Author: chiravenna

Tuesday December 17 ‘Commedia dell’arte’: The magic of improvised Italian theatre.

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The Friends of Ravenna Christmas special!

‘‘Commedia dell’arte’: the magic of improvised Italian theatre.’.

An illustrated talk by Bertie Pearce

About the Talk:

The Commedia dell’Arte was a humorous theatrical presentation by professional players who travelled in troupes throughout Italy from the 16th century, performing outdoors on trestles set up in market squares. Bertie Pearce will show us how these players had special skills as musicians, jugglers and acrobats which they integrated into their characters, some of which later evolved outside Italy, including Hanswurst (Germany), Pierrot (France), Petrushka (Russia) and of course the famous Mr Punch.

About Our Speaker …

Bertie is a Member of The Inner Magic Circle with Gold Star and also a Professor of Punch and Judy. After studying drama at Manchester University he went on to the Ecole Internationale du Theatre Jaques Lecoq in Paris. He has performed all over the world from The Magic Castle in Hollywood to the Kulm Hotel in St Moritz as well as on cruise ships. He has also toured extensively as a speaker sharing his passion for illusion, Victorian pastimes and Punch and Judy.

The event will take place at:

THE ASSEMBLY ROOM, COUNCIL HOUSE, NORTH STREET, CHICHESTER.

Tuesday 17th December 2024

Price: £10 members, £12 non members

We welcome payment via BACS, to Friends of Ravenna, Barclays Bank, Sort code 20-20-62,  account No. 73194604. Please put ‘xmas’ in the reference area when you make your payment  If you prefer to pay by cheque Please send  it to ‘The Treasurer’, 9 Dolphin Court, Bognor Regis. PO21 1TP

See our full programme of events for 2024/25

Thursday November 14 – ‘Rooms and Views: Filming in Florence with Merchant Ivory’.

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Friends of Ravenna November Event:

An Illustrated talk by Sarah Quill

‘Rooms and Views: Filming in Florence with Merchant Ivory’.

About the Talk …

In 1985, the film director James Ivory, producer Ismail Merchant, and their scriptwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala adapted E.M. Forster’s 1908 novel, A Room with a View, into a successful feature film for the cinema. Set in Florence and in Surrey, this light comedy of Edwardian morals and manners explored themes that Forster was to develop in later novels. Sarah Quill worked as the stills photographer throughout the film, and will describe some of the experiences of the cast and crew in Italy and England.  Illustrated with her photographs, her talk will examine the background to the film and the lasting appeal of Forster’s novel.

About Our Speaker

Sarah Quill

Sarah Quill

Sarah Quill has worked for many years in Venice to create an extensive photographic archive of the city’s architecture, sculpture and daily life. During the 1980s she worked as the stills photographer on a number of feature films, including Wagner, Nineteen Eighty-Four, White Mischief and A Room with a View. Her book Ruskin’s Venice: The Stones Revisited (2000) was republished in a new and extended edition in 2015, followed by an Italian translation.  She is a trustee of the Venice in Peril Fund, the British committee for the preservation of Venice.

The event will take place at:

THE ASSEMBLY ROOM, COUNCIL HOUSE, NORTH STREET, CHICHESTER.

Thursday 14th November

Price: £10 members, £12 non members

We welcome payment via BACS, to Friends of Ravenna, Barclays Bank, Sort code 20-20-62,  account No. 73194604. Please put ‘rooms-views’ in the reference area when you make your payment  If you prefer to pay by cheque Please send  it to ‘The Treasurer’, 9 Dolphin Court, Bognor Regis. PO21 1TP

See our full programme of events for 2024/25

Thursday, 24 October – ‘Verdi in Verona’

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‘Verdi in Verona’

– An illustrated talk by Canon David Nason.

Canon David Nason

THE VERONA OPERA FESTIVAL takes place each summer in the open air Roman Amphitheatre built in the 1st century AD.   It began with a performance of Verdi’s Aida on 10 August 1913, the centenary of the composer’s birth.   .  It will also cover the founding of the Festival and highlights from it over the last hundred years together with musical quotes from the most popular operas performed there.  

