. The weeklong affair will encompass all things Italian, including an impressive line-up of performances from brilliant artist’s
http://wine90.blogspot.com/2008/03/allegrini-amarone-classico.html

Designer DePazzi presented by Alessandro Sorbello Productions http://www.alessandrosorbello.com Bruce Tully Fashion Designer will feature as part of Italian Week 2008 in Brisbane http://www.italianweek.com.au Italian Festival is produced by Alessandro Sorbello for the Italian Consulate.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YU-7uWNh960

Brisbane residents will be afforded the opportunity to enjoy a parade from locally created, nationally celebrated fashion powerhouse Elio Moda as Italian Week wraps up at the Suncorp Piazza.http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/whatson/italian-week-fashion-parade/2008/05/30/1211654307833.html

The highlight of Italian Week 2008 is undoubtedly the Italian Week Concert at Suncorp Piazza with music lovers invited to a delightful afternoon of performances. Anna-Maria La Spina, the gifted singer-songwriter who sold over 20 million copies of her Savage Garden album, will join a host of Italian artists to mark the occasion.
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/whatson/italian-week-concert/2008/05/30/1211654307862.html

Italian Week is designed to promote and celebrate Italian culture, artistry and lifestyle. Be a part of a thrilling, amazing, entertaining and above all mystifying adventure through Italy, with food and wine exhibitions, music, fashion parades and dance, the festival is fun for all ages. http://www.majoreventsbrisbane.com/%5Cnews-and-events%5Cevent.aspx?id=615

TRUE blue country girl Shandell Tosoni may sing country music and ride horses on the Gold Coast, but if she goes to Italy, the songstress will tackle the undulating notes of jazz. She is one of two finalists up for the Pellegrino Scholarship, which will be awarded this weekend at the finale of Italian Week in Brisbane. Originally from Dimbulah in far north Queensland, the 21-year-old is currently writing songs for her debut album while working at Outback Spectacular.
http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2008/05/26/11577_more-gold-coast-gig-guide.html

No lire to fly to Rome or Milan? No problem - it is possible to have an authentic Italian experience in Brisbane, if you just know where to go. La Dolce Vita Restaurant at Park Road is the unofficial Italian heart of Brisbane and a good place to start your tour of Brisbane Italian-Style with l’espresso.
http://www.queenslandweekender.com.au/gsec2cqw/story.asp?weekID=380&storyID=1752

ALL things Italian – food, wine, rich culture, music, literature, history, sport, design, cinema and cars – will be celebrated during Italian Week starting on Monday (May 26). Next Sunday the Italian Motor Vehicle Clubs will showcase more than 70 classic and contemporary Italian cars, bikes and scooters, such as Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Ducati, Maserati and Lamborghini in Little Stanley St, Brisbane. Entry is free. Visit: www.italianweek.blogspot.com
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23740972-5010760,00.html

Bellissimo motors at the Italian Motor Expo for Italian Week this Sunday, noon-4pm, in Brisbane's South Bank Parklands. The Italian Motor Vehicle Club will showcase classic and contemporary Italian vehicles, including Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Ducati, Maserati and Lamborghini, plus a range of vehicles from private collections, dealers and distributors.
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22955278-30597,00.html

Italian Motor Expo at Italian Week 2008

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Italian Motor Expo 2008 - Sunday 1st June 12.00pm to 4.00pm Southbank Parklands The Italian Motor Vehicle Clubs showcase Classic and contemporary Italian Motor Vehicles. Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Ducati, Maserati and Lamborghini's. The respective motor vehicle clubs put on display a range of Italian motor vehicles, motorbikes and scooters from private collections, dealers and distributors. Produced by Alessandro Sorbello Productions for New Realm Media

Alessandro Sorbello interview for Brisbane News - Italian Week

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ALESSANDRO SORBELLO 42 // ENTREPRENEUR

He may have grown up in Australia, but Alessandro remains exuberant about his birth country. Who wouldn’t? It’s easy to be passionate about Italy and share in its enduring love affair with food, music, fashion, art – and life.“You don’t have to be born Italian to feel Italian,” says Alessandro, of Alderley, who has organised an impressive line-up for the second annual Italian Week. “The festival is not an imprint of what you find in Italy because what we have here is different, but it is an extension of Italy.”It’s this fusion of cultures that drives Alessandro – and he’s well qualifi ed to blend the two.

Born in Milan, he moved to Queensland in 1970, but after school he returned, first as a backpacker for six months,and more recently to live and work for five years, dividing his time between Tuscany, Umbria and Sicily.

He landed back in Brisbane at the end of 2004 to pursue his varied business interests in property investment, internet communication and media production.

Entrepreneurial from a young age, Alessandro made a tidy sum as a 12 year old, picking mangoes from a tree in the grounds of Newmarket State Schooland selling them to neighbours. “My friends and I made $800 in one week – not bad,” he laughs.

His current project, Italian Week, brings together some of Australia’s fi nest Italian talents and businesses in a strong program of events covering opera (Rosario La Spina), contemporary music (Peter Cupples, who is “Italian by marriage”, and Anna-Maria La Spina), fashion (Elio Moda), coffee (Di Bella), food (Sirianni Fine Foods, Dolci Sapori and Viale Canova restaurant), architecture (Association Toscani nel Mondo), wine (Ballandean Estate) and cars Lamborghini,Maserati, Fiat, Alfa Romeo).

