Podcasts about two sicilies

Today on The Joys Of Binge Reading, a real historical fiction treat. Diana Giovinazzo and Antoinette's Sister, historical fiction bursting with intrigue, adventure, and romance. Hi there. I'm your host, Jenny Wheeler, and on Binge Reading today, Diana Giovinazzo presents two historical feasts and two formidable women. Antoinette's Sister is a tale of power, love, and the entwined lives of two sisters, both queens during 18th century Europe's most volatile period. One will keep her head, the other will lose it This is historical fiction at its most entertaining and informative. Historical Fiction Sales Specials But before we get to that news of two special historical fiction sales, the first one on Kobo finishes February 28th, so don't waste any time in getting in and having a look. I've got the first three books of the Of Gold & Blood Series in this Kobo sale. The first three books, with 25% off Normal retail price. Take a look now Kobo Sale here: https://kobo.com/p/february-boxset-sale ! KOBO SALE HERE And then we are sharing in another great historical fiction sale on Book Funnel, with loads of other historical fiction books there. Great quality historical fiction. I've got Book Five in the Of Gold & Blood series, Unbridled Vengeance, and Susannah's Secret, Book One in Home At Last, on sale. Great Historical Fiction Sale here:  https://books.bookfunnel.com/greathistoricalfiction/ky7epqyx9f  GREAT HISTORICAL FICTION SALE That's where you'll find them. Before we get on to Diana though, just let me say, if you enjoy this show, why not leave a comment online so others can find us too? But that's enough of our housekeeping. Links for this episode The Kingdom Of The Two Sicilies: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_the_Two_Sicilies Caserta Palace: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Palace_of_Caserta Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinand_I_of_the_Two_Sicilies Where to find Diana Giovinazzo Online Website: https://dianagiovinazzo.com/ Facebook @dianagauthor Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dianagauthor/ Twitter: TikTok: @dianagauthor Wine Women and Words podcast: https://www.winewomenwordspodcast.com/ (Editor's Note – Maria Carolina was called Charlotte by her family, and I refer to her by that name a few times in the podcast.  Sorry if this is confusing – but it was one of the names she was known by to her family.) Introducing Diana Giovinazzo, historical fiction author Diana Giovinazzo, historical fiction author. Now, here's Diana. Hello there, Diana, and welcome to the show. It's great to have you with us Diana Giovinazzo: Thank you so much for having me. It's such a pleasure., Jenny Wheeler: You've written these two lovely books about forgotten women of history, Antoinette's Sister, which is the latest one and the one we'll be focusing on here today, but also The Women in Red, which got tremendous reviews when it was published. Both of them are these forgotten women. You've said that getting into genealogy and your own family history is what drew you into writing fiction. Tell us about how that happened. Diana Giovinazzo: It was really interesting. I was having a conversation with my dad and we were discussing how my family ended up coming to the United States and the questions of how turned into, well, why. Why were they leaving Italy? Why were they coming to California? Because there were a massive number of, Italians that left the country going to Australia, New Zealand, the United States and all throughout South America, and my father said well, you should look at Anita Garibaldi and check out her story. I think you'd really like it. That might give you some answers. And so, I did. I picked up a biography and I absolutely fell in love with her story and started digging into the Italian history and what was going on with unification and the country itself.

For Episode 16 we were joined by the illustrious Jesus to discuss a folk song from 1799 called Canto dei Sanfedisti. The Sanfedisti were founded by based TradCath Cardinal Fabrizio Ruffo in 1799 to drive French revolutionaries and Jacobins from his home in Naples Italy. The song recounts the retaking of Naples in the name of King Ferdinand I - King of the Two Sicilies. Catholics, Royalists, and Neapolitan stans rejoice, your king has (briefly) returned and the Parthenopean Republic be damned! If that isn't enough to get you to listen in on this episode, we don't know what else will. Sona Carmagnola, Sona li cunziglie: Viva 'o rre cu la famiglia! Viva Napule! Link to the song we used in this episode: https://youtu.be/xid2_oEP5ho Follow Jesus on Twitter: @FatherXibalba Follow Scott and Sean on Twitter: Scott - @dotGiff Sean - @HashtagHeyBro Think you've got a song that would make a good episode? Drop us a line in Twitter or via email: HistoryInMusicPodcast@gmail.com