CANON DAVID NASON has recently retired from the role of Priest Vicar in Chichester Cathedral and that of Senior Master in the Prebendal School, posts that he held for twenty five years.   For over ten years he also worked as a ‘music host’ for Saga Holidays at the opera in Verona, lecturing to the guests and indulging in a personal passion for grand opera.

Now you can find him speaking on-board river cruises for Noble Caledonia. David still has an active ministry as chaplain to the Festival Theatre, Regional Chaplain for the Royal Force Air Cadets.   In ‘retirement’ he finds himself busier than ever taking Sunday services in churches around Chichester and fulfilling speaking engagements on opera and musical theatre.

On Thursday, 24 October, commencing  at 7:30pm

 THE ASSEMBLY ROOM, COUNCIL HOUSE, NORTH STREET, CHICHESTER.

Price: £10 members, £12 non members

We welcome payment via BACS, to Friends of Ravenna, Barclays Bank, Sort code 20-20-62,  account No. 73194604. Please put ‘Verdi’ in the reference area when you make your payment

 If you prefer to pay by cheque Please send  it to ‘The Treasurer’, 9 Dolphin Court, Bognor Regis. PO21 1TP

See our full programme of events for 2024/25

Monday September 9 – ‘In the steps of Piero della Francesca’ also ‘Land of the Moon’

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We are delighted to have a ‘double bill’ at the first event of our new 2024/25 programe.  … details are below.

‘In the steps of Piero della Francesca – An exploration of his life and painting’.

An illustrated talk by Brenda Gay.

 

A Classicist and former University lecturer, Brenda Gay has used the opportunity of retirement to pursue her interests in Art History. She has travelled extensively in Italy, particularly in Umbria and Tuscany.

Brenda is a tour guide at Goodwood House.

In this talk Brenda will be looking at the life and work of Piero della Francesca and will focus on the paintings which remain in Tuscany, Umbria and Urbino.

 

ALSO

‘Land of the Moon’

An illustrated talk by Andrew and Julie Wyatt.

   

Julie and Andrew have owned their property in Italy for nearly 20 years. They are interested in the history, culture and natural environment which can be found in the Lunigiana valley located in the far North Western corner of Tuscany. Their house is located along the Via Francigena route which links Canterbury to Rome and also the Via del Volto Santo which links Pontremoli to Lucca.

Julie is a commercial Insurance Broker by profession whilst Andrew is a Chartered Engineer. After retiring from full time work they opened a B&B in the Yorkshire Dales which they ran successfully for 9 years. Now based at Rowland’s Castle from where they can more easily visit their four children and eight grandchildren, they are active in the U3A, the Ramblers and of course the Friends of Ravenna.

AT THE ASSEMBLY ROOM, COUNCIL HOUSE, NORTH STREET, CHICHESTER.

Price: £10 members, £12 non members

We welcome payment via BACS, to Friends of Ravenna, Barclays Bank, Sort code 20-20-62,  account No. 73194604. Please put ‘Piero’ in the reference area when you make your payment

 If you prefer to pay by cheque Please send  it to ‘The Treasurer’, 9 Dolphin Court, Bognor Regis. PO21 1TP

See our full programme of events for 2024/25

Tom Brown in Conversation – Monday 24th June 7.30pm

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A ‘Four Cities’ event celebrating the twinning of Chichester
with Chartres, Valletta, Ravenna & Speyer 

Tom Brown in Conversation

Tom Brown, Head Gardener at West Dean College

At the Assembly Room North Street, Chichester

Monday 24th June 7.30pm

The talk will be followed by refreshments taken from the four twinned countries, France, Italy, Malta and Germany.

Tom Brown is the Head Gardener at West Dean College.  He has also previously worked at Wisley and Parham House. He is also a magazine writer and broadcaster.

