he "Piccolo Teatro di Milano"is the first "folk" theatre (Teatro

Comunale) in Italy. It was foundedby Paolo Grassi and Giorgio Strehleron May 14, 1947. The Piccolo Teatrogained worldwide acclaim under theoutstanding guidance of director/actorGiorgio Strehler. Some of the best knownand loved performances at the Piccoloinclude plays by Brecht and Sheakspeareas well as Strehler’s amazing interpretationof Faust. In 1991 the Piccolo was alsorecognized and named "Teatro d’Europa"("Europe's Theatre"). In 1998 Strehler’sdream of creating a city of the theatre withinthe city of Milan came true: apart from the

original building in Via Rovello,known today as Grassi Hall, the

Piccolo's actors also performin the Studio theatre and theStrehler theatre. The director-

manager is Sergio Escobar, andLuca Ronconi is the artisticdirector.The everlasting vitality ofArlecchino is amazing: sincethe summer of 1947 this highlycreative and moving play hasbeen staged for more than 50years all over the world in frontof vast audiences of manydifferent countries. Strehler's

Arlecchino is not merely a brilliant play touringthe world, but a unique "idea of theatre", capableof reaching audiences of the most diversecultural background. Strehler’s Arlecchinowill be performed in Israel for the first timefollowing a tour in France and its participationin the "Theatre Olympics" in Moscow.<>

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APRIL 2001No. 11

Embassy of Italy4, Weizman St. Tel AvivTel: 03-6964223 Fax: 03-6918428E-mail:italemb@netvision.net.ilwww.italian-embassy-israel.org

Edited by:The Italian Embassy in Tel Aviv

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t the invitation of the Italian government,representatives of 122 countries (among

them, Israel), including many ministers, themultilateral agencies, the business communityand non governmental organisations came togetherin Naples at the Third Global Forum. The Forumrecorded its appreciation of this unprecedentedopportunity to debate and explore the potentialsof ICT for government in both developed anddeveloping countries and their capacity to fosterdemocracy and development.More than 900 international experts andpractitioners contributed to a wide ranging debatewhich highlighted the key challenges facing

governments in the design and implementationof e-government strategies to meet the expectationsand demands of their citizens for more accessible,transparent and accountable government.The debate centred on the following six themes:• Governance issues in the on line era• ICT impact on the organisation of government• Implementing e-government• Services to citizens• Services to business• Digital divide and international co-operationThe findings and conclusions reached set achal lenging agenda for future work.For more information: www.globalforum.it<>

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Milan's "Piccolo Teatro" on 29 May - 1 June in Jerusalem

A major Italian cultural and European event will take place in Israel at the end ofM a y. C a r l o G o l d o n i ' s masterpiece, Arlecchino servitore di due padroni, stagedby the "Piccolo Teatro di Milano - Teatro d'Europa" will be performed at the IsraelFestival, Jerusalem on the 29, 30, 31 May and 1 June 2001. The performance willbe accompanied by an exhibition on Arlecchino at the Performing Arts Center.

"ARLECCHINO SERVITORE DI DUE PADRONI"

THIRD GLOBAL FORUM IN NAPLES ON 15-17 MARCH 2001

FOCUS ON SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH IN ITALY

ITALY TAKES STEPS TOWARDS REGIONAL DEVOLUTION

LAW CUTS THROUGH THE RED TAPE

SCIENTIFIC FLASH: AEROSPACE INDUSTRY

INTEL 2001

THE JUBILEE YEAR IS OVER, BUT BENEFITS FOR ROMEWILL LAST

ITALIAN ARMED FORCES ABOLISHED CONSCRIPTION

EVENTS IN ISRAEL

EVENTS IN ITALY

FOSTERING DEMOCRACY ANDDEVELOPMENT THROUGH e-GOVERNMENT

"ARLECCHINO SERVITORE DI DUE PADRONI"