Turning Tides: Italian Footsteps will detail the hundred years of political manipulation and war from 1796 to 1896 which led to the formation of Italy. The fifth episode, Tempered with Fire, will cover the corruption which caused Italy to fail to assert themselves on the world stage and the inept government's effect on their people.If you'd like to donate or sponsor the podcast, our PayPal is @TurningTidesPodcast1. Thank you for your support!Produced by Melissa Marie Brown and Joseph Pascone in affiliation with AntiKs Entertainment.Researched and written by Joseph PasconeEdited and revised by Melissa Marie BrownIntro and Outro created by Melissa Marie Brown and Joseph Pascone using Motion ArrayIG/YouTube/Facebook: @theturningtidespodcastTwitter: @turningtidespodEmail: theturningtidespodcast@gmail.comIG/YouTube/Facebook/Twitter/TikTok: @antiksentEmail: antiksent@gmail.comEpisode 5 Sources:The Force of Destiny: A History of Italy since 1796, by Christopher DugganModern Italy: A Political History, by Denis Mack SmithThe Risorgimento and the Unification of Italy: Second Edition, by Derek Beales and Eugenio F. BiaginiThe Harper Encyclopedia of Military History: From 3500 B.C. to the Present: Fourth Edition, by R. Ernest Dupuy and Trevor N. DupuyA Concise History of Italy: Second Edition, by Christopher DugganArmies of the Italian Wars of Unification 1848-70 (1): Piedmont and the Two Sicilies, by Gabriele EspositoMarx Engels Archive, marxists.orgEmperor Menelik II: The Military Strategist and Diplomat Who Changed the Course of History: First Edition, by Tilahun TassewWikipedia

Turning Tides: Italian Footsteps will detail the hundred years of political manipulation and war from 1796 to 1896 which led to the formation of Italy. The fourth episode, The Taxing Road to Nationhood, will cover the initial hurdles Italy faced, during and immediately following unification.If you'd like to donate or sponsor the podcast, our PayPal is @TurningTidesPodcast1. Thank you for your support!Produced by Melissa Marie Brown and Joseph Pascone in affiliation with AntiKs Entertainment.Researched and written by Joseph PasconeEdited and revised by Melissa Marie BrownIntro and Outro created by Melissa Marie Brown and Joseph Pascone using Motion ArrayIG/YouTube/Facebook: @theturningtidespodcastTwitter: @turningtidespodEmail: theturningtidespodcast@gmail.comIG/YouTube/Facebook/Twitter/TikTok: @antiksentEmail: antiksent@gmail.comEpisode 4 Sources:The Force of Destiny: A History of Italy since 1796, by Christopher DugganModern Italy: A Political History, by Denis Mack SmithThe Risorgimento and the Unification of Italy: Second Edition, by Derek Beales and Eugenio F. BiaginiThe Harper Encyclopedia of Military History: From 3500 B.C. to the Present: Fourth Edition, by R. Ernest Dupuy and Trevor N. DupuyA Concise History of Italy: Second Edition, by Christopher DugganArmies of the Italian Wars of Unification 1848-70 (1): Piedmont and the Two Sicilies, by Gabriele EspositoGaribaldi and the Thousand: May 1860, by G. M. TrevelyanGaribaldi and the Making of Italy: June-November 1860, by G. M. TrevelyanCorrespondence from the Seat of War in Italy, by George MeredithFrom Peoples into Nations: A History of Eastern Europe, by John ConnellyMassacres of the Italian Risorgimento, by Antonio CianoEssential Histories: The Second War of Italian Unification 1859-61, by Frederick C. SchneidHistory of the Campaign of 1866 in Italy, by Alexander HoldA Memory of Solferino, by Henry DunantThe Massacre at Pontelandolfo & Casalduni Aug. 14, 1861, by Tom Frascella for sanfelesesocietynj.org in September 2016Wikipedia

