Merry Christmas from Incantato with a special video from our talented Virgil Rosales and his band

Wine-Tasting and Farewell Jazz Concert at Casal Pilozzo

Impressions from the final concert of the 2011 Bellarmine Incantato Italy Tour

Bellarmine University sings at Parish of Santo Roberto Bellarmino in Rome

Monday, March 14, 2011: Bellarmine University Music Department Tour heads home

After an exciting 12-day Incantato performance tour of Italy and the Vatican, the Bellarmine University Music Department travelers have boarded their flights back to the States. They are expected to land in Louisville, Kentucky later this evening, ready to share their life-long memories with loved ones back home.

Bellarmine Schola sings LVP sing "Beate quorum via" by C. V. Stanford at St. Peter's Basilica

Bellarmine Schola sings "Sanctus" from Richard Burchard at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican

Happy faces prior to singing Mass at St. Peter's Basilica

Pictures from Bellarmine's Schola performance at the Vatican on March 12

St. Peter's Square at dusk

Bellarmine singers the featured guest choir for High Mass at St. Peter's Basilica - Saturday, March 12, 2011 at 5:30 PM

Bellarmine University's Schola Cantorum and the Louisville Vocal Project will sing High Mass at Saint Peter's Basilica in Vatican City on Saturday, March 12, 2011 at 5:30PM.

The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter is located within the Vatican City. St. Peter's Basilica has the largest interior of any Christian church in the world, holding 60,000 people. It is the symbolic "Mother church" of the Catholic Church and is regarded as one of the holiest Christian sites. It has been described as "holding a unique position in the Christian world" and as "the greatest of all churches of Christendom".
In Catholic tradition, it is the burial site of its namesake Saint Peter, who was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus and, according to tradition, first Bishop of Rome and therefore first in the line of the papal succession. Tradition and some historical evidence hold that Saint Peter's tomb is directly below the altar of the basilica. For this reason, many Popes have been interred at St Peter's since the Early Christian period. There has been a church on this site since the 4th century. Construction of the present basilica, over the old Constantinian basilica, began on April 18, 1506 and was completed on November 18, 1626.
St. Peter's is famous as a place of pilgrimage, for its liturgical functions and for its historical associations. It is associated with the papacy, with the Counter-reformation and with numerous artists, most significantly Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni (1475-1564), an Italian Renaissance painter, sculptor, architect, poet, and engineer. Michelangelo took over a building site at which four piers, enormous beyond any constructed since the days of Ancient Rome, were rising behind the remaining nave of the old basilica. He also inherited the numerous schemes designed and redesigned by some of the greatest architectural and engineering brains of the 16th century.
Incidentally there are over 100 tombs within St. Peter's Basilica, many located in the Vatican grotto, beneath the Basilica. These include 91 popes, St. Ignatius of Antioch, Holy Roman Emperor Otto II, and the composer Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina. Exiled Catholic British royalty James Francis Edward Stuart and his two sons, Charles Edward Stuart and Henry Benedict Stuart, are buried here, having been granted asylum by Pope Clement XI. The most recent interment was Pope John Paul II, on April 8, 2005.

The Bellarmine Italy Tour singers at the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi

"Thank you so much for singing for us!" - the Bellarmine University Schola and singers from the Louisville Vocal Project were very warmly received at the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi. On March 11, the touring choir under the direction of Dr. S. Timothy Glasscock were the featured guest choir for Mass at the Chapel of St. Catherine as part of their 2011 Incantato Italy Tour.

More pictures from the Bellarmine Jazz Concert at the Tea Room Siena

Bellarmine University Schola sings at St. Francis in Assisi

See and hear the Bellarmine Jazz Ensemble on their 2011 Italy Incantato Tour

This is a recording from the March 10 gig at the Tea Room in Siena

A special Thank You to the Bellarmine Jazzers and their friends from the Tea Room, Siena

See what the gracious local host said about last night's gig by the Bellarmine Jazz Ensemble:

Ilario Bondani lo staff Tea Room ringrazia tutti per la fantastica atmofera e serata di ieri...buona giornata a tutti ..

