WHAT TO DO IN SIENA: Classical Music November 2012

Giuliano Carmignola. Concert Chigiana Siena November 2012

Italian violist Giuliano Carmignola

By tradition the winter concert season in Siena starts on the 22nd November (the day of St. Cecilia, patroness of musicians), to celebrate the founding of the Micat In Vertice Chamber Music Institution in 1923. A brainchild of Count Guido Chigi Saracini, Micat in Vertice is going into its 90th season this year. The opening concerts are a fine tribute to this round anniversary. The first evening this month will see superb Italian violinist Giuliano Carmignola playing his Stradivari in company of the Orchestre de Champs-Eysées. Wheras the second concert will be given by Latvian born star violist Gidon Kremer.

Gidon Kremer in Concert in Vicenza this year

Thursday, 22nd of November - Teatro dei Rozzi, 9 pm

Orchestre de Champs-Elysées and Giuliano Carmignola (violin) play Haydn and Mozart.

Friday, 30th of November - Teatro dei Rozzi, 9pm

Gidon Kremer (violin), Giedre Dirvanauskaite (cello), Khatia Buniatishvili (piano) play Tickmayer, Franck and Tchaikovsky

Tickets can be bought up to two days prior to the concert on www.chigiana.it. A day before the concert from 4 pm to 6.30 pm at the box office of Palazzo Chigi Saraceni (via Città), or on the day of the concert from 4 pm directly at teatro dei Rozzi. Prices from 8€ (students, under 26 and over 65 yrs) and from 18€ to 25€ (first category).

EMIGRATION VS. IMMIGRATION: A MEMORY OF ITALY IN THE FIRST WORLD WAR

Understand a bit of Italian? This is the night to figure out how much regarding a topic that seems a bit removed but actually isn't at all. Italy entered the first world war exactly a hundred years ago on the 24th of May 1915. 600'000 Italian soldiers died during the war. Many of them were 'Italians' born in Brasil or Argentina who traveled to Europe as young men to fight for a country they had never put foot on before. 150'000 of Italy's soldiers in the first world war had been born in Brazil, Argentina and other countries their parents had had to migrate to for a better future abroad. An important fact to consider when we read the daily headlines regarding todays incessantly growing immigration to Italy and Europe via Lybia. 'La storia quasi vera del milite ignoto' is told by Emilio Franzina, the writer of the book with the same title, which tells the story of a young soldier born in Brasil to Italian parents of Venetian heritage. ...

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BEST BIKE RENTAL IN SIENA

Villa Catignano: one of the many beautiful places an e-bike can get you to from Siena A few years ago, I interviewed an American writer , who during her month-long stay in Siena whizzed through the city on a bicycle. This was an unusual sight - vespas are the two-wheelers of choice in Siena's hilly town center, not bikes like in mostly flat Florence. But the invention of e-bikes is about to change this. The city of Siena has installed an electric bike sharing program which is functioning well. However, it's mostly aimed at locals and residents, as its set-up is a little complicated for visitors who only stay a couple of days in town. Hence, for tourists, the best bike rental options in Siena are with the privately owned shops which supply bycicles of every size and type for a day or two or an entire week. Giulia from Julskitchen.com cycling through the hills of Siena Siena Bike Shop rents out racing bycicles, hybrid and e-bikes and is a great optio...

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TASTE SIENA'S CHIANTI CLASSICO AT THE PREVIEW IN... FLORENCE (of all places!)

The province of Siena is a treasure trove for prestigious DOCG wines: from Brunello di Montalcino, Chianti Classico and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano to San Gimignano's white Vernaccia. Best known to the bigger audience and closest to the town center of Siena lay the hills of Chianti Classico. A wine not to be confused with the simpler Chianti (which can be produced in a much wider area of Tuscany). The black rooster (Gallo Nero) logo of the Chianti Classico links back to a much cited medieval legend involving the towns of Siena and Florence and their conquest of the hills dividing the territory between them. The Chianti Classico vintner's association has overworked the design of the famous logo and will present it to the world on the 19th of February during the 2013 preview of the Chianti Classico collection (from the February 18-20 the Stazione Leopoldina in Florence). A great logo for a great wine: Chianti Classico Collection in Florence

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