Turning Tides: Italian Footsteps will detail the hundred years of political manipulation and war from 1796 to 1896 which led to the formation of Italy. The third episode, After the Fall, will cover the disastrous First War of Italian Independence and its traumatic effect on the collective Italian psyche.If you'd like to donate or sponsor the podcast, our PayPal is @TurningTidesPodcast1. Thank you for your support!Produced by Melissa Marie Brown and Joseph Pascone in affiliation with AntiKs Entertainment.Researched and written by Joseph PasconeEdited and revised by Melissa Marie BrownIntro and Outro created by Melissa Marie Brown and Joseph Pascone using Motion ArrayIG/YouTube/Facebook: @theturningtidespodcastTwitter: @turningtidespodEmail: theturningtidespodcast@gmail.comIG/YouTube/Facebook/Twitter/TikTok: @antiksentEmail: antiksent@gmail.comEpisode 3 Sources:The Force of Destiny: A History of Italy since 1796, by Christopher DugganModern Italy: A Political History, by Denis Mack SmithThe Risorgimento and the Unification of Italy: Second Edition, by Derek Beales and Eugenio F. BiaginiFrom Peoples into Nations: A History of Eastern Europe, by John ConnellyThe Harper Encyclopedia of Military History: From 3500 B.C. to the Present: Fourth Edition, by R. Ernest Dupuy and Trevor N. DupuyA Concise History of Italy: Second Edition, by Christopher DugganRadetzky's Marches: The Campaigns of 1848 and 1849 in Upper Italy, by Michael EmbreeArmies of the Italian Wars of Unification 1848-70 (1): Piedmont and the Two Sicilies, by Gabriele EspositoGaribaldi: An autobiography, by Giuseppe Garibaldi and Alexandre DumasGaribaldi's Defence of the Roman Republic: 1848-49, by G. M. TrevelyanAndrea Aguyar (A.K.A. Andrea Aquyar and Andrea Il Moro), 1810?-1849, by Robert Fikes for Blackpast.org on July 30, 2018Wikipedia

Turning Tides: Italian Footsteps will detail the hundred years of political manipulation and war from 1796 to 1896 which led to the formation of Italy. The second episode, The Lessons They Never Learned, will cover the White Terror of 1815, the growing movement toward Italian nationhood, and the decisive revolt in Milan in 1848.If you'd like to donate or sponsor the podcast, our PayPal is @TurningTidesPodcast1. Thank you for your support!Produced by Melissa Marie Brown and Joseph Pascone in affiliation with AntiKs Entertainment.Researched and written by Joseph PasconeEdited and revised by Melissa Marie BrownIntro and Outro created by Melissa Marie Brown and Joseph Pascone using Motion ArrayIG/YouTube/Facebook: @theturningtidespodcastTwitter: @turningtidespodEmail: theturningtidespodcast@gmail.comIG/YouTube/Facebook/Twitter/TikTok: @antiksentEmail: antiksent@gmail.comEpisode 2 Sources:The Risorgimento and the Unification of Italy: Second Edition by Derek Beales and Eugenio F. BiaginiThe Force of Destiny: A History of Italy since 1796 by Christopher DugganThe Harper Encyclopedia of Military History: Fourth Edition by R. Ernest Dupuy and Trevor N. DupuyA Concise History of Italy: Second Edition by Christopher DugganFrom Peoples into Nations: A History of Eastern Europe by John ConnellyModern Italy: A Political History by Dennis Mack SmithRadetzky's Marches: The Campaigns of 1848 and 1849 in Upper Italy by Michael EmbreeArmies of the Italian Wars of Unification 1848-70 (1): Piedmont and the Two Sicilies by Gabriele EspositoGaribaldi: An autobiography by Alexandre Dumas and Giuseppe GaribaldiGaribaldi's Defence of the Roman Republic: 1848-49 by G. M. TrevelyanWikipedia

John Viola is host of The Italian American Podcast and previously served as President and Chief Operating Officer of the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF), where he served with incomparable energy and passion from 2012-2018 as the youngest president in NIAF's history. John serves as co-vice president for New York City of the Italian Sons and Daughters of America (ISDA) and on the Boards of Directors of the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame in Chicago, as well as other Italian cultural boards. He was fundamental in the creation of Pope John Paul II Family Academy in Brooklyn, N.Y., serving as the Academy's General Director, and the Director of the Madonna della Neve Foundation for many years.He is a Knight of Merit with Star of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George, one of the oldest Orders of knighthood in the world, and serves as the United States Delegate for the Constantinian Order and the other Chivalric Orders of the Royal House of Borbone of the Two Sicilies. He is also a Knight of the Order of Merit of Savoy, the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus, and the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre. He also serves as president of the Florida Panthers Foundation. A native of Brooklyn, John traces his ancestry to the Vallo di Diano in the province of Salerno, Puglia, Basilicata, and his beloved Sicily.

