Exceptional side by side concert at the Auditorium of Rome. Mark your calendars, on the 19th and 20th of September 2010, Elton John will be performing, the artist who for four decades has been charming the entire world. Aside from Elton John himself, Ray Cooper, a spectacular percussionist, will be joining him on stage.

 Elton John, born as Reginald Kenneth Dwight, he started to play the piano at the early age of four. At the age of 11 he won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music. His first band was called Bluesology. He la… read moreter auditioned (unsuccessfully) as lead singer for the progressive rock bands King Crimson and Gentle Giant. In the early 1970s he recorded the concept album “Tumbleweed Connection”. He became the most successful pop artist of the 1970s and he has survived many different pop fads including punk, the New Romantics and Britpop to remain one of Britain’s most internationally acclaimed musicians. Elton John announced he was a bisexual in 1976 and in 1984 he married Renate Blauel. The marriage lasted four years. He is well known as a campaigner for AIDS research and he keeps his finger on the pulse of modern music. He was knighted in 1997.

 Ray Cooper on the other hand had began violin lessons since he was a child, soon after switching to drums. His musical career began at the age of 14 with his first professional engagements being in and around Birmingham, England. At 18 he was called up into the Army and was posted to the North Staffordshire Regimental Band, touring for three and a half years in India and parts of Burma. Ray arrived in the United States in 1966 and worked in Miami Florida for four years. From there to Las Vegas, working at major hotels accompanying the Russ Morgan, Ray McKinley and Larry Elgart Orchestras. Ray then formed a trio called “The Dam Limeys” performing in Las Vegas as well as for the opening of the London Bridge in Lake Havasu Arizona.

 At the late ‘70s they went took on a tour in pairs – Cooper/John. It was described as one of the most memorable concerts of all time. First stop was in Russia in 1979. Then followed by the ones in Europe and South America. And then, the rest of the world.  

Tickets in sale beginning from Monday 21 December 2009 with prices ranges from 50 to 200 euros, and reduction price of 20% for younger crowd with less than 26 years of age.

Our Blogger: Joseph

Stomp has no words, everyone can understand it. It has little or no melody in the traditional sense, so it doesn’t matter it your taste in music is jazz, classical, dance or pop. Stomp is about rhythm, which is common to all cultures.

   Stomp was born in England in 1991 by two very creative personalities Luke Cresswell and Steve McNicholas, indeed “creativity” is the keyword for the associates of  this  group of people who work together using simple building blocks, trash bins, brooms, or anything else that can produce music through noise.

   The drive of Stomp to use common daily objects can compare them to the Trash movement which convert  garbage and waste materials  in art. Their show includes elements of Pop Art, Futurism, mute cinema, cartoons and circus. Even more, African tribal rhythms, hip hop, break dance, tip tap, heavy metal and moves from the Japanese  martial art kendo. A mix of artistic calls that transform the show into a variety of sound and fantasy. Leaving the theatre you will feel the need to look around, the street or your house, for objects that your imagination can turn into music. This way you can feel that you make part of “Stomp”!

  

After their last successful Italian  tour in 2009, the group will  return in Rome for a new revolutionary and enthusiastic show   presented  at Teatro Olimpico di Roma –  Piazza Gentile da Fabriano, from 9^th to 17^th of November.

For more info you can visit the official site of Teatro Olimpico: www.teatroolimpico.it. The venue, as the most important cultural spots in the city can be asily reached from Yes Hotel and Hotel Des Artistes.

Our Blogger: Dimitri

Our blogger: Rhodora

Rome is also known as a city with many traditions, they often go back many generations, but sometimes you happen to find yourself living neo-traditions without knowing its real origin This is the case of the padlocks at the Milvio bridge, a custom started by young people (and not so young) who attach a lock on the central streetlight of the Milvio bridge and throw the keys into the river below to show their love. Everything comes from the protagonists of the book “I want you” by Roman author Fedrico Moccia. To strengthen their bond,the characters of the novel leave a padlock on the third lamp of the historic bridge. Many young lovers have imitated the ritual and know Ponte Milvio is known as the lovers’ bridge.

If you are in love and want to take part of what has became a tradition here are the instructions for the Roman bridge of love: you should go on the bridge with a lock and two keys. Done? All right. Now write initials on the lock and close the lamp. Done? Ok. Now take a key and throw it in a river, that will guard your covenant of love And for those who do not believe, Federico Moccia writes on his blog: “For you that dream for you then there is a chain of lovers. Maybe one day you go there on that bridge in Rome, Ponte Milvio, the third streetlight, that overlooks the Tiber, and overlooking the bridge of Corso Francia…And you will find that chain.”

