Music & Fencing - An American and Italian Collaboration
The Italian Academy of New York, NY, was founded in 1991 as a collaboration between the Italian Republic and Columbia University to promote advanced research in all areas relating to Italian History and Society. It presents distinguished examples of Italian art and culture and seeks to establish a high level of academic and cultural exchange between Italy and the US.
On March 2, 2007, at 8 p.m., the Italian Academy will host in the theater at its location in Manhattan an event which will put together fencing and music. During the intermission of the performance of the contemporary opera Selenal, libretto by Pasquale Almirante, music by Daniela Puzzo, The First Italian Academy Fencing Trophy will take place between the USA epee national team and a team representing Europe.
This unique event is organized by Luigi Mazzone, MD, a fencer of the CUS Catania Fencing Club currently in the US on a research fellowship.
Proceeds from this event to benefit ONLUSProgetto Aita
For information about Progetto Aita (Project Help) go to this link in English
Luigi Mazzone is a remarkable epeeist from Italy many have had the chance to see in action at the Richmond, VA, and Columbus, OH, NACs where he finished Div I third and second, respectively.
When he does not fence his day job is as a scientist whose research focuses on the use of neuroimaging to identify the mechanisms underlying the neurobiological function of psychiatric disorders in childhood such as Anxiety Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism. During his fellowship at Columbia University, Dr. Luigi Mazzone will use functional MRI to study the alteration in the reward system in patients with ADHD and Anxiety Disorder compared to healthy controls.
Luigi was founder and is currently President of the Organization "Progetto AITA," an association of voluntary service that promotes care of Children and Adolescents with Neurological and Psychiatric disease in Italy.
He has been member of the Italian Fencing National Team and winner of the Italian National Championship of Fencing in 2002.
We are lucky to have Gigi in this country as a researcher and as an epee fencer, and now also as an impresario of fencing exhibitions.
The fencing part of the program will take place during the intermissions of the contemporary opera Selenal, music by Daniela Puzzo, libretto by Pasquale Almirante, at the Italian Academy of New York. The competition is a mixed epee team match between a "USA" and a "European" team. Each fencer has competed as a member of the European or USA national teams. Representing the USA are Brendan Baby, Lindsay Campbell, and Justin Tausig. Europe will be represented by Attila Lukacs, Luigi Mazzone, and Reka Szele. Three bouts in a relay format are scheduled for this match: Baby vs. Lukacs; Campbell vs. Szele; Mazzone vs. Tausig. The match will be to 20 or 30 points to stay within the allotted time.
Selenal is the first in a trilogy of contemporary operas, each telling the story of a different woman. The theme of the opera --nine scenes in one act-- is the protagonist's internal struggle, a never-ending fight between power and love. The story uses elements from western and eastern ancient philosophy and mythology to explore modern conflicts in a renewal of the Greek theatrical tradition.
The program will start with three scenes from the opera, followed by the first two bouts, Campbell - Szele and Baby - Lukacs. Three more scenes from the opera and then Mazzone - Tausig. After the three last scenes of the opera there will be the award ceremony to the winning team of the First Italian Academy Fencing Trophy.
An interesting mix of fencing and music.
Daniela Puzzo is a neuroscientist with an M.D. and a PhD in Applied Biomedical Sciences. She is also a pianist with many concert performances in Europe, and a composer. She is a fellow researcher at the Italian Academy in New York.
Luigi Mazzone is an M.D. with a specialization in Children's Psychiatry and Neurology. He is a fencer, a member of Italian national teams since the age of 16, a six times Italian national champion (2002 Italian Senior Champion). He is a fellow researcher at the Italian Academy of New York.
Very interesting. Who will be the referee(s)?
When will the determination of 20 or 30 points be made?
I'll give you a little hint.....
Referee Hand Signal advocate
__________________ When you have three Romulan Warbirds blocking the escape route, Worf has an emotional breakdown about his childhood toy, Riker announces he's gay, Data's positronic brain gets a virus, and Geordi quits because he's had just one too many imminent warp core breach.... Just sit back, breathe, and follow these simple steps:
Has been known to put away a record breaking amount of bouts (to be reffed) or food
Note: The Fencing Footage himself will be there to handle the announcing. Thankfully that means the audience won't be subjected to the referee's accent and verbiage.
__________________ When you have three Romulan Warbirds blocking the escape route, Worf has an emotional breakdown about his childhood toy, Riker announces he's gay, Data's positronic brain gets a virus, and Geordi quits because he's had just one too many imminent warp core breach.... Just sit back, breathe, and follow these simple steps:
The Music & Fencing program at the Italian Academy of New York this past weekend was a great success; sold out performance with the public appreciating the opera Selenal by Maria Puzzo and enjoying an exciting fencing competition. In the end "Team USA" prevailed over "Team Europe" at the supplementary minute 30-29 after two double touches which kept everyone at the edge of their seats.
In the spectators crowd, the Italian Consul General Antonio Bandini (a former foilist himself) and several professors from Columbia University. David Freedberg, director of the Italian Academy of New York, is thinking about a repeat next year and possibly making it an annual event at the Academy.
All proceeds (about $2,500) will be given to "Progetto Aita" (Project Help), the organization founded by Luigi Mazzone with the scope to help children and youth affected by neurological and psychiatric problems. A direct consequence of the raised awareness about this project is the the request of collaboration from the president of a help group for autistic children in New York.
All in all a great initiative and visibility for a wonderful cause and the sport of fencing.
You can tell they didn't have much room between the ref and the volunteer machine operator (remote was broken) to maneuver the points. Or for that matter, they had to be careful not to hit the spectators in the front row. Seating was arranged diagonally in order to accomodate viewing of the stage and fencing strip. Full house (all sold out!) and great response from folks.
I never had so many non-fencing related people come up to me during reception and ask me about hand signals before. But then again, not that many occasions I can remember of any post-fencing reception either.
__________________ When you have three Romulan Warbirds blocking the escape route, Worf has an emotional breakdown about his childhood toy, Riker announces he's gay, Data's positronic brain gets a virus, and Geordi quits because he's had just one too many imminent warp core breach.... Just sit back, breathe, and follow these simple steps:
How bout irish car bombs? Pints of guinness ordered two at a time?
-p
I was gonna get to that with further guesses & hints. If it helps any, I DID have the last glass of champaign in the house.
__________________ When you have three Romulan Warbirds blocking the escape route, Worf has an emotional breakdown about his childhood toy, Riker announces he's gay, Data's positronic brain gets a virus, and Geordi quits because he's had just one too many imminent warp core breach.... Just sit back, breathe, and follow these simple steps:
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