Tickets cost £12 and may be purchased either from the box office at the Novium Museum in Chichester or by BACS payment to: Friends of Chartres, Sort Code: 20-20-62 a/c: 90403822 Please use the Reference ‘Gardens’

Alternatively cheques may be sent to to The Treasurer 9 Dolphin Court Bognor Regis PO20 1TP

* Please note that theTreasurer will not be issuing tickets but will record your payment. If you require formal confirmation of payment please email him at foctreasurer1959@gmail.com)

The Chichester Gala, Saturday, 29 June 2024

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The Chichester Gala

In Priory Park, Chichester at 11am-9pm

Saturday, 29 June 2024

To include a celebration of Chichester’s 4 x twinning associations – Chartres, Ravenna, Valletta and Speyer

This event provides the Friends of Ravenna with a wonderful opportunity to promote our own wonderful organisation!

Each of the twinning associations – Chartres, Ravenna, Valletta and Speyer – will host a “stall” near the entrance. Liz, Jennifer, Alastair, Carrie and Jacky, have formed a small team to “man” our own Friends of Ravenna Stall,  with the support of other volunteers.  There will be information to hand out, a display to show some of the things we’re been involved in and opportunities to chat about our experiences of twinning. There will also be some activities for children.

Do come and say hello any time between 9-4. Bring a friend or family member! We’d love to see you !

Each of the twinning associations – Chartres, Ravenna, Valletta and Speyer – will host a “stall” near the entrance. Liz, Jennifer, Alastair, Carrie and Jacky, have formed a small team to “man” our own Friends of Ravenna Stall,  with the support of other volunteers.  There will be information to hand out, a display to show some of the things we’re been involved in and opportunities to chat about our experiences of twinning. There will also be some activities for children.

Do come and say hello any time between 9-4. Bring a friend or family member! We’d love to see you !

Gardens of the Italian Lakes – Monday 8 April 2024

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Gardens of the Italian Lakes

 

Alan Mason, An illustrated talk on gardens of the Italian Lakes

An illustrated talk by Alan Mason,

This event will take place on Monday 8 April 2024 at 7:30pm.

Alan Mason is one of the most experienced and qualified garden designers in Europe, as well as a TV presenter and founder member and Chairman of the Professional Gardeners’ Guild

 

AT THE ASSEMBLY ROOM, COUNCIL HOUSE, NORTH STREET, CHICHESTER.


Price: £10 members and £12 non members

We welcome payment please via BACS, please make your transfer to Friends of Ravenna (Barclays Bank) Sort code 20-20-62 a/c 73194604. Please put your name and ‘Gardens’ in the reference area when you make the payment

 If you prefer to pay by cheque Please send  it to ‘The Treasurer’, 9 Dolphin Court, Bognor Regis. PO21 1TP

‘When is an invasion not an invasion?’ – Tuesday 12 March 2024

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When is an invasion not an invasion? Cultural appropriation at the edge of the Empire:

 

Rob Symmons has been the Curator of Fishbourne Roman Palace, Chichester

An illustrated talk by Dr Rob Symmons

This event will take place on 12 March 2024 at 7:30pm.

This talk will unpack a series of new ideas that are starting to shed light on the true nature of the Roman invasion in the Chichester area.

To what extent was it truly an invasion? New evidence suggests it was really an annexation of a region that had already embraced Roman culture and, if anything, welcomed the new imperial regime.

Dr Rob Symmons has been the Curator of Fishbourne Roman Palace for over 18 years. During this time he has supported hundreds of research projects, a number of which have started to hint that the AD 43 Roman invasion of Britain was more complicated than the traditional view of brutal military conquest. Rob’s talk will explore these new ideas. While none are the fruits of his labour, he will happily represent the work of others, taking as much credit for it as he possibly can.

 

THE ASSEMBLY ROOM, COUNCIL HOUSE, NORTH STREET, CHICHESTER.

