The 31st edition of Umbria Jazz Winter kicks off in Orvieto
Jazz and musicals during the festive season: Stefano Bollani's piano in Rome and on TV on RaiTre; the musical 'Tootsie' in Milan
2' min read
2' min read
Jazz and musicals run through the festive season. Stefano Bollani is live in Rome - and also on TV in the fourth season of the programme "Via dei Matti n. 0" (the title of a song by the great Vinicius de Moraes). In Orvieto, the 31st edition of Umbria Jazz Winter, with twenty-five bands giving around ninety concerts over five days. In Milan, a new musical, based on the famous film 'Tootsie' with Dustin Hoffman.
Orvieto
From 28 December to 1 January the 31st edition of Umbria Jazz Winter, with more than ninety events featuring twenty-five bands and 150 artists on six stages set up in the Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo, Teatro Mancinelli, Museo Emilio Greco, Teatro del Carmine, Palazzo dei Sette. Jazz also in the streets of the centre will be performed by the Funk Off marching band, while the Duomo will host the gospel choir on New Year's Eve afternoon. It starts in the morning and ends late at night. Musicians include Paolo Fresu, the Joel Ross trio, and those of Ethan Iverson and Emmet Cohen, as well as Dino Rubino, Francesca Tandoi, and Lorenzo Hengeller. Three bands will retrace the music that was played in the 20s and 30s: they are the Chicago Stompers, the Dixie Blue Blowers and the Hot Gravel Eskimos. Two Festival regulars are the gospel choir and the marching band. Then Mwenso & the Shakes, and young discovery singer Ekep Nkwelle. Then Nick the Nightfly Quintet, The Good Fellas and Nico Gori Young Lions Quartet. The resident band is the quintet led by Piero Odorici and Daniele Scannapieco.
Rome
On the 26th at the Auditorium Parco della Musica the piano jazz of Stefano Bollani. We also see the musician every evening on RaiTre, in the fourth series of his programme 'Via dei Matti n.0'. The structure of this season's programme is that each episode pays tribute to a great musician: from Maurice Ravel to Joni Mitchell, via Bob Marley, John Coltrane and Elis Regina. Bollani will guide viewers through a personal narration of musical history, touching on artists from every era and style. There will be many guests, from Dario Brunori to Vinicio Capossela to Fabio Concato, including - among others - Richard Galliano and Jacques Morelenbaum;
Milan
From 26 December to 1 at the Teatro Manzoni the musical "Tootsie", with Paolo Conticini and Enzo Iacchetti, together with nine other actors and a dance ensemble of nine people; based on the famous 1982 film by Sydney Pollack starring Dustin Hoffman. Libretto by Robert Horn, winner of the Tony Award for this title, and music and lyrics by David Yazbek, already the author of a hit like "The Full Monty"; directed and adapted by Massimo Romeo Piparo, produced by PeepArrow Entertainment and Il Teatro Sistina in Rome. It tells the story of Michael, a good actor, currently unemployed, who decides to make one last, desperate attempt: he auditions for a female part.