THIRD GLOBAL FORUM IN NAPLES ON 15-17 MARCH 2001

2

taly has a tradition of excellencyin the field of physics. The National

Institute for the Physics of Matter (INFM),established in June 1994 as a nationalpublic research organization, helps keepthe Country at the forefront of advancedresearch.The Institute was formed in 1960 from aconsortium which grouped 37 Italianuniversities and coordinated activities basedon joint programs. INFM is now one ofthe main five public research institutesin Italy, with an annual budget around 90Million Euro. INFM performs andcoordinates research on the physicalproperties of atomic, molecular andcondensed matter systems and promotesthe training of scientists and technicians.It operates through 43 research units andlaboratories, with a staff of over 2800 scientists.President of INFM is Prof. Flavio Toigo.

NETWORKING IS THE KEY WORDTo organize the large spectrum of topics thatare covered by the physics of matter, INFMhas established coordination structures, withthe task of analyzing the activity of researchteams operating through the INFM researchnetwork, and determining the resources to beallocated.These coord ina t ion s t ruc tu res a re :

• INFM Scientific SectionsEstablished according to the needs of scientificwork, they are able to determinate nationalresearch plans for specific areas and to allocateINFM resources to the research teams.

• INFM CommitteesThey coordinate the research activities at largescale facilities (synchrotron radiation, neutronspectroscopy, advanced parallel computing),for questions concerning selection of proposalsand assistance to facility users.

• INFM Networks'The Space Research Network' , 'TheInstrumentation Network', 'The Applied ResearchNetwork'. These networks were established byINFM in order to promote research activitieswhich cannot be coordinated by a section ora commission, and to focus on the competenceof INFM with regard to specific objectives ofspecial interest.

LABORATORIESNational Laboratories have been set up byINFM aimed at developing fields of strategicimportance which are not (or cannot beadequately) carried out by universities.

• TASC Laboratory(Tecnologie Avanzate Superfici e Catalisi)TASC-INFM National Laboratory serves asa national resource for the solid state physics

materials science, and synchrotron radiationcommunities and implements a number of in-house research programs aimed at establishingthe Laboratory as a center of excellence forsolid state physics and materials scienceworldwide, and procures research contractsand grants from European and Italian agenciesand industrial organizations. The scientific staffof the Laboratory includes about 30 researchers,organized in divisions: materials, quantumdevices, surface structures, chemisorption,analytical.

• MDM Laboratory(Materials and Devices for Microelectronics)The MDM Laboratory, a national Laboratoryof INFM, is located at the ST Microelectronicssite in Agrate Brianza (MI). The main researchactivity is related to the issues in condensedmatter physics which are re la ted tomicroelectronics device technology.

P R O G R A M S AT L A R G E S C A L EFACILITIESOne of the main institutional functions of INFMis the promotion of access and participation ofscientists, young researchers and techniciansin national and international projects andlaboratories.Specific INFM activities connected to the useof large scale facilities are synchrotron radiation,neutron sources, parallel computing.

• Within the Synchrotron Radiation Project,INFM is extensively involved in building andmanaging beamlines and experimental stationsat both ESRF and ELETTRA. INFM alsosupports the development of instrumentationfor synchrotron radiation and the preparationof proposals of activities and access either atthese two facilities or at other facilities operatingelsewhere within the European Union or otherinternational programmes (LURE, DESY,BESSY, etc.).

• With regard to neutron spectroscopy, INFMparticipates in ILL (Institute Max Von Laue -

I Paul Langevin, Grenoble), the major neutronsource at European level with a share of3%.The Institute also collaborates with the'Leon Brillouin Laboratory (LLB)' in Saclay(France).Recently, to strengthen links between theItalian scientific community and internationalfacilities, INFM has established the INFMOperative Group (OGG) in Grenoble.

