The Italian Community of St Louis
  • HOME
  • NEWS
  • EVENTS
  • ITALIAN LANGUAGE PROGRAM
    • ITALIAN LANGUAGE CLASSES
    • CHILDREN'S CLASSES
    • PRIVATE LESSONS
    • ITALIAN MEETUP GROUP
  • ST LOUIS - BOLOGNA SISTER CITIES
  • ITALY TOURS
    • Past Tours
  • ASSOCIATIONS
    • CLUB ITALIANO PER PIACERE
    • ITALIAN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
  • SERVICES
    • ITALIAN CITIZENSHIP ASSISTANCE
    • REAL ESTATE ASSISTANCE
    • JOB POSTINGS
  • SPONSORS
  • SOCIAL MEDIA
    • Photos
  • ABOUT US
  • CONTACT
  • HOME
  • NOTIZIE
  • EVENTI
  • IMPARATE L'ITALIANO
  • CLUB ITALIANO PER PIACERE
  • ASSOCIAZIONI
  • AZIENDE ITALIANE
  • SOSTENITORI
  • SOCIAL MEDIA
    • Foto
  • CHI SIAMO
  • CONTATTACI

20th Anniversary of Club "Italiano Per Piacere" Honors Franco Giannotti

6/9/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
Scott Hoff (left) and Franco Giannotti (right) during the 20th anniversary celebration of Italiano Per Piacere
MICHAEL CROSS
President, St Louis - Bologna Sister Cities

​A culture dies when its language dies. Any linguist or anthropologist can testify to this fact. When Franco Giannotti, a native of Trieste, founded Italiano Per Piacere (IPP) in 1999, he understood this very well. He was part of an Italian club in St. Louis which didn't want to have anything to do with the Italian language. It didn't make any sense to him why an "Italian" club didn't want to speak Italian. I completely agree with this sentiment.

A culture and its language are inseparable. There can be no Italian culture without the Italian language just like there can be no French culture without the French language. The world famous linguist, Noam Chomsky, reiterated these facts in his book "Language and Mind" where he stated that a language is crucial to the identity of a culture precisely because any given culture flows from a particular language.

As a result of an unnecessary struggle over the inclusion of the Italian language in the late 1990s, Giannotti gathered like-minded people and founded his own club with the purpose of preserving and promoting the Italian language and culture in the St. Louis region. Not surprisingly, IPP has flourished ever since and today it remains the largest and most active Italian club in the St Louis metropolitan area. Moreover, it is the only exclusively Italian speaking association in the entire Midwest. I joined IPP four years ago. Two years later, Franco extended me an invitation to become a board member. Personally, I have learned a lot from Franco over these last few years and I am grateful that our paths in life have crossed.

On June 5th, IPP celebrated its 20th anniversary with an exquisite dinner, awards, gifts, speeches, and a presentation at the Ristorante Pan D'Olive. Giannotti was presented with a plaque by the new president of IPP, Scott Hoff. Hoff, a St Louis native fluent in the Italian language, spoke eloquently about his admiration and gratitude towards Franco. The Chairman of the Board, Dr. Franco Sicuro, a native of Sicily, lauded Franco's vision and foresight. Personally, I had the honor of reading a letter written by Honorable Fucsia Nissoli for this occasion. Nissoli is the only Italian parliamentarian thus far to ever visit St Louis, doing so during our community's Gran Festa di Ferragosto last August. She praised Franco calling him a dear friend and thanked him for his spirit of service to the Italian community in St Louis and throughout the United States.

The 20th anniversary celebration coincided with Giannotti's 80th birthday as well as the Festa della Repubblica, making the event extra special. As Franco retires from his role as president of Italiano Per Piacere, he will not be journeying too far away. He pledged to remain engaged in the club as President Emeritus as well as active within the Italian community, serving on the board of the St Louis - Bologna Sister Cities Organization which he helped found in 1987, and which has been recently re-vitalized. Franco is also owner of the oldest Italian website in the US and one of the most coveted domains, www.ItaliaUSA.com, which he updates regularly.
0 Comments

The Four Italian Tenors Make Their U.S. Debut in St Louis

6/2/2019

0 Comments

 
The Four Italian Tenors St Louis Italians Michael Cross
MICHAEL CROSS
President, St Louis - Bologna Sister Cities

​Join the Italian Community of St Louis on Tuesday, October 29, 2019 at 8PM as we welcome the Four Italian Tenors direct from Rome, Italy, to the majestic Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis. For the first time in the United States, the Four Italian Tenors, ALESSANDRO D'ACRISSA, FEDERICO SERRA, FEDERICO PARISI, and ROBERTO CRESCA, will perform the greatest Sacred Tenor Arias and songs of all time, in unique arrangements, created particularly for their concert in St Louis.

Their performances are captivating, exhilarating, passionate, engaging and mesmerizing. Come hear this new generation of world-class tenors explore and present these classic works with panache, verve and vivacity, all in their own inimitable style.

The Italian Community of Saint Louis is honored to welcome these four young tenors and is proud to participate in this historic event, the largest concert featuring Italian artists in St Louis history! A very special thanks goes to Scott Kennebeck of St. Louis Cathedral Concerts in giving members of the Italian Community of St Louis, our CLUB Italiano Per Piacere, and members of the St Louis - Bologna Sister Cities 20% OFF ALL TICKET PRICES.

For the 20% off coupon code and additional information for a special meet and greet with the artists, please contact: [email protected]
The Four Italian Tenors St Louis Italians Michael Cross
0 Comments

    Authors

    Giovanna Leopardi
    Franco Giannotti
    Scott Hoff
    Michael Cross
    Elizabeth Bernhardt
    Rebecca Messbarger
    Elena Dalla Torre
    Denis Alessio

    Year

    All
    2018
    2019
    2020
    2021
    2022
    2023
    2024
    2025

    Archives

    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018

    RSS Feed

Picture

​Italian Community of St Louis
​Comunità Italiana di St Louis



​​Saint Louis, Missouri 63105

Tel: 314-566-3873
Email: [email protected]

​
We connect Italians in St Louis and promote contemporary Italy.
Copyright 2017-2025. All rights reserved. 

Contact us:

[email protected]

Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube 

#italianiSTL 

  • HOME
  • NEWS
  • EVENTS
  • ITALIAN LANGUAGE PROGRAM
    • ITALIAN LANGUAGE CLASSES
    • CHILDREN'S CLASSES
    • PRIVATE LESSONS
    • ITALIAN MEETUP GROUP
  • ST LOUIS - BOLOGNA SISTER CITIES
  • ITALY TOURS
    • Past Tours
  • ASSOCIATIONS
    • CLUB ITALIANO PER PIACERE
    • ITALIAN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
  • SERVICES
    • ITALIAN CITIZENSHIP ASSISTANCE
    • REAL ESTATE ASSISTANCE
    • JOB POSTINGS
  • SPONSORS
  • SOCIAL MEDIA
    • Photos
  • ABOUT US
  • CONTACT
  • HOME
  • NOTIZIE
  • EVENTI
  • IMPARATE L'ITALIANO
  • CLUB ITALIANO PER PIACERE
  • ASSOCIAZIONI
  • AZIENDE ITALIANE
  • SOSTENITORI
  • SOCIAL MEDIA
    • Foto
  • CHI SIAMO
  • CONTATTACI