Cartolina 18 & 23 February

Wednesday 18 February at 7.30 pm, repeated on Monday 23 at 10.30 am:

continuing the series on Neapolitan song, this programme's topic is love. Our Neapolitan-in-residence, Tilde Romano, tells her love story (in pure Neapolitan dialect!), to co-hosts Wilma Laryn and Denis Walker.

We play wonderful Neapolitan songs of love: La ricciolella Antonia (1750), Maria Mari` (1899), O surdato ‘nnammorato (1915), Tititi`, Tititi`, Tititi (1935), Anema e core (1950).

Cartolina 4 & 9 February

Wednesday 4 February at 7.30 pm, repeated on Monday 9 at 10.30 am: you’ll meet fish, fishermen and fishmongers!

Wilma and Denis tell the legend of the siren Partenope, and give the recipe of zuppa di pesce partenopea with ingredients sorted out by special guest Olga Hanson of What a catch seafood shop.

We play: Marechiare, Pescatore ‘e Posilleco, and Lo guarracino, an anonymous song from 1768. It’s a surreal story, fast paced, incredibly rich in detail and humour.

Cartolina celebrates its 10th birthday this month, having started on the 3rd of February 1999. A big thank you to guests, listeners and PLAINS FM staff.

… and don’t forget to look at the pictures!! Most programs are accompanied by pictures of the interviewees, and you can find them on the Radio Program page of the Dante website.

Cartolina 21& 26 January 2009

On Wednesday 21 January at 7.30 pm, repeated on Monday 26 at 10.30 am.
Cari amici, in the next Cartolina Wilma Laryn and Denis Walker start a short series of programs about Neapolitan song (although the more we work on it, the more ideas we come up with….).
For a start, we’ll take you through the most famous songs, everyone’s favourites: Torna a Surriento, sung by Giuseppe DiStefano, Funiculi` Funicula`, sung by Sergio Bruni, and Santa Lucia, sung by Beniamino Gigli.
All songs with their particular stories behind.
We also play the first two promos of Cartolina’s sponsor for this year (see photo on Radio Programme Page). And here is the rest of it.

Cartolina 7 & 12 January 2009

Wilma explores the folk music of Apulia on a fascinating journey through Matteo Salvatore’s songs.
He couldn’t read and write, never went to school, at seven he was taught by a blind old fiddler the songs orally transmitted for generations, and the style peculiar of this tradition. In 14 years with the old man he learned some 150 songs, while earning their living with their music. When the old man died, Matteo went to Rome, on foot, it seems, in 5 days. He played in restaurants, attracting the attention of interested people. One of them took him to Torino, where he started a successful career, becoming the voice of the South. Illiterate, Matteo was a natural poet. He left the traditional folklore behind, and composed all new songs, lyrics and music, in the true style of Italian singer songwriters. His words were simple, often in dialect, and covered all aspects of poor people’s life.

Quotes from Italian broadcaster Vito Laterza, and Chinese violinist Zhang Zhang.

Songs: La sciuscella, Il pescivendolo, La nascita, Marito e moglie, La morte traditrice, Il lamento dei mendicanti, Mo ve’ la bella mia dalla muntagna, Lu pecurere, Lu furastiero, La notte e` bella.

Cartolina Christmas programme 24 & 31 December

Cari amici, in the next programme (24 & 31 December 2008), Cartolina brings an Italian Christmas with songs, interviews and a traditional recipe.

We talk about the typical instrument of the Italian Christmas: zampogna. Song: Zampognari in paradiso. Three little girls talk and sing their Christmas songs.

A great Italian tradition is the Nativity Scene, the Presepe. It seems that the first one was made by St Francis of Assisi, at the beginning of the 1200s. This tradition is still alive, as Ester Monti-Reid can testify, on the phone from Auckland, while little Emma provides some background music of her own….
More songs played in this programme are: Piva Piva, Caro Gesù bambino, Bianco Natale, Pasquella di Natale.

Our recipe: porcedduzzi al miele (honeyed piglets). In spite of its name, this is a dessert, traditionally prepared at Christmas time in Apulia. It’s basically small pieces of dough, fried and honey-dipped. Find the full recipe here.

Christmas Festival in the Arts Centre 11 am – 4 pm

Sunday 14 Dicembre : Christmas Festival in the Arts Centre 11 am – 4 pm

The sights and sounds of Christmas will come early to the South Quad at the Arts Centre. The Dante Society and other Christchurch's ethnic communities will present Christmas traditions from Italy and around the world. Learn to say ''Happy Christmas'' in ten different languages, sample seasonal food with a difference and buy from a range of unique Christmas decorations and gifts