• Within a scientific agreement signed withCINECA - the major Italian facility foradvanced computation - INFM owns 25%of the 256 node SGI-Cray T3E1200Emassively parallel computer and of the 64node SGI-Origin 2000 advanced computer.The integrated system is the most sophisticated

computing instrument available in Italy, bothfor number-crunching power and memorycapacities, which allows it to carry out challengingscientific calculations in the fields of computationalphysics and numerical simulations. Since 1994,INFM has been associated to CECAM, (CentreEurop'en de Calcul Atomique et Mol'culaire),a research centre founded in 1969 for theadvanced study and application of computationalscience in atomic, molecular, and condensed-matter physics and chemistry.

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION ANDCOLLABORATIONINFM is member of the European ScienceFoundation (ESF) as well as the NationalResearch Council (CNR) and the NationalInstitute for Nuclear Physics (INFN). It alsohas representatives inside the Physics andEngineering Science Standing Committee(PESC), the Life and Environment StandingCommittee (LESC) and the ESF GeneralAssembly, as well as supporting a number ofinternational projects (à la carte programs)selected by the ESF.Considerable attention has also been devotedto the funding of programs issued by the EuropeanCommission in the field of research andtechnological development, mainly within EURTD Framework Programs. In 1999, morethan 60 research contracts were signed withthe Commission, and several research projectshave been carried out under bilateral agreementswith foreign countries.INFM is also member of EUPRO (EuropeanUnion of Physics Research Organisations) andEPS (European Physical Society), and foundingmember of EARMA, the European Associationof Research Managers and Administrators.

For further details:Nicoletta PalazzoINFM International Relations OfficeCorso F.M. Perrone 2416152 Genova - ItalyTel: +39-010-6598713Email: nicoletta@infm.it <>

THE ITALIAN NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR THEPHYSICS OF MATTER

Focus on Scientific Research in Italy

ince the new law unifying all previousdecrees and regulations governing

bureaucratic documents has come intoforce on March 7, 2001, Italy's citizensand local governments have found life alittle bit easier.Indeed, the new red-tape cutting bill extendsto all agencies and bodies involved in therunning of public services and to those

private individuals who are willing to complywith the new rules. First of all, the self-certification process will now be valid forall those persona statistics that are requiredand the interested party can now do thiseither directly or on behalf of other peopleknown to him/her.A second important step towards a moreefficient bureaucracy included in the bill is

the possibility of providing documents byfax or e-mail and - thanks to a general trendof giving the same legal standing to documentsprovided in this fashion as to paper documents- of proving one’s identity simply by attachingor faxing a copy of a document such as adrivers’ license, a passport or an ID card.The new bill also extends the period of timefor which the certificates are valid.<>

n a ad hoc report by Luiss Universityin Rome, the verdict on the effective

depth of the "administrative federalism" thatcame into being thanks to Law 112/98, theso-called "Legge Bassanini" is broadlypositive, although the review contains anumber of reservations. The implementationof this so-called "administrative federalism"at the regional and local level carried out

on the basis of an unchanged constitution"can be considered to be largely complete".The regions were given the task of allocatingthe administrative responsibilities delegatedby the State in accordance with article 117of the Constitution. This provisin has "starteda highly innovative process of implementation,and one of which the regions had no previousexperience". But the Report claims that

"there are still a number of significantshortcomings that might considerably reducethe overall effect of the reallocation ofresponsibilities that is the purpose of thisthird stage of the process of devolution".The fact that 3 of the 15 so-called "ordinary"Italian regions, (to be distinguished fromthe 5 already autonomous Regions) havefailed to pass Regional laws implementing

the Bassanini reforms, therebyobliging the government touse special powers, is evidenceof this.While "administrat ivefederalism" develops throughordinary laws, a process ofConstitutional Reforms isa d v a n c i n g , a i m e d a tintroducing "federalismo"(regional devolution) into theI ta l ian bas ic law. TheConsititutional Law forfederalism was finallyapproved last March by theChamber of Deputies and theItalian Senate and must nowbe approved by the Italiansin a Referendum in order toenter into force.<>

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ITALY TAKES STEPS TOWARDS REGIONALDEVOLUTIONAccording to LUISS University, Rome, the process of "administrative federalism" that has beenimplemented following Law 112/98 has had largely positive effects. Last March the Italian Parliamentpassed a Constitutional Reform for regional devolution that will enter into force if approved by aReferendum.