John Viola is host of The Italian American Podcast and previously served as President and Chief Operating Officer of the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF), where he served with incomparable energy and passion from 2012-2018 as the youngest president in NIAF's history. John serves as co-vice president for New York City of the Italian Sons and Daughters of America (ISDA) and on the Boards of Directors of the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame in Chicago, as well as other Italian cultural boards. He was fundamental in the creation of Pope John Paul II Family Academy in Brooklyn, N.Y., serving as the Academy's General Director, and the Director of the Madonna della Neve Foundation for many years.He is a Knight of Merit with Star of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George, one of the oldest Orders of knighthood in the world, and serves as the United States Delegate for the Constantinian Order and the other Chivalric Orders of the Royal House of Borbone of the Two Sicilies. He is also a Knight of the Order of Merit of Savoy, the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus, and the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre. He also serves as president of the Florida Panthers Foundation. A native of Brooklyn, John traces his ancestry to the Vallo di Diano in the province of Salerno, Puglia, Basilicata, and his beloved Sicily.

Dona Teresa Cristina delle Due Sicilie (14 March 1822 – 28 December 1889), nicknamed "the Mother of the Brazilians", was the Empress consort of Emperor Dom Pedro II of Brazil, who reigned from 1831 to 1889. Born a Princess of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies in present-day southern Italy, she was the daughter of King Don Francesco I (Francis I) of the Italian branch of the House of Bourbon and his wife Maria Isabel (Maria Isabella). It was long believed by historians that the Princess was raised in an ultra-conservative, intolerant atmosphere which resulted in a timid and unassertive character in public and an ability to be contented with very little materially or emotionally. Recent studies revealed a more complex character, who despite having respected the social norms of the era, was able to assert a limited independence due to her strongly opinionated personality as well as her interest in learning, sciences and culture. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teresa_Cristina_of_the_Two_Sicilies License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0;

Of the more than 20 million Americans with Italian roots, approximately 87 percent are of Southern Italian origin. This massive dispora from Italy's south has made southern Italian cuisine, culture and traditions into familiar aspects of Italian American life; yet the wealth of classical music originating in the Italian south has remained a mystery, even to the millions whose ancestors left her shores. This week's guest, Alexis Zingale, hopes to change that with The Southern Italian Piano Project. The Southern Italian Piano Project seeks to change the narrative and ensure that the lesser-known composers from the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, from both before and after the Risorgimento, attract the attention and respect given other composers in the canon of classical music. Alexis shares how The Southern Italian Piano project got its start (spoiler alert: the Italian American Podcast might have been an early inspiration), how she worked to uncover and reintroduce composers from all over the south of Italy, which composers are part of her repertoire, including Francesco Durante and Alessandro Longo, and how her overall vision is to expand the canon of western art music to include as many underrepresented composers from the south of Italy as possible. Alexis also shares a few samples of works she's unearthed as she prepares to bring them to life in a series of live performances in the greater New York City area in the coming weeks, including: · Friday, May 6, 2022 at 7:30 p.m. at the Branford Free Evangelical Church, 231 Leetes Island Road, Branford, CT. Tickets are $20 for general admission or $10 for seniors at the door, or $20 via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/myevent?eid=312023991157 · Sunday, May 15, 2022 at 2:00 p.m., at the Littlefield Recital Hall at Paier College, 84 Iranistan Ave, Bridgeport, CT. Tickets are $20 for general admission or $10 for seniors at the door, or $20 via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/myevent?eid=312040701137 · Friday, May 20, 2022, 8:00 at p.m., at Mary Flagler Cary Hall at The Dimenna Center for Classical Music, 450 W 37th St., New York, NY. Tickets are $25 via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/myevent?eid=226211192767 If you're a devotee of classical music, a proud daughter or son of the Two Sicilies, or just someone who loves to explore new and unique topics, you won't want to miss this week's episode! This episode is sponsored by Mediaset Italia.

