ARIANNA performances throughout St. Anthony’s Festival

ARIANNA — the Alliance for the Rebirth of Italian Americans in North America — is pleased to announce some magnificent aural and visual enhancements to the St. Anthony of Padua Italian Festival that runs June 12-19.

The ARIANNA Gala Concert will kick off the festival inside the church at 3 p.m. June 12 with instrumental, vocal, choral and dance artists of international and national acclaim, led by conductor and composer Simeone Tartaglione.

Performing in the Gala Concert: Alessandra Cuffaro, internationally renowned violinist; Carlos Feliciano, tenor, Chicago Lyric Opera; Music School of Delaware Youth Symphony Orchestra; Louis Perrazza, internationally renowned organist; The Gallery Choir of  St. Anthony’s Church; Wilmington Ballet, Academy of the Dance, Jorge Laico, choreographer; and First State Ballet, Leonid Goykhman, choreographer.

During festival week, ARIANNA will present petite programs at 7 every evening. Performers in the petite programs include Music School of Delaware Youth Symphony Orchestra; Augustine Mercante, countertenor; Alessandra Cuffaro, violin, and Simeone Tartaglione, accompanist; Carlos Feliciano, tenor; and Louis Perrazza, organist, director of The Gallery Choir of St. Anthony’s Church.

At 2 p.m. June 19, ARIANNA will complement the traditional Procession of Saints with a premiere of the Sfilata dei Fiori, or Procession of Flowers. During the procession 100 women will bear floral baskets on their heads to close  out the festival.

ARIANNA is a nonprofit alliance inspiring people of every ethnicity and generation to celebrate Italian traditions, culture and ingenuity by emphasizing quality experiences in the performing arts, design and technology.