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L AW C U T S T H R O U G H T H E R E D TA P EThe Italian Senate

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he Italian telecommunications satelliteSICRAL was successfully launched from

an Ariane IV from the Kourou Space Center inFrench Guyana last February. The launch ofSICRAL will activate the new network for militaryair, land and sea telecommunications built bythe Sitab consortium (Alenia Spazio, primecontractor, 70%, FiatAvio 20% and Telespazio10%).

Composed of a highly advanced satellite able tooperate in three bandwidths, a control andmanagement center at "Vigna di Valle", and over100 individual user terminals installed on airplanes,ships and mobile means, the system is extremelymobile, safe and flexible. Sicral has been built inaccordance with international protocols that renderit completely inter-operable with the armed forcesof other

countries.Sicral's high performance puts Italy ina leading position in European space, offeringefficient and timely telecommunications under anyoperational conditions - emergencies, humanitarianmissions or peacekeeping. In the event of naturalcatastrophes too, Sicral can make up for deficienciesin terrestrial fixed and mobile networks by betterplanning and coordination of aid. <>

SCIENTIFIC FLASH: AEROSPACE INDUSTRY

eonardo, the first of the Italian Space Agency's(ASI) three multi-purpose logistics modules

(MPLM) for the International Space Station waslaunched last March on the Discovery shuttle fromthe J.F Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Leonardo was built by Alenia Spazio, a Finmeccanicacompany, acting as prime contractor. After Leonardo,and in the coming months, the two twin modulesRaffaello and Donatello will also begin ferryingbetween Earth and the Space Station carryingexperiments, materials and supplies needed by theastronauts to live and work on board.

The modules, each one of which will fly 25 timesover the next 10 years, have been designed not onlyas carriers but also to be operated on orbit attachedto the space station, offering stowage space and aninhabitable environment for two people. ASI hasmade Alenia Spazio responsible for the constructionof the three MPLMs that are fundamental elementsfor the logistics of the whole space station.Defined in a protocol of understanding drawn up in1991 between NASA and ASI, the MPLM programguarantees the participating Italian scientists andindustries the opportunity to use the space stationin the coming years according to the agreed returns

which also foresee the presence of Italian astronautson board from the first in-orbit assembly phases.In Turin, the ALTEC company, founded by Alenia,ASI and local institutions, will provide logistical andtechnological support for the utilization of the modulesthroughout the entire operational life of the station.In one of the most technologically advanced sectorsin the world, with 16 different countries collaboratingin building the space station, Italy, thanks to ASI andAlenia Spazio, plays a fundamental role. In aninternationally recognized contribution, Italy producesa large part of the pressurized, and therefore inhabitableelements.<>

LEONARDO: FIRST ITALIAN MODULE FOR THE SPACE STATION.

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he civil certification process of themedium transport airlifter C-27J,

developed by Alenia Aerospazio and LockheedMartin, has achieved further success. As aresult of the comprehensive review conductedduring the 4th Type Certification Board Meeting

held on December 20 at Caselle (Turin), theItalian Civil Aviation Agency (ENAC) officiallydeclared that the certification process is movingahead in full compliance with the envisagedforward scheduled targets. The review hasconfirmed that the objectives of the C-27Jcertification process will be reached by June2001. This confirmation of the C-27J's qualities,

presently considered the most modern reliablemilitary transport aircraft. It is derived fromthe G222, today in service with the Air Forcesof nine countries including Italy and the UnitedStates. The potential market for this class ofmilitary aircraft is approximately 500 aircraft

over the next 20 years. The Italian Air Forcehas already selected the C-27J and the aircraftis under evaluation by Greece and other AirForces around the world. Lockheed MartinAlenia Tactical Transport System (LMATTS),based in Marietta, USA, is responsible for theaircraft marketing and sales activities, and theproduct support of the aircraft.<>