Queen Maria Carolina of the Kingdom of Two Sicilies was one of the most fascinating, impactful and, unfortunately, forgotten women in the long story of Southern Italy. Thanks to the work of this week's guest, Her Royal Highness is about to reclaim her rightful place in history! Diana Giovinazzo is the author of “Antoinette's Sister,” which tells the story of Queen Maria Carolina, the Queen Consort of Naples and Sicily as the wife of King Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies. This strong-willed Austrian princess took little time in making herself into the de facto ruler of her husband's kingdoms, and over her nearly 50 years as Queen left a legacy so important, that it might actually be part of what led our ancestors to the United States! The sister of the ill-fated Marie Antoinette, Maria Carolina's story has never quite drawn the attention of her tragic sister yet, as we will discuss, her impact can still be seen today in the glorious Reggio di Caserta and the vast array of art and culture that she helped bring to the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies before she was sent into exile by the French. Diana reveals Maria Carolina's story and shares why her legacy should be known by anyone interested in Italian history. We also discuss how Diana approaches historical fiction, what inspires her about the often overlooked Italian women at the center of her stories, and how writing for historical figures can be approached without imposing 21st century values. It's a revealing look at a fascinating woman who is finally getting her due! To learn more about Diana Giovinazzo, visit https://dianagiovinazzo.com/.

To truly understand Italian wine, you have to understand its integral ties to Italian culture. In Italy, food and wine tell the story of a region's cultural identity, history, and the character of its people. With my recent seminars on Sicilia (on YouTube if you missed them), and an impending trip to Piedmont with a group of Wine for Normal People listeners, the interplay of Italian wine, food, and culture has been top of mind. It was in this context that I invited the famed New York restaurateur, and Italian cultural advocate, Gianfranco Sorrentino, on the show.   Gianfranco is originally from Naples in southern Italy and after many years of managing restaurants all over Europe and Asia, he settled in New York. He learned the ropes, working for some of the most prestigious restaurants in Manhattan and then opening the first fine dining establishment in the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).   He opened his first venture, Il Gattopardo, in New York in 2001 (a very difficult time to open!). In 2011, he opened The Leopard at des Artistes, his restaurant in the New York landmark Hotel des Artistes and, in 2014, Mozzarella e Vino opened directly across from MoMA.     Gianfranco is a passionate advocate of Italian food, wine and culture and he is also the founder of Gruppo Italiano (GI), an evolution from the original Gruppo Ristoranti Italiani (GRI), which was established in 1979. The group works to promote awareness of Italian wines, cuisine, and products and to help people in the US understand and appreciate the beauty of the Italian culture and its unbreakable tie to wine and food. Although he is based in the US, Gianfranco has a global view and everyone can learn  from the discussion Gianfranco and I have about the landscape of Italian food, wine, and culture, and the special importance of supporting small producers and keeping traditions alive.     All Gianfranco's restaurants use authentic ingredients to that highlight the traditions of Italian culture and hospitality. The three are in Manhattan: Il Gattopardo (ilgattopardonyc.com, 13-15 West 54th Street) serves traditional Southern Italian food with a contemporary twist. It is Gianfranco's original restaurant and is award winning and a New York institution. The Leopard at des Artistes (theleopardnyc.com, 1 West 67th Street) is in the famed Hotel des Artistes. The Leopard emphasizes food from “The Kingdom of the Two Sicilies'-- the regions of Campania, Basilicata, Calabria, Puglia, Sardinia, and Sicily. The dishes are a balance of rural elements from these regions and include pasta, vegetables, cheese, and fresh seafood. Mozzarella & Vino (mozzarellaevino.com, 33 West 54th Street) is across from MoMA on 54th Street, is a more casual dining experience and, as the name suggests, ingredients focus on Mozzarella di bufala, and on wines from family estates and independent Italian winemakers. Also, if you are interested, here is the book we discussed in the show, “The Leopard” Grapes we discuss: Fiano, Greco di Tufo, Pallagrello Bianco, Piedirosso/Per'e Palummo, Aglianico   I hope the show gives you a new appreciation for how wine and food are more than just nutrition and libation for Italians! ___________________________________________________________ Thanks to our sponsors this week: Our new sponsor: Wine Spies! Wine Spies uncovers incredible wines at unreal prices - on Zinfandel, Barolo, Champagne...you name it - up to 75% off! It's not a club and there's no obligation to buy. They have a build-a-case option, so you can mix and match wines while enjoying free shipping on every purchase. Visit www.winespies.com/normal you'll get $10 credit to use on your first order! Check them out today!   If you think our podcast is worth the price of a bottle or two of wine a year, please become a member of Patreon... you'll get even more great content, live interactions and classes!  www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople   To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes

