November 12, 13 14, 2010

Directed by Karen Saillant
with Maestro Gianmaria Griglio, Musical Director of IOT
conducting International Opera Theater Chamber Orchestra.

The Prince Music Theater
1412 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Tickets: Call Ticket Philadelphia 215-893-1999 or www.ticketphiladelphia.org.

American Composers Forum, with support, in part, from The William Penn Foundation and The Musical Fund Society of Philadelphia commissions International Opera Theater to create a new opera based on Boccaccio’s 14th century Italian masterpiece, The Decameron.

7 composers selected from among 23 applicants to write music https://internationaloperatheater.org/iot/from-our-musical-director/winning-composers/.

September 15-17: First International Opera Competition in Citta’ di Saluzzo, Italy, dedicated to soprano

Magda Olivero, born in Citta’ di Saluzzo, now celebrating her 100th birthday http://www.concorsoliricosaluzzo.org/ Singers for Decameron chosen-with 52 piece orchestra playing at concert on final day of competition, directed by Maestro Gianmaria Griglio, Artistic Director and Musical Director of the Competition.

September 26: Thin Slicing the Decameron. Creating New Italian Operas- lecture by Karen Saillant at DaVinci Art Alliance, 704 Catherine Street. Preparing members for exhibition inspired by IOT/ACF Decameron. 2-5PM.

September 29: The Art of Creating New Italian Operas Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel 1-3PM.

September 30: Banned Books-Rosenbach Museum, Karen Saillant reads from Decameron,. 2008-2010 Delancey Street.

October 19: Concert at Consulate General of Italy in Philadelphia celebrates Settimana della lingua italiana. Four performers from Decameron: present beloved Italian arias from operas such as La Boheme, L’elisir d’amore and Tosca, excerpts from Decameron and the world premiere of 3 new operatic pieces composed by Maestro Gianmaria Griglio, set to poems of Italian-American poet Antonio Pisano who lived in Philadelphia during the first half of the 20th century.

October 21: Decameron Heroes: Ciappelletto, Maso del Saggio, Prince Tancredi, Nastagio degli Onesti and Marquis di Saluzzo, Ignazio DeSimone, baritone, Maestro Gianmaria Griglio – Musical DIrector of IOT, Karen Saillant -Artistic Director of IOT. America-Italy Society 1420 Walnut Street, Suite 310 6-8PM.

October 29: Italian Words, American Music Center for Italian Studies, University of Pennsylvania. Colloquium with Italian Conductor, Maestro Gianmaria Griglio, Librettist and Stage Director, Karen Saillant and composers Professor Adam Silverman, West Chest University and Professor Thomas Whitman, Swarthmore College.

November 2: International Visitors Council; presentation- Courtyard Marriott 6PM.

November 4: Pasolini film The Decameron at Center for Italian Studies U Penn.

November 6 (10:00 – 4:00PM) & November 11: (7:00 – 9:00PM): The Decameron In Text, Art and Opera.
The Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Rosenbach Library and Museum and International Opera Theater are teaming up to explore Boccaccio’s Decameron and its time in text, art and song! On Saturday, the workshop will begin at the Rosenbach where professor, Vicki Kirkham will give an overview of the Decameron, and Karen Saillant will discuss the creation of the world premiere opera Decameron, which will bring an international cast and an Italian conductor to Philadelphia, with music by 7 Philadelphia area composers, then participants will be able to see a first English translation of the Decameron, published in 1620 and other related material in the Rosenbach’s collection. In the afternoon we will travel to the Philadelphia Museum of Art to explore the Italian Renaissance collections including an exhibition on marriage chests that includes two painted panels based on a tale from the Decameron that will be featured in the Opera! The following Thursday evening the group will attend a rehearsal of the Opera.

November 12: Picturing The Decameron- Smile Gallery: DaVinci Art Alliance exhibition of art inspired by IOT/ACF Decameron.

In addition, ACF/IOT are collaboraing with Drexel University, The University of the Arts, Pinetina Cultural Center and Terranova WIne importers to make Decameron opera possible.