“The greatness and the pride of an all female Sicily ably exalted by a superb Mariella Lo Giudice, delicately fertile in her elegant recitation.”

(Giornale dello Spettacolo, 1998)

“An Arab atmosphere at the Taormina Festival.”

(Corriere della Sera, 1998)

“At times fragile, at others imperious, but always intense and most human, Mariella Lo Giudice”.

(Giornale di Sicilia, 1998)

The transition from the Middle Ages to Modern History is relived in the narrative of one protagonist: Constance d’Hauteville, daughter of Roger, the Norman King of Sicily. She is the wife of Emperor Henry VI of Hohenstaufen and mother of Federico II of Swabia.

This cultural event, “I Normanni di Sicilia: Costanza e Federico”, which will take place at the Mosta Local Council Hall on 31 July 2006 at 7.30 p.m., is intended as a bridge towards the promotion of the strong cultural, artistic and religious relationship between Malta and Sicily, and not simply through tourism and commercial links. It is of great international importance for Sicily as it strengthens, in an original manner, the promotion of regional, national and international policies as advocated by the Regione Siciliana and the Italian State.

This event forms part of the festival “Così vicini, così lontani: la Sicilia del sud est e Malta” which is running in its fourth edition and is supported by the Assessorato Regionale ai Beni Culturali ed Ambientali of Sicily under the auspices of the Italian Embassy and the Istituto Italiano di Cultura a Malta.

The production makes use of the talents of professional actors and musicians to demonstrate to the Maltese audience Sicily’s rich culture through the arts, costume, science, books, musical instruments, armour, Frederic’s seal, food and drinks. The event is structured in a series of narratives to present a cross section of twelfth and thirteenth century Sicily’s culture and history under the Normans who had then built the basis of the economy, religion and modern western thought. The history of the Normans in Sicily has fascinated many European and Mediterranean peoples.

The show, focusing on the life of Roger II and his daughter Constance, knows its origin from Il salice e la betulla which was successfully performed at Taormina Arte in October 1998, Mariella Lo Giudice of the Teatro Stabile di Catania being the protagonist. The production has gained wider importance as a result of the recent enlargement of the European Union. Supported by the Istituti Italiani di Cultura the Cinema Nuovo Italiano has undertaken to perform it in various European and Mediterranean countries, which after all are the protagonists in the history of the Normans in Sicily, namely the Maltese, Tunisians, Algerians, Moroccans, Libyans, Egyptians, Syrians, Turks, Cypriots, Greeks, Swiss, Austrians, Germans, French, English, Spaniards and Portuguese.

As commented by a Maltese art critic way back in 2003, “The script is … economical, but it does not lack moments of lyricism and psychological perception” (Sunday Times of Malta, 08.06.2003). The performance is under the artistic director Arturo Mingardi of Cinema Nuovi Italiano, with the participation of Mariella Lo Giudice (reader/performer), Lidia Giordano (singer), William d’Arrigo (classic guitar), and Cetty Schembari (dancer).

The performers

Highly talented Mariella Lo Giudice was discovered by the renowned Franco Enriquez. She is widely acclaimed for her readings of Verga’s Cavalleria rusticana, Pirandello’s L’uomo, la bestia e la virtù, and Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard. Her first love and great passion remains the theatre, although she pursues a very busy career on television. She has been acknowledged as one of Italy’s greatest performers of all time.

Mro William d’Arrigo graduated in classical guitar from of the London College of Music and the Thames Valley University, London. He has performed widely with many prestigious orchestras in Germany, Bulgaria, Mexico, Paraguay, the Ukraine and the United States of America, besides in his native country.

He has won various first prizes. His repertoire ranges from the Baroque period to the contemporary and he has also worked in major opera productions and recorded numerous CDs. In 2002 he was awarded the Arturo Toscanini Special Prize for the best young Italian composer.

Cetty Schembari has followed intensive courses, leading to a diploma in classical dance, under the direction of Annamaria Prina, Principal Director of the Ballet Corps at Teatro alla Scala. She furthered her dance education in Turin and Belgrade. Schembari has worked widely as a dancer in various productions and is also very much in demand as a teacher and choreographer. She is a fully qualified Pilates instructress and an expert in contemporary dance.

Arturo Mingardi, an artistic director who graduated with full honours in Arts, Music and Theatre from the University of Bologna, is also a qualified organiser and administrator. He is currently artistic director of the Cinema Nuovo Italiano and also active as producer, artistic director and scenic artist of numerous productions. He has worked tirelessly for television documentaries and has been the Director of the Rassegna Cinematografica Internazionale, among others. Since 2003 he has been organising a Festival entitled Così vicini così lontani: la Sicilia del sud est e Malta, which is held in Malta and Sicily.

This concert is sponsored by the Honourable Prof. Alessandro Pagano, Assessore Regionale ai Beni Culturali ed Ambientali ed alla Pubblica Istruzione della Regione Siciliana, by the A.A.P.I.T, the Province and Comune of Ragusa, in collaboration with the Festival “Così vicini, così lontani: la Sicilia del sud est e Malta”, organised by the “Cooperativa Cinema Nuovo Italiano di Ragusa” directed by Arturo Mingardi, in collaboration with the Istituto Italiano di Cultura and the Mosta Local Council.