I TA L I A N S AT E L L I T E S I C R A L :C U T T I N G - E D G E P E R F O R M A N C E S F O R S T R AT E G I C L I N K S

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he program for the production of the Italian launcherVega for small satellites is ready to start. The new

company ELV was established by "Fiat Avio" and theItalian Space Agency (ASI), with a financial participationof 70% from "Fiat Avio" and 30% from ASI. Theestablishment of the ELV company and the Vega programwere recently announced in Rome.The new company, with its main office in Colleferro(Rome), is the chief contractor of the Vega program, witha five -year contract of 230 million Euro. Italy, Belgium,Holland, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland have alreadyagreed upon, the Vega program within the European SpaceAgency (ESA). The establishment of the ELV companyand the start of the Vega program complete the implementationof the projects outlined in the National Space Plan 1998-2002. The first flight of the launcher Vega is scheduledfor the year 2005.The Vega, which has a height of 30 meters and a weightof 130 tons at takeoff, is a four-stage launcher which cantransport a payload of 1,500 Kg, at a cost lower thanaverage . Its modular system constitutes a flexible solutionin response to the rapid changes in the market. The marketof the small launchers is under development and its estimatein the next 10 years is about 35 billion US Dollars (25billion for small satellites in geostationary orbit and 10billion for satellites in low-medium orbit); 5 launchingsare planned every year in the decade 2005-2015, equalto 10%-15% of the market. <>

TA FURTHER STEP FOR THE C-27J

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A NEW LAUNCHER FORSMALL SATELLITES: VEGA

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NTEL 2001 is thebiggest trade fair of

its kind in Italy and oneof the biggest in the worldin terms of the range ofproducts on display.The event will be dividedinto four sect ions:l ight ing;e lec tr ica ltechnology for buildings;electrical technology for

f a c t o r i e s a n d f o r e n e r g ytransmission and distribution;technological supplies for theappliance industry.

Intelshow.com

If you are interested in the event, go towww. intelshow.com, the website providinga virtual visit of the 17th INTEL trade fair.It offers information on the trade fair set-up, new features, exhibitors, and eventsscheduled during the five days of the fair.Dealers will be able to plan their visitbetter in advance of the fair.The intelshow.com database containsdata of about 2,500 manufacturers(for over 50,000 billion Italian lireof annual sales to consumers), 4,000wholesalers and distributors, 1,500agents and representatives, over 35,000installers, 330,000 prescription makers,trade press, public bodies and majorcustomers. A search engine is availablefor locating information and productson the basis of product type, name,or geographic location.All these features make intelshow.com"the" site for the industry, alsoconsidering the greater and greaterimportance of e-commerce all overthe world. The site guides dealersthrough the world of on-line purchasing,and recreates the trade fair on the weboffering an indispensable businessaid.The product news area is of particularinterest. Businesses are offered free use of

I virtual showcases for promoting their newproducts, and dealers are provided with anup-to-date overview of the latest newdevelopments on the market. In the daysleading up to INTEL the area will featurea sneak preview of new products that willbe exhibited at the fair.During INTEL 2001 there will be a meetingpoint for intelshow.com where visitors mayregister as members of the businesscommunity, plan a personalised visit ofINTEL on the basis of the exhibited productsof real interest or the new products ondisplay, and view an introduction of thesite and the related services.

Lighting from all over the worlda t t h e Wo r l d L i g h t S h o w

The lighting trade show featured withinINTEL will be known "as the World LightShow". The event promoted by ANIE-ASSIL, Italy's National Association ofLighting Manufacturers, has practicallytripled in size over the past three fairs: in1997 it covered a net display space of

12,500 square metres, as compared to thisyear's figure of 30,000. Prominent lightingmanufacturers in Italy and abroad have

reserved increased display space, and manymore will be participating in the fair forthe first time. Companies from the fieldof decorative lighting will be included forthe first time.The growing success of INTEL-WorldLight Show may be attributed to a numberof factors, including the fact that it is heldevery other year and is the only Europeantrade fair combining lighting (light fixtures,components and sources) with buildingautomation in odd-numbered years, coveringa total of more than 100,000 square metresof net display space.