The festival has the support of the Brisbane Consulate of Italy and business heavyweight Steve Pellegrino.“We’re celebrating the fact that Italy is rich with culture, and among our exports are talented individuals committed to contributing to the Australian culture,” says Alessandro.
“It’s a win-win situation.”

KYLIE LANG
ITALIAN WEEK,
MAY 26-JUN 2.
http://www.italianweek.com.au/

Anna-Maria La Spina intreviewed on Italian Week

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YOU’VE JUST RETURNED FROM LONDON. WHAT WERE YOU DOING THERE?
I’ve been in London for the past 3½ years, writing and recording songs. One of my songs, More, is sung by Kumi Koda on an album in Japan that’s gone triple platinum. As a songwriter, that’s the sort of thing we all hope for. It’s so good to be back in Brisbane. When I’m away I miss the familiarity, the sun and my family. I love being able to pop over to my mum’s for a coffee.

NAME SOME CAREER HIGHLIGHTS IN YOUR 34 YEARS.
I won Star Search on Channel 10 when I was 18. And I’ve done two world tours with Savage Garden as main backing vocalist and arranger. I also did duets with Darren [Hayes]. I’m not sure Australians realised how big they were overseas. They’re great guys to work with. Darren invited me to be his support at theSydney Opera House in 2006, and I did seven of my songs. That was weird because my brother [tenor Rosario La Spina] was doing an opera there at the same time. I’ve also done backing vocals for Ozzy Osbourne and Slash from Guns N’ Roses.

YOU’RE SINGING AT SUNCORP PIAZZA AS PART OF THE ITALIAN WEEK 2008 CELEBRATIONS. HOW IMPORTANT IS YOUR ITALIAN HERITAGE TO YOU?
I’m very proud of it. It’s been a part of my whole life, but I’ve never really thought of it as my Italian side as opposed to my Australian side. When we were growing up, mum and dad would play Italian tapes in the car and my grandparents would speak Italian to me. It was normal to me. Singing in Italian feelsquite natural. I’ll be singing some songs in Italian and others in English [during the concert at Suncorp Piazza].

YOUR BROTHER ROSARIO IS ALSO PERFORMING AS PART OF ITALIAN WEEK. WAS MUSIC PART OF FAMILY LIFE?
Absolutely; Rosario started singing on TV when he was six. I was eight when I fi rst performed – I sang There’s A Kind Of Hush at an eisteddfod. The great thing is, competition has never come into it. I couldn’t be more proud of my brother – he’s a phenomenal opera singer. We support each other.

ARE YOU PRIMARILY A SINGER OR A SONGWRITER?
I’ve gotten into songwriting a lot more in recent years. People always ask me, how do you write a song? Well, I don’t know – how long is a piece of string? Last week I was driving around and had a drumbeat in my head and I recorded it on to my phone. Every song happens differently.

HOW DO YOU COPE WITH THE UNCERTAINTY OF YOUR WORK?
It’s a positive and a negative; I never know what’s around the corner. You just have to deal with it – if you can’t, you shouldn’t be in the industry.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOU?
I’m working on two very different projects. I’m renovating a property in Wavell Heights and working on a recording project that involves my brother and me, but on the pop side. We have some meetings with labels coming up, so we’ll know more about that soon.

ANNA-MARIA LA SPINA PERFORMS AT SUNCORP PIAZZA, SOUTHBANK, SUN, JUN 1, 12-4PM, AS PART OF ITALIAN WEEK 2008. FREE.WWW.ITALIANWEEK.COM.AU

Italian Week in the Courier Mail

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Italian Week in La Fiamma

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Phil Di Bella on Italian Week

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PERKS OF THE JOB
They told him he was arrogant to think a Queenslander could break into the Melbourne coffee market, but that only spurred on Phil Di Bella. “We now have our coffee in 100 outlets in Victoria, and we’re adding 10 new ones every month,” he says, at his busy roasting house at Bowen Hills.” Phil, whose eponymous brand of beans is served in 900 premises across Australia in a business estimated to be worth $20 million, puts his success down to customer service. “I’m not a brain surgeon, but I understand sales and marketing and the importance of having a
consistent product that is readily available at a good price.” Phil espouses a “crop-to-cup”
philosophy, and his travels to Italy and Papua New Guinea have given him an intimate
knowledge of coffee growing, roasting and blending. “We don’t just sell coffee,” he says,
“we show people how to make it.” In addition to its regular coffee education program, Di Bella is conducting specialised workshops as part of Italian Week (www.italianweek.com.au). The Ultimate Coffee Experience (10amnoon) and Barista Skills (2-4pm) will run on Monday (May 26) and Thursday (May 29). Each session costs $20. Ph: 3252 5858.

Elio Marzullo on Brisbane News for Italian Week 2008

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Italia Cup Promotion by MX Magazine

2008-06-02T20:24:00.000-07:00

Letter of support from Alex Raineri

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Letter from Alex Raineri supporting Alesssandro Sorbello's production of Italian Week 2008.

Puccini Spectacular Featuring Rosario La Spina

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Letter of support from Susan Parisi

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Letter from Susan Parisi supporting Alesssandro Sorbello's production of Italian Week 2008 featuring the Launch of 'Blood of Dreams'