On Feb. 6, a pair of Lyric Opera favorites, soprano Tamara Wilson and tenor Russell Thomas, teamed up with music director Enrique Mazzola to showcase excerpts from Giuseppe Verdi’s operatic opus. Included were the shimmering overture to “La forza del destino,” favorite arias from “Don Carlos” and “Simon Boccanegra,” and mesmerizing duets from “Aida” and “Otello.” Rarely performed duets and arias rounded out the program, which the Lyric dubbed “Verdi Voices.” That concert is now enshrined on the Lyric website and can be streamed for free. To view, click here.  

National Italian American Foundation President and Fra Noi contributor Robert Allegrini was accorded an audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Oct. 8. During the encounter, Allegrini conveyed to the Holy Father the best wishes of the Italian-American community for a happy Columbus Day. He also spoke to Pope Francis of their common Piemontese origins and the strength of the global Piemontese diaspora. The papal audience was arranged by the Vatican pediatric hospital Bambino Gesù. Allegrini serves as a member of the hospital’s U.S. foundation board.  

The Avanti Group held its fall Aperitivo Night on Sept. 16. More than 150 young professional Italian Americans from across the Chicago area converged on Gold Coast hotspot Blum Restaurant and Bar to enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvres and dance to the music of DJ Lorenzo. Club President Pasquale Gianni remarked on the importance of celebrating our heritage and preserving Columbus Day, as well as what it means to be Italian. Sponsors included Martini & Rossi and Patrick BMW. You can follow the Avanti Group on Instagram at avanti_club_chicago.  

Associazione Regionale Campania di Chicago was well represented at this year’s Festa Campani nel Mondo. Organized by the Campania Federation of New York, the event was held on Oct. 2 at Villa Barone Manor Banquets in the Bronx, New York. Fabrizio Di Michele, Italy’s consul general in New York, was in attendance, along with the officers and members of several Campani associations from across the country. Representing Chicago were (pictured, from left) ARC President Filippo Aliperta and his wife, Angela; Vice President Ida Atteo; and Secretary Ippolita Bifero.  

More than 300 people gathered in Mishawaka, Indiana, on Oct. 9 to celebrate Columbus Day and Italian Heritage Month. A 1 p.m. ceremony at the Columbus statue in the city’s Central Park featured presentations by Mayor Dave Wood and St. Joseph County Sheriff William Redman as well as by representatives of clubs from St. Joseph and Elkhart counties. The crowd applauded Wood’s announcement that the statue would remain as long as he is mayor. The celebration marked the 30th anniversary of the statue being erected in the park. The sculptor, David Layman, talked briefly about the statue’s history. Festivities continued …

Sixty-four players on 16 teams competed fiercely over the course of 10 weeks this summer during Casa Italia’s 2022 bocce tournament. Team Alta Villa emerged victorious, with Generations, Santa Caterina and Rompe Palle netting second through fourth place trophies, respectively. Ciminna, Free Ballers, Pallini Forte, Amaretti, Corleone, Not So Terrible 4s, Bellas, Casa Italia Library, Primas, Odd Balls, Quartro Leone and Boccissimo rounded out the groups that took part in this year’s tourney. Tony Pertucci served as league commissioner, Phil Sasso and Bill Lowendick as finals referees, and Andy Tegtmeier and Bill Lowendick as grillers. Stay tuned for details on …

Lodge Leone D’Oro #2700 of the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America hosted its 19th annual pasta dinner on Sept. 25 at the Tinley Park High School cafeteria. Past President John Simoni organized the event, with Palermo’s Restaurant in Tinley Park cooking the pasta. Members of the lodge teamed up to serve food, prepare salads, bake for an extensive sweet table and clean up. Local crooner and lodge member Nino Folino provided the entertainment. Celebrating its 26th year, the lodge hosts general meetings featuring guest speakers, performances and presentations on the third Tuesday of most months.  

The Mazzini Verdi Ladies Club presented Festa D’Autunno on Oct. 22. The clubhouse in Franklin Park was decorated in fall colors, and Chef Giorgio Mei was in rare form, serving up a feast that included risotto, chicken limone and pork chops, plus a classic tiramisù for dessert. After dinner, guests danced the night away to live music and a DJ. Anthony (Frank) Cassano performed on his eye-catchingly red trumpet, and John Truncali sang and played the guitar. Kudos to Ladies Club President Lydia Arnstein for putting together a memorable evening.  

Members of the Sons and Daughters of Italy in America converged on Elio’s Pizza on Fire in Addison for a deep dive into the art of pizza making. Owner and master pizzaiuolo Elio Bartolotta took participants through the process of pizza making, from preparing and rolling the dough, to topping the pizza, to baking it for the perfect time at the perfect temperature. Flour was flying everywhere, but the outcome was worth the chaos. Attendees supped on the pizzas they made along with an antipasto buffet, followed by a Nutella pizza for dessert.  

Vic Guerrieri will ascend to the presidency of the Columbian Club of Chicago at a black tie installation dinner on Jan. 28 at Medinah Country Club. For reservations, call Carmen Forte at 708-473-1591. Guerrieri signed on as a member in 2011. “I joined to support the Italian-American traditions that the club stands for,” he says. “I admire their focus on giving scholarships to help students achieve their educational goals.” Guerrieri rose through the ranks of the officers to the presidency, and has served as director as well as chairman of several fundraising events. “I feel very honored and humbled that …