Cari amici,
We are so grateful that the Festival Italiano can be back this year with music, entertainment and amazing giveaways!
Osborne Street
Paolo Rotondo, director of the Cinema Italiano Festival will kick off the Festival at 11am.
Following Paolo, the talented duo of Luca Manghi and David Kelly, flute and piano, will perform a tribute to Ennio Morricone and Nino Rota. Then comes a variety of music from the Auckland Mandolinata Orchestra.
Official speeches will take place at 12.30pm, opened by Sir John Kirwan.
After the speeches, there’ll be a special Opera Concert by soprano Lilia Carpinelli, accompanied by pianist Matteo Napoli, who will delight us with a selection of famous arias.
Around 3.00pm the Napoli Central band will entertain with its unique blend of jazz, then Italian music will fill the air thanks to the playlist of DJ Luca Montagni.
Quiz times will feature in the programme all day long ,with spot prizes and competitions starting with Vespa NZ and their cool Vespa merchandise, IN ITALY with their beautiful fashion accessories, pizzeria Settebello from New Lynn with their inimitable pizza napoletana. and a big Italian Moka from Caffè Italiano!
And in a great surprise for our public, a special Welcome to Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli will take place around 2:30pm with giveaways to the public.
Rialto Centre
Kim Santarelli Dance Academy crew will open the Festival with the much-loved Tarantella at 11am.
Throughout the day an Italian degustation table will showcase gastronomic excellence with tastes and educational talks about four Italian products: Mortadella, Grana Padano, Finocchiona and Prosciutto di Parma.
At 11:30am Italian cuisine specialist Angelo Tredicucci will lead a selected workshop explaining the history, regional differences and nutritional properties of each product, as well as offering samples. Highly recommended to foodies, food writers and caterers, this programme is sponsored by the Italian Embassy in Wellington for The Extraordinary Italian Taste.
If you missed the Mandolinata Orchestra outside, they will play again inside the Rialto Centre around 2.00pm.
Activities and fun games will run throughout the day in the Children’s Area on level 1, with a free book to all the families offered by Oratia Books.
Gran Finale
Join us for the draw of the Dante Alighieri Annual Raffle on stage at 4.30pm to get a chance to win a long weekend for 6 at Bombardino Chalet in Ohakune, plus prizes from Edit., Touched by Fire, Pasta & Cuore and Sabatino Tartufi.
Tickets are sold all day long at the Dante stall and by our volunteers around the festival. Good luck!
Programme: Osborne Lane
11:00am – Festival Opening followed by flute and piano duo, Luca Manghi and David Kelly
11:40am – Vespa NZ giveaway, and Tarantella by Kim Santarelli Dance Academy
12:00pm – Auckland Mandolinata Orchestra
12:30pm – Official speeches, opened by Sir John Kirwan
1:00pm – Luca Montagni, Italian Music DJ
1.30pm – IN ITALY – fashion accessory giveaway
1:40pm – Opera concert by soprano Lilia Carpinelli and pianist Matteo Napoli
2.10pm – Vespa NZ giveaway – Vespa stand in Piazzale Vespa, Osborne St
2:30pm – Welcome to Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli – giveaway
3:00pm – Napoli Central jazz band
4:00pm – Settebello pizzeria giveaway
Italian music selection by Luca Montagni
4:00pm – Caffè Italiano giveaway
4:30pm – Raffle draw
Programme: Rialto Centre
11:00am – Tarantella by Kim Santarelli Dance Academy
11:30am – Tasting Italian Products workshop, Level 1
12:00pm – Luca Manghi and David Kelly, flute and piano duo
2:00pm – Auckland Mandolinata Orchestra
All day – Art and activities in the children’s area, Level 1, find the full programme here.