Confortec Components

One of the biggest new features of thisyear's fair will be Confortec Components,an international trade show dedicated tosuppliers of the appliance industry, scheduledfor May 23 to 26.

The second INTEL Design Award

The second INTEL Design Award for thebest innovative products exhibited at the

fair will be presented at INTEL 2001.Prizes will be awarded in threecategories: innovation with respectto marketing standards; product andproductive process technologies;design. An international panel of judgeswill select outstanding products andchoose a winner in each category,p a y i n g s p e c i a l a t t e n t i o n t oenvironmental compatibility. Theselected products will be featured ina special display during the trade fair.The panel of judges will be presidedover by Augusto Morello, Chairmanof the Triennale di Milano and ofICSID (International Council ofSocieties of Industrial Design). TheINTEL Design Award was on displayduring EXPO 2000 in Hanover.ASSOCIAZIONE INTEL has reached

an agreement with IN/ARCH, Italy's NationalInstitute of Architecture, for the promotionof the INTEL Des ign Award .<>

I N T E L 2 0 0 1

The "Duomo" of Milan

loom-mongers predicted horrors ofovercrowding and chaos in Rome. Not

only did this not happen, but Rome has emergedfrom the Jubilee spruced up, culturally dynamicand more worthy of its role as Italy’s capital.How did this happen? In 1996, the Italiangovernment voted 1.76 billion $ forimprovements to the infrastructure and

monuments in Rome and the surroundingregion of Lazio, and in 1997, another L. 2,000billion for the rest of Italy (the logic beingthat pilgrims would travel throughout thecountry to and from Rome.) Thus, churchesand monasteries all over Italy received a huge

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THE JUBILEE YEAR IS OVER, BUT BENEFITS FORROME WILL LAST

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fter almost two centuries, militaryconscription, introduced by Napoleone

Bonaparte in the first years of the 19th century,has been repealed by a law approved by onepart of the Italian Parliament (the Chamber)last June and now also by the other part (theSenate).

By 2007, the call-up of conscripts to the Armed Forceswill be gradually reduced until it ceases with thoseborn in 1986. These will be the first Italian citizensto be exempt from mandatory military service.In this way it will be possible to move to more agileArmed Forces (the force will decrease from the current270,000 men for the Army, Navy and Air Force toapproximately 190,000), which will be composedexclusively of professionals and volunteers, men andwomen.They will be able to serve for periods of 1 to 5 years,after which they may leave the Armed Services and

be given assistance in finding a job in the civil sector.According to the new law conscription will not beofficially repealed but only suspended, with thepossibility for the State to restore it in case of waror national emergency. Otherwise, Article 52 of theConstitution would have had to have been modified.This important reform allowsItaly to join the most importantEuropean and NATO partnersand a lso to implementindispensable modernisationand purchase the equipmentnecessary for involvement innumerous overseas operations.The challenge that the ItalianArmed Forces faces today isvery tough. All availableresources are needed to buildup a modern and new armedforce, able to face any

confrontation, with a new concept of employment,projected out of the country in multinational groupsof forces to accomplish “peace keeping” or “peaceenforcing” mandates, originating from the UnitedNations Organisation or other regional/multi-regionalgroup of forces.<>

AITALIAN ARMED FORCES ABOLISHED CONSCRIPTION

Italy joined the Vatican and the Catholic Church in celebrating the year-long religious festivalknown as the Jubilee and has gained lasting benefit.

