Catania’s Teatro Massimo Bellini 

Named for Sicily’s favorite musical son, the opera composer Vincenzo Bellini, Catania’s Teatro Massimo Bellini hosts everything from orchestral concerts and opera to folk concerts and performances by pop legends. For example, Sicily’s other favorite musical son, Franco Battiato, will be showcasing here on May 30. The house seats 1200, and since its opening in…

Teatro Massimo’s Gilded Echo Chamber

Teatro Massimo, Palermo’s opera house that opened in 1897, is a master work of Greek and Roman inspired architecture designed by Giovan Battista Filippo Basile (1825-1891). The interior frescoes of the theater were painted by artists Rocco Lentini, Ettore De Maria Bergler, Michele Cortegiani, and Luigi Di Giovanni, who likely brushed this detail I photographed…

Meet Alessandro 

Meet Alessandro Castro, a master accordion player and singer who calls himself “Il Carrettiere di Erice,” or the Cart Driver of Erice. Alessandro specializes in performing Sicilian and Neopolitan songs. You can find him in front of the Castello di Venere at the top of Mount San Giuliano in Erice. I was fortunate enough to…

Dancing in the Hall of Mirrors

Tarantella anyone? Villa Palagonia, a band featuring guitarist Joe Ravo, bassist Greg Maker, percussionist Dave Mancuso, and me, Allison Scola, on vocals, clarinet, guitar, and frame drums, will be performing this coming Wednesday, Nov. 2 at 7PM in New York City at Rockwood Music Hall, Stage 3 (185 Orchard Street). We invite you to come…