Auction Items Include: Zoom Airlines Round-Trip tickets for 2 to Rome * Dinner For 12 by Bruno's Fine Foods * Custom-fit golf clubs (driver + 2 woods,Iron's package of 8 clubs) by Clubs That Fit * Photograph on Canvas by Sheila Reisman * Two Italian language courses at the Italian Cultural Institute * First-class round-trip Via Rail tickets for 2 Toronto-Montreal by TravelOnly * Tickets for 2 to Moscow Virtuosi with Vladimir Spivakov at Roy Thompson Hall, May 22 by Show One * Digital Print by Neil Ornstein * Subscription for 2 to "Five Small Concerts" by Toronto Symphony Associates

FROM SUNNY TUSCAN VINEYARDS
TO TORONTO'S ROMAGNA-MIA
GOURMET DINNER,
SUNDAY, APRIL 13, 2008
6 P.M. /5:30 RECEPTION
FEATURES TUSCAN DELIGHTS
BENEFITS PERFORMING ARTISTS

Celebrity chef Roberto Russo, author of two Italian cookbooks, and a leading Italian proponent of organic food and the slow food movement, will present a special gourmet menu of Tuscan cuisine at Toronto's Romagna-Mia Restaurant, hosted by Executive Chef Gabriele Paganelli.

The dinner takes place Sunday, April 13 at the Romagna-Mia Restaurant, 106 Front Street East, Toronto. A reception will begin at 5:30 p.m., with dinner served at 6. The evening will include live musical performances and an auction.

The event is a fundraiser to benefit the programs and exchanges of artists between Italy and Canada of the International Resource Centre for Performing Artists. Tax receipts will be issued for the maximum allowable portion of the ticket (charitable number: 100220417).

Tickets are $150 per person. Corporate tables of eight are $1,600. For information call 416-362-1422 or e-mail sumintl@sympatico.ca. For reservations please fill out the form here and fax 416-359-0043, or send with cheque to the International Resource Centre for Performing Artists, 43 Bright Street, Toronto ON M5A 3H5.

MORE ON THE TUSCAN EVENING:

Maestro Kerry Stratton will serve as Master of Ceremonies for the evening.

Many of the featured recipes come from Good Ciao, Mr. Russo's second book of Tuscan cuisine, released in January. The meal offers four tantalizing courses, including veal, chicken, vegetarian and vegan dishes, and an irresistible flourless chocolate cake among the desserts.

Live performances will feature pianist Jeannie Kim, soprano Lucia Cesaroni, tenor Stephen Harland and bass-baritone Anton Mamine, accompanied by pianist Derek Bampton.

Highlight of the prizes for auction will be a three-day visit for two at Mr. Russo's spectacular Parco Fiorito 16th century estate and organic farm near Cortona, nestled in the Tuscan olive groves and vineyards (www.parcofiorito.it/fiorito). It was the location for the filming of Under the Tuscan Sun. In fact, Signor Russo, who has donated this prize, fed the cast during the filming.

See other auction items in the right-hand column.

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For further information, contact:

Ann Summers Dossena
416-362-1422
e-mail: sumintl@sympatico.ca ___________________________________________

Careers In Focus
May, 2008 TBD

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AWARD-WINNING ITALIAN ORCHESTRA
MAKES CANADIAN DEBUT IN NOVEMBER 2008

Italy's flagship ensemble, the Orchestra Internazionale d'Italia, will visit Canada for the first time in November 2008. Canadian maestro Kerry Stratton will conduct the Orchestra in Toronto, Montreal and eight other centres.

Joining them for the tour is award-winning Italian classical guitarist Claudio Marcotulli, in the Concierto de Aranjuez for Guitar and Orchestra by Spanish composer Joaquin Rodrigo.

Founded in 1986, the Orchestra has performed throughout Europe, in Central and South America and in Asia, in festivals and concert halls, giving more than 900 symphonic concerts and performing for important opera festival productions. Many of the world's greatest conductors and soloists have appeared as guests. In 1997, it received the European Prize for Culture as Symphonic Orchestra. Home base is the ancient and beautiful city of Fermo near the Adriatic Sea in central Italy's Marche region. It is also orchestra-in-residence at the Teatro Ventidio Basso in Ascoli Piceno.

The Orchestra comes to Canada direct from Italy, where it is giving a number of concerts under Maestro Stratton including Fermo, Ascoli Piceno, Pesaro and San Giorgio. It will perform in Toronto and Montreal as well as in the smaller Ontario centres of Lindsay, Port Hope, Welland, Milton, Markham, Orillia, Barrie and Richmond Hill. The tour is organized by International Touring Productions.

Italian guitarist Claudio Marcotulli, soloist for the Canadian tour, is considered one of the most distinguished guitarists of his generation, both for the quality of his performances and his intriguing choice of repertoire. He won the 1984 Concours René Bartoli in France and first prize in Spain's F. Tarrega Competition. Marcotulli has enjoyed worldwide tours and recorded CDs of operatic melodies and Vivaldi concertos on the Ópera Tres label. This tour marks his Canadian debut.

For more information on the Orchestra Internazionale d'Italia in English or Italian, visit www.oidi.com

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For information, please contact:
Ann Summers Dossena
Tel: 416 362 1422
Email: sumintl@sympatico.ca
Sumarts.com

TRANSITIONS
A Program of Preparation for Performance in Italy