injection of cash. A special tax break wasintroduced to encourage people to paint theexteriors of their buildings, which had theincidental benefit of dissuading them fromdoing it through the black economy, with aconsequent bonus for the Treasury.Homo jubilaris. The data is as follows: 25million pilgrims and tourists came to Rome

during the376 days ofthe Jubilee(23% morethan in 1999,a non-jubileeyear). Therewere 3,400r e l i g i o u scelebrationsand secularevents linkedto the event.1 , 0 6 0journalistsaccredited tot h e e v e n tcame fromall over theworld. 257m i l l i o nv i e w e r s

watched a total of 400 hours of "Jubilee"programs, broadcast from 126 stations in 80different countries.Labor in progress. Eighteen months of frenziedlabor; 700 building sites in the city, with about30 public bodies involved. Thus, through the

expending of enormous energy and sacrifice,the Eternal City succeeded in confronting themost pressing engagement of the late 20thcentury.Zaha Hadid. In December, a glimpse wasobtained of the New Center for ContemporaryArt in the old barracks in Via Guido Reni.Designed by the Anglo-Iraq architect ZahaHadid, this Center is now being built. The first1,000 square meters of the restored buildingcurrently display works by the 14 winners ofthe Prize for Young Italian Art. These are thefirst items to join the collection of art of the21 century for which this will be the museum.The Facade of Saint Peter's. This is therestoration project that has caused the biggestcommotion because of the color which emergedwhen the travertine and plaster were cleaned.Once the familiar marble surface was clean,art historians were amazed to see the warmcolors covering the interior, with dark red,green, ochre and gold in the central Loggiadelle Benedizioni.Renzo Piano. The controversial design forthe new auditorium, the work of Renzo Piano,seems finally on its way to being built, althoughit will not be completed until 2002. The parkinglot in the area between Villa Glori (where theContemporary Sculpture Park has been built,along with the restoration of eleven ancientmonuments) and Corso Francia, and the three"Music Rooms" are taking shape like hugebeetles (or mice) on the greensward aroundthe huge open air theatre which will hold 3000spectators. <>

Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome

E V E N T SI N I SRAEL

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assimiliano Ferrati gained the third place in the 10th ArthurRubinstein International Piano Master Competition,

held in Tel Aviv from March 20 until April 4, 2001. Prof. Arie Vardi,Chairman of the panel of judges, said that Massimiliano Ferrati issensitive, capable of playing a touching Chopin.According to Prof. Vardi, Ferrati was one of the most promisingcontestants in the recitals stage.<>

he race begins at 18.00 after the Bishop's blessing. The standardbearer and trumpeter lead the procession at a gallop. They are followed

by the people carrying the three huge wooden candles, the ceraiolo. Thecrowd separates to allow the Cerito run through the narrow medievalstreets. The three teams of menthen race through the town. Therace is divided into four stretches.It finishes at the steps of theCathedra l o f S t . Uba ldo .The origins of the race of candlesare obscure. There are two basichypothesis: one religious and onepagan.T h e f i r s t , w h i c h i s w e l ldocumented, sees the festival asa solemn act of devotion on thepart of the Eugubini towards BishopUbaldo Baldassini which startedin 1160, the year of his death.Since then, on the 15 May eachyear, the eve of the day ofmourning, the people of Gubbioattend a service in memory of theBishop. This is followed by a greatmystical procession, when thepeople carry candles all around

the town and upto Mount Ingino(where the bodyof Saint Ubaldohas lain since 11September 1194in the cathedralthat bears hisname).T h e s e c o n dtheory, which ismore suspect andhypothetical, seesthe festival asb e i n g acontinuation ofa pagan festivali n h o n o r o fCeres, goddessof the harvest.If you are onholidays in Italyin May, a visit toGubbio is likelyt o b e q u i t einteresting.<>For more information: Tel. 39-075-922.0693 www.gubbio.com/ceri/index.html

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Already armed with a theoretic knowledgeof glass technique, he began to explore skilled

artisan refinement and the multicolored quality ofMurano tradition. His vases, like ritual urns, inmurrina, or bubbled glass, both shiny or battuto(literally "beaten"), with symbolic hot worked andapplied figures, seem to inhabit a timeless space,loaded with archaic references yet completelycontemporary.

