Highlights

The Mozart-da Ponte “Le nozze di Figaro” (1786) is the oldest opera in the standard repertoire. In other words, it is the first “modern” opera. Before “Figaro,” opera was one thing, afterward it was another. Why is this? As Mozart was coming of age, the European political pot was coming to a rapid boil. The American Revolution was just on the horizon, and the social unrest that would explode into the French Revolution was simmering everywhere. Mozart was not what you would call a political radical or a revolutionary, but he was definitely a man of his times. The biggest …

Casa Italia has launched a fundraising paver project that promises to place it on a secure financial footing for years to come. The pavers will line the walkway between the Italian Cultural Center and Nonna Graziella in a pair of two-foot-wide paths that will eventually be lined with landscaping and benches. With plenty of parking on the either end of the walkway, the project will be readily accessible to the public, and at a maximum distance of only two feet, each paver will be easily located and viewed. The cost is $150 for a 4-inch-by-8-inch paver and $300 for an …

The Italian American Veterans Museum took a quantum leap forward on Sept. 28, celebrating its grand reopening with the dedication of a new exhibit celebrating Italian-American Medal of Honor recipients. State Senator Don Harmon and Stone Park Mayor Ben Mazzulla were among the dignitaries who took part in the noon dedication ceremony, which was attended by nearly 200 well-wishers, including more than four dozen veterans. The United States Navy Band from the Great Lakes Naval Station and the Marine Color Guard from the 2nd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment from Foster Avenue in Chicago graced the event with their presence. Joe and …