Bellarmine University's Schola & Louisville Vocal Project the featured guest choir at Basilica of St. Francis, Assisi on Friday, March 11 at 11 AM

BU Schola and the Louisville Vocal Project are the featured guest choir for High Mass in the Chapel of Saint Catherine within Saint Francis Basilica on Friday, March 11, 2011 at 11 AM.

The Papal Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, better known as the St. Francis Basilica, is the mother church of the Roman Order of Friars Minor, or the Franciscan Order. Assisi is the birthplace of St. Francis, a Catholic deacon, preacher, and founder of the Franciscan Order. The Catholic Church also recognizes St. Francis as the patron saint of animals, the environment, and one of the two patron saints of Italy along with St. Catherine of Siena. Serving as the final resting place of St. Francis, the Basilica remains one of Italy’s most important destinations of Christian pilgrimage.

Founded in 1228, St. Francis Basilica is built into a hillside and comprises two separate churches known as the upper and lower basilicas and the crypt of the interred saint. The interior of the upper church exemplifies early Gothic architecture, and both churches flaunt intricate frescoes by late medieval painters from the Roman and Tuscan schools. Along with the accompanying friary, the basilica is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and valuable landmark in the Assisi community.

"Your best Italy performance yet", Dave Clark compliments the Bellarmine Jazz Ensemble after the Siena gig

What could top the inspiring setting of performing in the magical hill top town of Siena? Playing inside one of the original ancient cellar buildings forming it! The fifth Italy performance for the Bellarmine Jazz Ensemble on their 2011 Italy Incantato Tour took place in what is now known as "The Tea Room" of Siena, a quirky café-bar and favorite hangout among local students and jazz lovers just of the main square - if you know where to go.
And the Senesi sure came out on Thursday night to hear the combo under the artistic guidance of Dave Clark and Richard Burchard from Bellarmine University in Louisville play in their home town. The gig lasted a good 2,5 hours and the audience had a hart time letting go of the fine young musicians. Dave Clark was very proud of his students: "Tonight was your best Italy performance yet". And fellow Professor Meme Tunnel added: "It is amazing how they have improved since there first Italy performance on Saturday." Next stop for the Bellarmine University Music Department is the eternal city of Rome.

Jazz in Siena: The Bellarmine University Jazz Ensemble rocks the Tea Room on Thursday, March 10, 2011 at 9 PM

A favorite hang-out for Sienese Jazz fans is found just off the famous Campo and the place to be on Thursday night for live music and good company is the Tea Room. After a great gig in Florence the night before, the BU Jazz Combo is taking the Siena stage here on March 10, 2011 at 9 PM. The Tea Room is also on facebook.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011: The Bellarmine University Music Department Tour visits Florence and presents another Jazz Ensemble performance

The Bellarmine University Music Department performance tour heads to Florence today for some sightseeing and another Jazz Ensemble performance.

Upon arrival in Florence, the group meets with their local guide for an exciting city tour, including entrance to the Accademia Museum where the travelers will get to see Michelangelo’s masterpiece “David.”

The group has some free time this afternoon to grab lunch and explore the Tuscan city at their leisure before this evening’s Jazz Ensemble performance.

The Bellarmine University Jazz Ensemble performs at Sala Bianca in the Hotel Cellai in Florence at 7:00PM.

Let's jazz again! Bellarmine University's next gig is on March 9 at 7 pm in Florence: Come see them at Sala Bianca (Hotel Cellai)

Now what better place than one of the hippest hotels in town is the location for the fourth concert of the Bellarmine University Jazz Ensemble. After gigs to full houses and excited audiences in Maiori and Naples, the musicians under the direction of David Clark are featured on stage at the beautiful Sala Bianca within the city center Boutique Hotel Cellai on Wednesday, March 9 at 7 PM.
Hotel Cellai is located in the heart of the historic center of Florence. Its style recalls the one of the ancient inns of past times where young, European aristocrats stayed while discovering the beauty and artistic mysteries offered in Italy. Flooring in stone or terracotta, stone arches, antique furniture and artistic furnishing accessories make the hotel a unique place. The public areas host monthly exhibitions of Contemporary Arts under the ArteInCasa Visual Arts program which make it the perfect place for the Jazzers from Louisville, KY on their 2011 Incantato Italy Performance Tour.

