Date: Nov 03, 2011

Delirious Naples

A Cultural, Intellectual and Urban History of the City of the Sun

Wednesday through Saturday, November 16-19, 2011
Presented by the Hofstra Cultural Center and Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimò, New York University

Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY … Delirious Naples – A Cultural, Intellectual and Urban History of the City of the Sun is an interdisciplinary conference that is bringing together artists, scholars and performers for four days of animated discussion, concerts, theatrical and poetic readings. Delirious Naples is scheduled for November 16-18, 2011, at Hofstra University and on Saturday, November 19, 2011, at Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimò, New York University.

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The conference will explore all dimensions of Neapolitan culture.  As a way of celebrating and learning from Naples and its rich culture, the intellectual work of the conference will be supplemented by a wide array of cultural events and tributes to figures who have defined Neapolitan culture such as the playwright Eduardo De Filippo, the singer Roberto Murolo, and the filmmaker Francesco Rosi. There will be discussions with celebrated American artists who have staged profound encounters with contemporary Naples, among them, artist B. Amore who has prepared a site-specific work –Naples-New York –  for Hofstra’s David Filderman Gallery. Special participants include Maestra Stefania Rinaldi, director of the Chorus at the San Carlo Opera House in Naples; Valerio Caprara from the University of Naples, “L’Orientale”; Neapolitan author and musicologist Simona Frasca; Angelo Cannavacciuolo, writer, director, and actor; and Dr. Ingrid Rossellini, daughter of Ingrid Bergman and Roberto Rossellini, who – on November 19 – will speak about her father’s work in Naples. 

To register or for more information visit www.hofstra.edu/culture or call the Hofstra Cultural Center at (516) 463-5669.

Event Highlights Include

Wednesday, November 16:

Panels on “Learning from Naples/Reading Naples as Cultural Text,” and “41st Parallel: Naples/New York – The Traveling of Neapolitan Music.”

Viewing and reception for the Hofstra University Museum exhibition, B. Amore: Naples – New York.
Reception courtesy of Il Villaggio Trattoria, Malverne, NY, Antonio Bove, master chef. For this original exhibition, the highly regarded American artist, B. Amore has created two site-specific installations for Hofstra’s David Filderman Gallery that focus on the cultural and historic connections between Naples, Italy and New York City. The exhibition runs through Sunday, December 4, at the David Filderman Gallery, Joan and Donald E. Axinn Library, Ninth Floor, South Campus. For more information please contact the Hofstra Museum at (516) 463-5672.

Concert by John La Barbera, “The Gramophone Effect: Performing Naples/New York.”

Thursday, November 17:

Panels on “The Solar Labyrinth/The Topography of Chaos,” “Regarding Architectural Naples/The Perennial Baroque,” “Variations on the Labyrinth,” “Il Paradiso Abitato Da Diavoli,” “See Naples and Die/Naples as the Other” featuring the Joseph G. Astman Scholar Angelo Cannavacciuolo, and “Naples Is a Woman/Writing Naples as a Woman.”

Hofstra Entertainment presents Christmas in Naples, a play by Eduardo de Filippo.
A staged reading directed by Bob Spiotto at 8 p.m. at The Helene Fortunoff Theater, Monroe Lecture Center, California Avenue, South Campus. Eduardo de Filippo, possibly the finest and certainly the funniest and most beloved playwright in Italy, was a great Neopolitan actor who wrote dozens of plays for his own theater company. His plays are all superb comedies, yet always based on strong human emotions. Tickets are $12, $10 senior citizens (over 65). For tickets, please contact the John Cranford Adams Playhouse Box Office at (516) 463-6644.

Friday, November 18

Panels on “Intellectual History,” “Literature and the Arts,” and “The Literature of the Sun”
Concert of Neapolitan Songs performed by Hofstra University Department of Music student, conducted by Stefania Rinaldi, Joseph G. Astman Conference Scholar. Musical preparation by Hofstra University Professor David Ramael.
5-6:30 p.m.

Delirious Naples banquet, featuring authentic Neapolitan food. 6:30-8 p.m.

The Joseph G. Astman International Concert Series presents the Long Island premiere of  Newpoli.
This eight-member ensemble, in traditional costume, will perform authentic Neapolitan songs and dance music on Friday, November 18, at 8 p.m. in The Helene Fortunoff Theater, Monroe Lecture Center Theater, California Avenue, South Campus. Tickets are $19, $17 senior citizen (over 65) or matriculated non-Hofstra student with ID. One free ticket for faculty/staff/matriculated student with current HofstraCard. For tickets, please contact the John Cranford Adams Playhouse Box Office at (516) 463-6644.

Saturday, November 19

Program takes place at Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimò, New York University, 24 West 12th Street, New York, NY.
Panel discussion, musical performance and a reception, courtesy of Il Gattopardo, New York, NY, Gianfranco Sorrentino, owner and restaurateur. Keynote speaker on this day is Dr. Ingrid Rossellini.

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Registration fees are $75 for all four days, or $30 per day. The Friday evening banquet is priced separately at $50 per person. Christmas in Naples is priced separately at $12 and Newpoli is priced separately at $19 per person. Rates for matriculating non-Hofstra students and for senior citizens (65 and older with ID) are available when registering for the full four days of the conference, and for Christmas in Naples and Newpoli.

Members of the Hofstra community are admitted free to all conference events, except for meals and for Christmas in Naples upon presentation of a current HofstraCard.