Westchester Italian Cultural Center

Enjoy a selection of classical and contemporary Italian movies in the comfort of our state-of-the-art lecture hall. A light reception is offered prior to the movie. An intermission is given for movies over 110 minutes to allow guest to refill their parking meters.

Sicilian Girl (2008) Directed by Marco Amenta
17-year-old Sicilian Rita Atria (Veronica D’Agostino), who broke the Sicilian Mafia’s code of silence and testified against the “family business” after both her father and her brother were murdered. This true story is vividly brought to life in Marco Amenta’s hard-hitting and wonderfully acted drama.
In Italian with English subtitles, 115 minutes.

Hands-on classes and demonstration presented by renowned food experts in our state-of-the-art kitchen.

Sicily is a historical crossroads of cultures, each of which has left a mark in the kitchen. The result is a varied sumptuous cuisine rich in different ingredients. Seafood abound in Sicilian dishes; tuna, fresh swordfish, anchovies and sardines are the most consumed fish. The fish is flavored with garlic, olives, capers, but also with unusual ingredients such as raisins and pine nuts, giving rise to recipes such as the famous noseddu (dried tuna) and cuscus.

Presented by Teresa Ingrasciotta.

Our ever-popular, hands-on culinary classes for children are presented in our professional demonstration kitchen. Children don chef coats and toques and have fun while learning to prepare traditional Italian food. Presented by Cathy Blanco.

Learn how to prepare one of the classics of Italian cuisine. Gnocchi are surprisingly easy to make and are a very versatile dish. They can be dressed with a variety of sauces to please your taste. An activity that can be enjoyed by the whole family!

First in a series of four lectures presented by Professor Joseph N. Spedaliere MA, Distinguished Professor of Italian Language and Culture at Concordia College.

With an incomparable history of artistic splendor, Italy’s cultural patrimony through is further glorified by the contributions of its filmmakers. Tracing the Italian cinema’s early development from silent film through the Fascist years to the arrival of Luchino Visconti’s pivotal and provocative Ossessione (1942), this lecture will focus on the changing, maturing face of Italian cinema.

Discover and preserve your family’s unique story. Professional genealogist Toni McKeen will share with you her passion and knowledge, and the tips and tricks that you need to know for documenting your family history.

City directories are one of the most overlooked sources of historical information on families. You will learn how and where to find city directories, the important clues they hold, and their use in finding missing census and vital records.

Enjoy some of the best productions of Italian cinema. Refreshments are offered prior to the screening.

Ossessione (1932) Directed by Luchino Visconti
Luchino Visconti’s directorial debut presaged the postwar emergence of Italian neorealism becoming one of the most significant film movements of the 20th century. Based on James M. Cain’s novel, The Postman Always Rings Twice, Visconti embedds the melodramatic tale of sexual obsession and murder in the gritty, provincial environments of Ancona and Ferrara during the time of Fascist Italy. Influenced by the work of Jean Renoir, Visconti uses specific techniques to relate the characters to their locations, revealing how their squalid existences and fear of omnipresent poverty can provoke tragedy.
In Italian with English subtitles, 140 minutes.

The Grumo Festival was born in 2009. Young Artists are coached by a faculty of distinguished musicians, drawn from conservatories and music departments in the USA, Italy, and other countries. The festival started the 2012 series of concerts in New York City where it was awarded the Gioconda Smile Award 2012. The repertoire spans the works of Mozart, Paganini, Brahms, Nino Rota and others, performed by distinguished musicians, alumni and international guests. The Concert is organized in collaboration with the United Pugliesi Federation and director and composer Davide Zannoni.

A reception with the artists and dignitaries from the Town of Grumo Appula will follow.

PERFORMERS
Grumo Festival Professors:
Piano – Giuseppe Lupis (Grand Valley State University)
Piano – Hyunjung Rachel Chung (Spelman College)
Piano – Denine LeBlanc (University of Louisville)
Flute – Andrea Ceccomori (Italy)
Double Bass – Milton Masciadri (University of Georgia)

Grumo Festival Alumni:
Piano – Jordan Alexander (Charleston Music School)
Piano – Ayaka Kondo (Baylor University)

International Guests:
Duo Piano – Mikolaj Warszynski (Cégep de Drummondville, Canada) and Zuzana Simurdova (Canada)

PROGRAM

Ayaka Kondo, piano
Wolfgang A. Mozart (1756-1791) Fantasy in C minor K. 475

Jordan Alexander, piano
Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943) Prelude Op. 23 No. 4 in D major

Denine LeBlanc, piano
Rachel Grimes (n/a) Reflections

Andrea Ceccomori, flute
Giuseppe Lupis, piano
Nino Rota (1911-1979) Serenata

Milton Masciadri, double bass
Giuseppe Lupis, piano
Niccolo Paganini (1792-1840) Moses Fantasy Variations for One String

Hynjung Rachel Chung, piano
Claude Debussy (1862-1918) L’Isle Joyeuse
Giuseppe Lupis (1968) Toccata

Duo Warszynski/Simurdova
Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904) Slavonic Dances No. 1 & 2
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) Hungarian Dances No. 4 & 5

First in a series of three captivating lectures presented by Gaetano V. Cavallaro R.Ph.,M.D. After fifty years of research, Professor Cavallaro’s three volumes may be the most complete and accurate work on events in Italy prior to, during and immediately after the First World War.

Italy Before and at the Beginning of its Involvement in the First World War
After the Italian Unification Italy looked for an ally, after being refused by many, Italy finally entered into the Triple Alliance with Germany and Austria-Hungary. Professor Cavallaro will discuss why Italy turned to the allies as well as the early Italian offensives on the Isonzo.

Hands-on classes and demonstrations presented by renowned food experts in our state-of-the-art kitchen.

The cuisine of Campania is a rich abundant fare, focused on the simple preparation of local ingredients, influenced by both the French and Spanish cultures. Pasta, always cooked al dente, is mostly eaten with a pummarola, a delicious sauce made with San Marzano tomatoes. Dairy products are often the focus, from the well known Mozzarella di Bufala Campana DOP and Caciocavallo DOP. Vegetables and fruits thrive in the rich volcanic soil and become the source of many dishes always accompanied by a superb extra virgin olive oil. Pizza, of course, has become the symbol for the region famous all over the world. Presented by Ciro Sarra, of Sarra Imports Inc.

Our ever-popular, hands-on culinary classes for children are presented in our professional demonstration kitchen. Children don chef coats and toques and have fun while learning to prepare traditional Italian food. Presented by Cathy Blanco.

The “Zeppole di San Giuseppe” is not a zeppola like the others. It is the best known of the different types of zeppole. In the eighteenth century, carpenters in Naples would set up tables in front of their shops to fry and serve fresh hot zeppole to the people in honor of their patron Saint Joseph. Join us for a fun afternoon making delicious zeppole!