It's sometimes the hidden stories that can tell us more about our history than we ever dreamed of. In this week's episode, Danielle Oteri of Feast on History talks to us about her latest project, a series of classes focusing exclusively on Southern Italy by Context Learning. These 90-minute courses are designed to take learners on a journey through the territory once occupied by the former Kingdom of the Two Sicilies as they discover Southern Italy's art, cuisine, culture, and history. It's a Masterclass for the Masses! We're discussing not just Southern Italian history, but the idea that new history is being discovered every day in some of the most surprising places and ways. From the quest for historic records thought to be lost, to the long held “facts” of history being upended by modern science and a random circumstance, you'll leave the conversation looking at history in a whole new light. And of course, we will find ourselves in a fascinating discussion of Italy's forgotten foodways, including historic dishes and traditions that are no longer part of the Italian American diet, but that are still invaluable clues into our family histories, and how the monastic life brought us some of our favorite pastries, like sfogliatelle and babà. Join us as we “feast” on Southern Italian history with Danielle, and then visit Context Learning to sign up for one of her fascinating classes!

Photo:  Italy. Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, 1810-1812. Risorgimento, (“Rising Again”), 19th-century movement for Italian unification that culminated in the establishment of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861. The Risorgimento was an ideological and literary movement that helped to arouse the national consciousness of the Italian people, and it led to a series of political events that freed the Italian states from foreign domination and united them politically. Although the Risorgimento has attained the status of a national myth, its essential meaning remains a controversial question. The classic interpretation (expressed in the writings of the philosopher Benedetto Croce) sees the Risorgimento as the triumph of liberalism, but more recent views criticize it as an aristocratic and bourgeois revolution that failed to include the masses.CBS Eye on the World with John BatchelorCBS Audio Network@BatchelorshowRussell Shorto #Unbound: the complete, forty-minute interview, April 22, 2021.Smalltime: A Story of My Family and the Mob. Hardcover – February 2, 2021, by Russell Shorto   (Author)https://www.amazon.com/Smalltime-Story-My-Family-Mob/dp/0393245586/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=Family secrets emerge as a best-selling author dives into the history of the mob in small-town America. The best-selling author Russell Shorto, praised for his incisive works of narrative history, never thought to write about his own past. He grew up knowing his grandfather and namesake was a small-town mob boss but maintained an unspoken family vow of silence. Then an elderly relative prodded: You're a writer―what are you gonna do about the story? Smalltime is a mob story straight out of central casting―but with a difference, for the small-town mob, which stretched from Schenectady to Fresno, is a mostly unknown world. The location is the brawny postwar factory town of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The setting is City Cigar, a storefront next to City Hall, behind which Russ and his brother-in-law, “Little Joe,” operate a gambling empire and effectively run the town. Smalltime is a riveting American immigrant story that travels back to Risorgimento Sicily, to the ancient, dusty, hill-town home of Antonino Sciotto, the author's great-grandfather, who leaves his wife and children in grinding poverty for a new life―and wife―in a Pennsylvania mining town. It's a tale of Italian Americans living in squalor and prejudice, and of the rise of Russ, who, like thousands of other young men, created a copy of the American establishment that excluded him. Smalltimedraws an intimate portrait of a mobster and his wife, sudden riches, and the toll a lawless life takes on one family. But Smalltime is something more. The author enlists his ailing father―Tony, the mobster's son―as his partner in the search for their troubled patriarch. As secrets are revealed and Tony's health deteriorates, the book becomes an urgent and intimate exploration of three generations of the American immigrant experience. Moving, wryly funny, and richly detailed, Smalltime is an irresistible memoir by a masterful writer of historical narrative.8 black-and-white illustrations

Elvida is a melodrama or opera in one act by Gaetano Donizetti. Giovanni Schmidt wrote the Italian libretto. The opera was written as a pièce d'occasion for the birthday of Queen Maria of the Two Sicilies. The choice of subject matter was no doubt intended as an elegant acknowledgment of the Queen's Spanish ancestry. Donizetti received a little financial reward for the work and, as a result, put the minimum of effort into its composition. Elvida was first performed on 6 July 1826 at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples, but it "made little impression on the audience". This opera was not performed again until 2004. Kathryn Cavanaugh - conductor CMD Grand Opera Company of Venice Purchase the music (without talk) at: http://www.classicalsavings.com/store/p1244/Donizetti%3A_Elvida.html Your purchase helps to support our show! Classical Music Discoveries is sponsored by La Musica International Chamber Music Festival and Uber. @khedgecock #ClassicalMusicDiscoveries #KeepClassicalMusicAlive #LaMusicaFestival #CMDGrandOperaCompanyofVenice #CMDParisPhilharmonicinOrléans #CMDGermanOperaCompanyofBerlin #CMDGrandOperaCompanyofBarcelonaSpain #ClassicalMusicLivesOn #Uber Please consider supporting our show, thank you! http://www.classicalsavings.com/donate.html staff@classicalmusicdiscoveries.com