Prices: £10 members and £12 for non-members

Please send your payment via BACS transfer to: the Friends of Ravenna (Barclays Bank) Sort code 20-20-62 a/c 73194604. Please put your name and ‘Invasion’ in the reference area when you make the payment

If you prefer to pay by cheque Please send  it to ‘The Treasurer’, 9 Dolphin Court, Bognor Regis. PO21 1TP

‘Mosaics of Ravenna’ – Tuesday 20 February 2024

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Mosaic in Ravenna's Basilica di San Vitale

Mosaics of Ravenna: For the Glory of Kings and Emperors

This event will take place on 20 Febuary 2024 at 7:30pm.

 

Dr Helen Rufus Ward - The Mosaics of Ravenna

Speaker: Dr. Helen Rufus-Ward

Dr Rufus-Ward is a published art historian and university lecturer with a BA, MA and an AHRC funded doctorate (DPhil) from the University of Sussex. Helen lectured at the University of Sussex for seven years on all aspects of art history but with a specialism in early Christian and Byzantine art.

In her lecture Helen will explore the magnificence of the mosaics at Ravenna, now a UNESCO World Heritage site.

“In 402AD Ravenna became the capital of the Western Roman Empire and continued to prosper under Ostrogoth and then Byzantine rule. This past eminence left Ravenna with a legacy of richly decorated early Christian buildings, which has earned it UNESCO World Heritage site status. This lecture will explore some of these buildings and their magnificent mosaics: The octagonal church of San Vitale, home of the celebrated portrait panels of the emperor Justinian I and his wife, the notorious empress Theodora; the basilica church of S. Apollinare Nuovo decorated with spectacular processions of male and female saints, and with surprising evidence of its past life as the palace chapel of Ostrogoth King Theodoric; the basilica church of S. Apollinare in Classe featuring a magical starry sky apse mosaic; and the exquisite mosaic decoration of the cruciform oratory of imperial princess Galla Placidia. …”   Dr Rufus-Ward.

THE ASSEMBLY ROOM, COUNCIL HOUSE, NORTH STREET, CHICHESTER.

Prices: £10 members and £12 for non-members

Please send your payment via BACS transfer to: the Friends of Ravenna (Barclays Bank) Sort code 20-20-62 a/c 73194604. Please put your name and ‘Mosaics’ in the reference area when you make the payment

If you prefer to pay by cheque Please send  it to ‘The Treasurer’, 9 Dolphin Court, Bognor Regis. PO21 1TP

‘Matera, A Hidden Gem’ – Tuesday 18 January, 2024

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Matera – A Hidden Gem

This event will take place on 18 January 2024 at 7:30pm via ‘Zoom’.

Members will recieve a link and instructions on how to join the meeting via our monthly ‘News’ email

 

Speaker: Daniela Centonze

Matera is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is stunningly beautiful and has a fascinating and remarkable history. Why was this oldest city in Italy and in Europe overlooked for so long?

Daniela Centonze

About the Speaker

Daniela Centonze studied at Pescara, “Gabriele D’Annunzio” University and then gained her Masters at the University of International Studies (UNINT) in Rome. She took part in the Erasmus Programme, spending six months studying in Russia. She is currently teaching English.

Daniela is a native of Matera and her family have lived there for generations. 

 

How to donate: If you’d like to make a donation of £5 towards the costs of the evening, please send your payment via BACS transfer to: the Friends of Ravenna (Barclays Bank) Sort code 20-20-62 a/c 73194604. Please put your name and ‘Matera’ in the reference area when you make the payment

If you prefer to pay by cheque Please send  it to ‘The Treasurer’, 9 Dolphin Court, Bognor Regis. PO21 1TP

Benvenuti Amici – A review of the October 2023 Ravennati Visit

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On October 4th, after a long wait of 4 years, we welcomed a group from Ravenna – and what a joyful reunion of old and new friends it was!

The visit was launched at Wellies Tearoom in traditional English fashion with cake, scones and jam.

After the first evening with hosts we set off to Brighton for a very enjoyable day visiting the Pavilion, Lanes and the Pier. A few members of the group chose to ignore a self guided walk and went straight to the pub instead – a good choice some would say!