Famous Italian singer and actor, Gianni Lamagna, attends Bellarmine University Concert in Naples

Incantato Tours & Concerts is honored to have had famous Italian singer and actor Gianni Lamagna in the audience for Bellarmine University’s Schola Cantorum and Louisville Vocal Project concert in Naples. Mr. Lamagna was one of many in attendance as the choirs performed at la Chiesa di Santa Teresa degli Scalzi on Monday, March 7.

Gianna Lamagna, a native of Naples, made his debut in the entertainment business in 1972. From 1974 to ’76, he joined the theatrical cooperative “I Masaniello” along with a troupe of musicians and anthropologists researching the traditional of musical theater.

Mr. Lamagna began studying classical voice in 1979 with Roberto De Simone, which enabled him to pursue a career in professional musical theater and opera. Under the direction of Maestro De Simone, Lamagna has performed in such musicals as L’opera Buffa del Giovedi Santo and Il Drago, as well as the operas Crispino e la Comare, Requiem per Pasolini, and Carmina Vivianea, among countless others.

In 1980, Mr. Lamagna served as one of the founding members of the band Media Aetas, with whom he has performed in Italy, Germany, France, Spain, Israel, Russia, Iraq, the United States of America, Brazil, Algeria, Mexico, and Argentina.

Since 1991, Mr. Lamagna has collaborated with instrumentalist and composer Antonello Paliotti to produce and perform numerous successful recitals, including performances of S’io fossi, DediCanto, Amate Cantate, and Coppola Rossa le Forme Incantate.
Mr. Lamagna is also the founder of “Di Musica in Musica,” an association devoted to discovering and promoting young talent.
In 1997, he began performing with the Nuovo Compagnia di Canto Popolare (New Society of Popular Song), with whom he has presented headlining concerts throughout the world.

In addition to releasing multiple solo records through the independent label Quadro Frame, Mr. Lamagna has recently been invited to sing in such contemporary musical productions such as “Performance intorno a Warhol,”  “Condannati a vagare sui mari” by the Colin Muset Ensemble, Concert Lauda Intorno allo Stabat, Vox Animae with Mariano Rigillo and the Soloists of the San Carlo Theater of Naples.

For more information on Gianni Lamagna, please visit: http://www.giannilamagna.com/inglese/Start.html

Italian-American Jam Session in Naples

The Napolitans sured loved the Bellarmine Jazz Ensemble

And they keep on jazzin...

Tuesday, March 8, 2011: From the Amalfi Coast to Tuscany

On Tuesday, March 8 the Bellarmine University travelers bid farewell to the Amalfi Coast as they travel north. The singers stop for a guided tour and recital at the Benedictine Monastery of Montecassino perched high upon a hill prior to continuing to Tuscany, where they will stay at Siena's Hotel Montaperti through March 10, for dinner and overnight.

Montecassino is a rocky mountain approximately 80 miles southeast of Rome. Saint Benedict of Nursia established his first monastery here, the source and foundation of the Benedictine Order, in 529. The monastery stands as one of the few territorial abbeys remaining within the Catholic Church. According the Gregory the Great’s biography of Saint Benedict, the monastery was constructed on an older pagan sight, a temple of Apollo that originally crowned the hill. The biography claims that Benedict’s first act was to smash the sculpture of Apollo and destroy the pagan altar. He then reused the temple, dedicating it to Saint Martin, and built a new chapel which he dedicated to Saint John the Baptist. Once established at Montecassino, Benedict never left. There he penned the Benedictine Rule which ultimately became the founding principle of western monasticism. Montecassino became the model for future Benedictine developments throughout the world. Unfortunately the Abbey has fallen target to numerous military insurgencies throughout the years, including the infamous 1944 Battle of Montecassino. On February 15, 1944, the Abbey was almost completely destroyed by Allied air-raids after being mistakenly identified as a German stronghold. In fact, the Abbey was being used as a refuge for women and children attempting to shield themselves from the war. The Abbey was rebuilt after the war, financed by the Italian State, and was reconsecrated by Pope Paul VI in 1964.

Students from the Naples Conservatory Jazz Class

How about some pastry along with information about the Bellarmine Jazz Concert in Naples?

The people of Naples surely spread the word about the Bellarmine Jazz Ensemble's Incantato concert on Monday, March 7.

Smiles from Naples: Hannah and Todd