On December 11, 2020, Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, the outgoing Archbishop of Naples, Italy, announced that he was opening a case on the beatification of King Francesco II of the Two Sicilies. If approved, the Vatican will begin an investigation into the “heroic virtues” of the King, which is the first step towards canonization; His Majesty will then be proclaimed a Servant of God and join his mother, Blessed Maria Cristina of Savoy (1812-1836), on the path to sainthood. The last monarch of an ancient kingdom, which was for 730 years the independent nation of Southern Italy and the Island of Sicily, Francesco II is not well-known to most people, outside of a small circle. Coming to his throne at just 23 years of age, and almost immediately faced with the invasion of his nation by Giuseppe Garibaldi and his famed “Thousand," the man who Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa described as “a seminarian dressed up as a general” is now being discovered for the first time by many historians and many Southern Italians. Now, through this episode, the 87 percent of the Italian American community with roots in the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies will get the chance to learn his story. In order to get a more complete picture of this fascinating monarch, we’re sitting down with historian and friend Lou Mendola, author of the recent book “The Kingdom of the Two Sicilies 1734-1861," who shares his encyclopedic knowledge about a man who sacrificed a throne for the safety of his people, who left behind his personal wealth for the benefit of his subjects, and whose often-overlooked life reads like the story of a true saint. We’ll dig into the processes of beatification and canonization, the differences between the two, and why the man known as "Re Franceschiello" is worthy of the title, one he probably would have held in much higher regard than even that of king. It’s a story you’ll have to hear to believe, and one that might make you look at Italian and Italian American history with a whole new appreciation for the last King of the Two Sicilies. For more on the Cause of Beatification of Good King Francesco II, visit the Fondazione Francesco II Delle Due Sicilie at www.fondazionefrancescosecondodelleduesicilie.it This episode is sponsored by Mediaset Italia.

Almost 900 years ago, there existed a land where peoples of all cultures, creeds and colors lent their talents to the building of a nation at the forefront of science, art and civic life. It was a kingdom in the sun… an island at the center of the world. That nation was the Norman Kingdom of Sicily, and in this week’s episode, renowned historian and medievalist Lou Mendola joins us from Sicily’s ancient capital of Palermo to explore what we today can learn from the island’s unique multi-cultural legacy. A native of Rochester, New York, and resident of Palermo for many decades, Lou is one of the world’s foremost Sicilian medievalists and one of only a handful of scholars whose works on the history of Southern Italy and Sicily have been published in English. His books have broken new ground not only as resources for scholars but also as benchmarks in outlining a Sicilian identity rooted in the Middle Ages. Over the last three decades, Lou has been consulted by the Almanach de Gotha, the History Channel, The New York Times, the BBC, the Vatican's Prefecture of the Pontifical Household, the Sovereign Military Order of Malta and the heads of several European royal dynasties. Lou joins Pat and John to explore how Norman Sicily was truly the “New York City” of its time as a melting pot of several distinct cultures and religions who all remarkably learned to live together and influence each other to create a distinct Sicilian culture. They’ll also discuss how Sicilian and Southern Italian history in general were influenced by the various peoples, polities and empires who passed through their territorial borders, and how Sicily served as an peacemaker and prototype in an era of ethnic and religious conflict. We’ll discuss the Kingdom’s rise and fall in stature from the 1300s through the Risorgimento, when the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies was united into the Kingdom of Italy, and the thousand-year-old nation ceased to exist. And most relevantly, we’ll examine about how studying Sicily’s multi-cultural heritage might just offer insights on how a variety of cultures can co-exist in a shared and productive society, and how the Arab influence on Sicily served in the development of what we know as Sicilian language, cuisine and culture. Finally, we’ll get a sneak peek at Lou’s forthcoming book, The Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, which is set to be the first English-language study of the kingdom since the 1960s, and promises to give readers a plethora of little-known facts that even touch on Italian American culture! Now, more than ever, the best of our history deserves examination, so join us as we venture back in time to explore Sicily and her multi-cultural legacy! For more about Lou Mendola or to order his books, visit www.mendola.com or www.bestofsicily.com.