These incredible glass works combinebeautifully with the resistant primitive fiberhemp, which Cristiano Bianchin weaves withhis hands to make stoppers, shells and latticednets whose roughness emphasizes the delicatequality of the glass.<>

The Israel MuseumJerusalemMarch 30 to August 30, 2001

ristiano Bianchin's beautiful glassand textile works are being exhibited at

the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. The one man showopened on the 30 of March and will continue untilAugust 30. Cristiano Bianchin was born in 1963 inVenice, where he still lives and works. He studiedand obtained his diploma from the Academy of FineArts of Venice. In recognition of his talent, upon hisgraduation, the "Bevilacqua La Masa Foundation"gave him a studio and exhibition space.The "Bevilacqua La Masa Foundation"offered Bianchin the chance to see his worksexecuted in glass for the first time.First, however, Bianchin explored otherartistic genres which he continues to employtoday. These were primarily drawing andwoven hemp, "knitted" so as to create theillusion of bas-relief figures or delicate threedimensional forms.

CCRISTIANO BIANCHIN

E V E N T SI N I TALY

The city of Gubbio

DISCOVER THE RACE OF THE CANDLESThe Festival of the Ceri (Candles) of Gubbio, Umbria, is one of the oldest and mostfamous Italian folklore displays. This year it will take place on 15 May 2001.

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lorence, yet again, opens its doors to oneof the most famous musical festivals in

Italy, the "Maggio Musicale". Since 1937 thefestival has become a yearly event, even thoughit was originally created as a triennial event.The festival is usually held in the months ofMay and June, but the activity of the "TeatroComunale" of Florence continues all year round,interrupted only by a short interlude duringAugust.Visitors to Florence and locals can always besure of regularly finding fine performances ofan incredibly wide choice of music in variousforms, capable of suiting all the different tastesof a huge public.

IL TROVATORE - G iuseppe Verd iMay 6, 9,11, 13, 16

Z U B I N M E H TA - T H E I S R A E LP H I L H A R M O N I C O R C H E S T R AMay 7

TAMERLANO - George Frederick HandelMay 8, 10, 12, 15, 17, 19

ZUBIN MEHTA - Verd i - RequiemMay 18, 20

ZUBIN MEHTA - Arcadi Volodos, pianoMay 19

F ARCADI VOLODOSMay 22

ANNA CATERINA ANTONACCI - IvorBolton conductorMay 23

YURI BASHMET - Mikhail Muntian, pianoMay 24

JUDAS MACCABEUS - George FrederickHandelMay 26, 27

MARISS JANSONSS -OSLO PHILHARMONICA ORCHESTRAMay 28

M S T I S L A VROSTROPOVICHMay 31

"DIDONE" - NOX ERATJune 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

PROUST, OU LESINTERMITTENCES DUCOEUR - Roland PetitchoreographerJune 12, 14, 15, 18, 20

PENTHESILEA byOthmar SchoeckJune 13, 16, 19, 21, 25

ENSEMBLE KATIA EMARIELLE LABEQUE- Alessandro Baricco voice

June 20

JAMES CONLONJune 22

D A N I E L E G A T T I -ORCHESTRA OF THETEATRO COMUNALE OFBOLOGNAJune 27

DAVID ROBERTSON -Z o l t a n K o c s i s p i a n oJune 28

Maggio Musicale Fiorentino 64th Year6 May - 30 June 2001

Giambologna, Statue in the Medicean Villa, Florence

Florence

E V E N T S I N I TALY

DANCE GALA IN PIAZZA DELLA SIGNORIAJune 29

CONCERT IN PIAZZA DELLA SIGNORIAJune 30

F o r f u r t h e r d e t a i l s :h t tp: / /www.maggio f iorent ino .com

For booking information:E-mail: tickets@maggiofiorentino.comTel. 39-055-211.158/213.535Fax. 39-055-277.9410

Tickets may also be purchased directly on-line through the theatre's internet web site:http://www.maggiofiorentino.com. <>