The play is called : Caravaggio – l’esilio di un uomo alla ricerca di Dio (Caravaggio, the exilus of a man in search of God) and if you are not familiar to the Italian language it is worth taking up a few lessons just to enjoy this fantastic play in Rome !
The personage turns from genius to artist, or should we say is the personage? ‘’It is the spectator and not life that Art mirrors’’, as Oscar Wilde quoted once. The list could be never ending, and it is not difficult to guess Henry Miller’s smile on the matter for what he could be concerned…
The story : A brawl (regarding a cards game) ends up into murder. The victim is Mister (il Signore) Ranuccio Tomassoni and the killer is Michelangelo Merisi. So what? You could say, and the story would probably end here, were it not for the fact that Michelangelo Merisi was the name of the great Caravaggio.
So by the early 1600’s Caravaggio finds himself to become a murderer who ran away to escape the death penalty. Then begins his search for redemption, for God’s forgiveness and for the truth.
Looking for Beauty between light and darkness in art just as in real life. The struggle of passion and virtue are brought altogether in one play. Questions arise : Are passion and virtue struggling or can they be both the same thing ? Some may be disappointed to find out that bad tempered persons can also be brilliant, but that’s the way it goes !

Self Portrait by Caravaggio

The play of Caravaggio at the Capitoline Museums in Rome :

WHEN: 26TH JULY, 21:30
WHERE: Cortile del Palazzo dei Conservatori in the Capitoline Museums , Piazza del Campidoglio, Rome
TICKETS: 12.00 € Reserved tickets can be purchased at the ticket office beginning at 20:30. Reservations required and bookings at www.showbizaps.net
WHERE TO STAY IN ROME : Plan your trip in Rome and discover our great hotel deals in our Rome Hotels such as Hotel Des Artistes and Yes Hotel Rome which are in the heart of Rome and only 20 minutes away from the Capitoline Museums by bus (take number 40).

You can also Contact us on Skype for further information.

Today’s Blogger : Marcelo

ROME, ITALY – Confirmations of big names has arrived for yet another great edition 2010 of “Rock in Roma”  , one of the most successful rock event within the most important  European musical events, that gathers thousands of people every evening in the historic city of Rome l   at the Rome Cappannelle. Summer in Rome is going to be filled with good music !

Right after Ska-p, 99 Posse, Skunk Anansie and The Cult, a new line up of artists has been announced for the much anticipated rock event of the year – Rock In Rome 2010 . Famous names includes the British singer Mika . A multi-platinum artist who  released his first full-length studio album, Life in Cartoon Motion in 2007 which sold more than 5.6 million copies worldwide and  got the artist to win a Brit Award and receive a Grammy award nomination.

Also in the line-up includes the band – Gossip (formerly The Gossip) who is an American indie-rock band fronted by Beth Ditto. The band was relatively unknown until they hit success with their third studio album, “Standing in the Way of Control”. Their style has been described as “a soul or gospel” voice with “a sort of funky punk soundtrack”. The band stated a liking for post-punk bands birthday-party but also for other genres like dance and hip-hop.

Finally, ZZ Top – an American blues rock trio, formed in 1969 in Texas . ZZ Top is ranked number 44 on VH1’s “100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock”. The trio is one of the longest running rock bands to retain the same line-up. ZZ Top was inducted by Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame during the annual ceremony on March 15, 2004. Cub Koda wrote, “As genuine roots musicians, they have few peers; Gibbons is one of America’s finest blues guitarists working in the hard rock idiom … while Hill and Beard provide the ultimate rhythm section support.”

Other related blog about Rock in Roma

Tickets in pre-sale for “ROCK IN ROMA 2010”  (28 June – 28 July).

MIKA (July 6)

GOSSIP (July 7)

ZZ TOP (July 12)

SKA-P + 99 POSSE (July 13)

SKUNK ANANSIE (July 15)

THE CULT + Special Guest (July 26)

Where:

Ippodromo delle Cappannelle – Via Appia Nuova, 1245 – Roma

Information on : Tel. 06-45496305

And for your stay in Rome also plan to book your place to stay in a comfortable and friendly Rome hotel .

Our blogger : JOSEPH

Norah Jones (New York, March 30, 1979) is a singer, pianist and one of the most prominent figures in modern mainstream jazz.

She had a great success in 2002 with the debut album Come Away with Me, which sold 20 million copies [1]. After this amazing global success has won many international awards, including five Grammy Awards in one night, a record shared with four other artists: Alicia Keys, Beyonce, Amy Winehouse and Lauryn Hill.

Norah tasted success again in 2004 with Feels Like Home, and in 2007 with the album Not Too Late, which consolidated his popularity and made it one of the songwriters of today’s music scene most recognized and most successful, having sold about 16 million albums in the U.S. alone [2], about 39 million albums worldwide and won nine Grammy a few years.

On July 23, 2010, Norah Jones will be in concert in Rome. Plurivincitrice The Grammy Awards will be in Rome to present his fourth album, The Fall, released last November. Norah Jones will perform at the auditorium of the Auditorium Parco della Musica. Tickets will be purchased on short circuit Ticketworld.