Kathy Kirkpatrick talks about how she helped one client find her roots in Naples and Sicily. She also talks about her services and videos on various Italian topics.Utilizing the microfilmed, electronic, and printed resources available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, we provide professional genealogical research services. On-site research is available for some locations.Latest News: Kathy Kirkpatrick will be researching in Italy and Sicily in October 2020.Researchers:Kathy Kirkpatrick loves doing Italian genealogical research here, and in Italy. She also does military research in Italy, United States, Vatican City, and the rest of Europe. Videos of previous presentations are located at www.gentracer.com/videos.html.Chris Saffell specializes in records from Canada, Denmark, England, Italy, Scotland, Switzerland and United States.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=30519446)

Gaetano Donizetti’s ‘mini opera’ Aristea follows the 19th-century fashion for composing celebratory scenic works with a large cast and full orchestra, in this case to honour Ferdinand I, King of the Two Sicilies. Librettist Giovanni Schmidt recycled Aristea from an earlier abandoned opera set in idyllic Greek surroundings. This tells the classical story of enforced separation of a father from his daughter, their subsequent confusions and final happy reunion. Donizetti’s early style was influenced by Rossini but is nevertheless independent and innovative, often hinting at his later operatic masterpieces. Classical Music Discoveries is sponsored by La Musica International Chamber Music Festival and Uber. @khedgecock #ClassicalMusicDiscoveries #KeepClassicalMusicAlive #LaMusicaFestival #CMDGrandOperaCompanyofVenice #CMDParisPhilharmonicinOrléans #CMDGermanOperaCompanyofBerlin #CMDGrandOperaCompanyofBarcelonaSpain #ClassicalMusicLivesOn #Uber Support us on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/user?u=4186107

This week we are coming at you from Cleveland, Ohio, one of America’s most passionate Italian communities! In celebration of Italian American Heritage Month, our favorite moderator John M. Viola has been invited to speak to the Northern Ohio Italian American Foundation (NOIA Foundation) about the history of Southern Italy and its impact on the Italian American story. Recorded from a live presentation, join our friends in Cleveland as they explore a brief history of a united Southern Italy, from the Golden Age of the Norman Kingdom, through the Bourbon era and the end of the Kingdom’s 731 year sovereignty. In this beginners overview of two of the most dynamic and important periods of the history of the Two Sicilies, you’ll discover some fascinating historic trivia, and as John shares the shocking statistics of what the South was really like on the eve of the Risorgimento, you’ll begin to understand the long-lost counter-history that explains why the nation that in 1860 had Europe’s lowest rate of emigration, would lose nearly 40% of its population within 50 years of the Italian Reunification. Next week, we’ll return to the discussion around Columbus Day, but we couldn’t let this important examination of the roots of the Italian American story be kept to just our friends in Cleveland!

In 1820 the Good Cousins staged a revolution in the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. 

On arranged marriages among royalty. How does porcelain represent a royal marriage? When Maria Amalia of Saxony married Carlo, King of the Two Sicilies, in 1738, she brought Meissen porcelain with her to Naples. Her grandfather had founded the first European porcelain factory in 1710 and the Saxon court often presented porcelain to ambassadors and others who helped them to broker strategic political marriages. With Professor Helen Watanabe-O'Kelly, German Literature, University of Oxford. Object number: WA1977.246-7.

1860 was a bad year to be a cartographer - or maybe a good year, depending on how you look at it. In 1859 there had been seven states in Italy: the Kingdom of Piedmont, the Austrian-controlled Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia, the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, the Duchy of Parma, the Duchy of Modena, the Papal States, and the kingdom of the Two Sicilies. But, after the Second War of Italian Independence, which pitted France and Piedmont against Austria, we saw that number shrink to four, as Tuscany, Modena, and Parma all disappeared into the Kingdom of Piedmont, which also absorbed the Lombardy half of Lombardy-Venetia, and the northeastern parts of the Papal States, called the Legations. Just as the ink was drying on the revised maps, Garibaldi set sail to Sicily with just over 1,000 men in an event that has moved into the realm of mythology in Italian history - akin perhaps to Washington’s Crossing of the Delaware in American history. 

We cover the revolutions against the Kingdom of Piedmont and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies (1820-1821).