That evening we joined other members of Friends of Ravenna for a fantastic dinner served by the catering department at Chichester College. Livia, Ravenna’s Chairman, was so impressed that she insisted on thanking all the students involved. They looked embarrassed but delighted with the unexpected praise.

The following day we all met up again at the Cross for the customary guided walking tour of Chichester ably led by city guide Hilly Sloan and member Carla Gaita who provided excellent translations – they made a great team!

Then followed a warm official welcome to the Ravennati in the Council building by Councillors Anne Scicluna and Claire Apel. Claire was Mayor of Chichester at the time of the signing of the twinning agreement back in 1996/7.

No time for a rest though as we hot footed it to the Cathedral for another interesting tour and then a quick car drive out to the Bluebell in Cocking for a great 2 course pub lunch. Crumble and custard quickly devoured we were off to sculptor Philip Jackson’s nearby studio where he generously gave a fascinating illustrated talk about his work, again wonderfully translated by Carla. His generosity included tea and cake in his home providing us with an amazing opportunity to walk around his stunning garden. Our Italian friends appeared truly amazed and delighted with this visit.

Then it was the last day and, as requested by our guests, there were trips to our 2 Roman Palaces – Fishbourne and Bignor – with a pause for lunch in the sunshine in the garden of members Alastair and Libby Alexander. Thank you both!

Water feature and mosaic floor, Bignore Roman Villa

For the finale we all gathered together with other members for a wonderfully relaxed and sociable evening of food, music and chat. Our catering team provided a delicious buffet with vast quantities of trifle and Fishbourne Community Choir finished the evening off in style, singing to us all in both English and Italian. It was great fun.

We said a sad goodbye on the Sunday morning and agreed that it really had been a very successful visit, thanks in part to the amazing weather but mainly as a result of the combined and magnificent effort on the part of committee members, Friends, organisers, hosts and the catering team.

A Musical Christmas Celebration, Tuesday 5th December

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Jon Grave, Jon Grave BMus (Hons), MA Tenor, Pianist, Director & Conductor

Tuesday 5 December 2023 at 7:30pm.

A Christmas Celebration with music

We look forward to welcoming all our friends to an evening of delightful Italian and English music and singing to celebrate Christmas, with a glass of wine and festive snacks during the evening.

Our Musical Guests

Jon Grave, Jon Grave BMus (Hons), MA Tenor, Pianist, Director & Conductor

Jon Grave. Tenor, Pianist, Director & Conductor, University of Chichester, accompanied by Kiera Smitheram-Roberts, Loula Weller, Carmen Kew, all highly accomplished musicians from the University of Chichester Conservatoire.

Described by Classic FM as ‘one impressive tenor’ with ‘something special in his beautiful voice’, Jon has performed for the Royal Family and in many world famous concert halls. Jon has lectured since 2009 at the University of Chichester Conservatoire in Italian, Opera & Operetta, Music Theatre, Acting for Film, Voice and as a Choral Director.

Kiera Smitheram-Roberts

Loula Weller

Carmen Kew

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kiera is a soprano, actor, saxophonist, and writer. She is also a trained music technician and music teacher. She works extensively in Cornish Academia, specialising in History, Culture, and Musicology.

Loula recently graduated from the University of Chichester Conservatoire, and is working towards a Masters in Music Teaching. She works within the Stroke Association’s Involve Network and is developing a study in the potential benefits of instrumental music playing as a form of neuro-rehabilitation. Her focus is the recovery of fine motor skills in people who have experienced stroke at a young age.

Carmen is a third-generation musician. Women in her family have been singing, plucking harps and fiddling about on violins since the early 1900s. Since moving to the United Kingdom from America, Carmen produced a ‘Melodies of the Great War’ concert in Storrington to coordinate with centennial celebrations.

THE ASSEMBLY ROOM, COUNCIL HOUSE, NORTH STREET, CHICHESTER.

Prices: £10 members and £12 for non-members