The origins of Michael Bublè are Italian: his Grandmother Yolanda is from Carrubo, a small town in Abruzzi, and his  Grandfather is from Teviso in Veneto region. It’s his Grandfather that make Michael closer to classic jazz and swing music of the 40s and 50s, the Mills Brothers, Frank Sinatra and Bobby Darin Ella Fitzgerald. Encouraged, Michael learns the ‘’sacred texts’’ of swing and participates in several youth competitions. To open him a way to a major label, however, is the former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, who has always been fan of pop music, to introduced him to the producer David Foster, winner of numerous Grammy and Executive Director of the labels that are managed by Warner. Bublé amazed him singing Mack the knife to the wedding of Mulroney’s daughter, after that he finally obtained a contract and in 2003, he published his first album under his name, first in America and then in Europe, he became one of the most singers all over the world. After the big success, in  2005 he appeared with another successful album called it’s time followed two years later by Call me Irresponsible.

In 2009 the new album Crazy Love Michael opens the door of his private emotions to the world. You can see may facets of a man: the boy always happy and optimistic, the angry lover refused, the perfect boyfriend, the not-so-perfect pretender or the only man in a crowded room. In this album you can also hear him singing the eternal friendship that give consolation after a sentimental break in the song written by himself called “hold on” or a story of a couple born under an unlucky star on At this moment.

After almost two and a half years since the last tour in Italy, the great Canadian singer returns to Rome on October 23^rd 2010 for a great concert, to sing for all his fans songs of his new album and some of his greatest hits.

Well, these days are strange in Rome. With so many cancelled flights due to the cloud of volcanic ashes hanging over Europe, not everyone is paying attention to one of the most interesting cultural campaingns to take place each year in Italy: the Culture Week.

Like every year this 2010 many interesting activities will take place and besides many of the most famous monuments in Rome can be visited for free! Yes, from April 16 to 25 you will be able to visit the Roman Forum, the CoIosseum and many other great monuments for free, or almost: by instance, to visit the Capitoline museums you would pay only 4,50 Euros, since there is an additional axhibition taking place right now.

We have selected for you some of the most interesting options when it comes to activities. You will find our picks at the bottom of this page.

And don’t forget: your best options for accomodation in Rome are Hotel Des Artistes and Yes Hotel. Contact us today, or make a reservation through our website!

Litfiba is coming back to rome on the 19th of april at the Palalottomatica to offer a great concert for those who love the Italian rock. They are one of the most famous artists in Italy and are making their comeback after years of absence. Now they will be coming  to the Eternal City to show what they all about and make you go out of your mind with the best rock ever in the last years.

This band was born thaks to Ghigo Renzulli that through an ad brings together some local punk lovers . This group started singing in the 80s and they were well known and receive the appreciation from the people, that way they began their real career as they Played mainly rock music and latin pop-rock but at the end of the 90s the vocalist of the group decides to persue a solo career and got away from the band but there they go again, finally singing back together and they will try to do their best to make us have a wonderful evening rocking all night. And please show up we can not lose this chance to go rock and roll! To have the most of Rome and of your vations book a room now at Hotel Des Artistes or Yes Hotel!

-Next July pianist Keith Jarrett and his legendary trio (Jarrett, plus Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette) will visit the Eternal City: an occassion not to be missed for those who love great music.

When you think of the European jazz capitals of the world, Paris and Amsterdam come immmediatly to mind. But every summer Rome hosts a number of increasingly important jazz events that reveal the growing interest of Italian audiences in improvised music.

Slowly the Eternal City is gaining cachet as a jazz city and this status will be crowned next July with the visit of Keith Jarrett, probably the most talented and well-known jazz musician alive.

Jarrett started his career with the George Lloyd quartet and then jumped to public notoriety through his performances with Miles Davis. Jarrett can be seen as the substitute leading figure in the jazz world after Davis’ dismissal. Jarrett brought jazz back to its acoustic roots after a period of electric experimentation renewing in the process the American songbook with new renditions of jazz standards. Besides his song performances, Jarret is also widely acclaimed for his ability to create long improvisations on which jazz, classical musical and even folk and gospel music blend in an omogeneous and usually astonishingly beautiful result.

But not everything is milk and honey with Jarret, as Italian audiences attending the Perugia Jazz Festival a few years ago can confirm. On that occasion Jarrett snipped at the public after what he thought was a misrespect on their side: in fact, the musician finds the slightest sounds from the audience, as coughs or whispers to be highly distracting and has no qualms about letting the audience know how he feels. In fact the organizers of his concert hand cough drops to the public before every performance.

If you will find yourself in Rome during July this is a great opportunity to attend a concert of magnificent music. At Yes Hotel and Hotel Des Artistes we are at your disposition for all your accomodation needs in Rome.