The Caruso Tribute Prize It is dedicated to the memory of the tenor Enrico Caruso, who left Naples for America in November 1903 and made his successful debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York with Rigoletto. It will be Rai Italia broadcasts the long-awaited fifth edition of the Caruso Tribute Prize, produced by Melos International of Master Dante Mariti.
The gala evening full of music and awards, hosted by the journalist Barbara Politi, took place on October 15th in the Conference Room of the’Italian Cultural Institute of New York and will be part of an exclusive report in a television special that will tell the story of the great Italian tenor.
A fairytale story that of the great Maestro Caruso After a difficult childhood in poverty-stricken Naples, in November 1903, he left Naples for America, where he made his successful debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York with Rigoletto. Caruso was the first great Italian voice to conquer the United States, embodying the first true pop star of crossover music.
He sold millions of records in the United States, then he decided to return to his hometown, to end his life in front of the sea. The program, created by Dante Mariti and written by the authors Sacha Lunatici, Tommaso Martinelli and Luigi Miliucci, sees the direction Ornella Fado and will be broadcast on November 8th at 10:15 pm in New York and Toronto, at 7:15 pm in Los Angeles and at 11:45 pm in Berlin, on November 9th at 12:15 am in Buenos Aires and São Paulo, at 11:15 am in Sydney, at 8:15 am in Beijing and Perth, at 12:45 am in Johannesburg and at 10:45 pm in Lisbon and London.
It will be available later on RaiPlay platform. “This award represents an important opportunity to award recognition to Italian excellence in various sectors, from opera to social issues, from art to Made in Italy, both in America and around the world.”, said producer Dante Mariti.
Among the personalities awarded this year are: Gianni Russo, actor and entrepreneur, known for his role in "The Godfather", Fabio Armiliato, internationally renowned tenor, the Professor Fabio Finotti, Director of the Italian Cultural Institute in New York; Vince Tempera, composer and conductor, Biagio Maimone, journalist and communications expert, Alessandro Lora, young Italian tenor, known for his performances in New York, Rosario Procino, successful restaurant entrepreneur in New York, Shanté Williams, superintendent of the Carolina Opera, Desirée Wallis Busnelli, celebrity cultural influencer, Zamfir Antoniu, superintendent of the Opera Romana Craiova, Professor Avv. Angelo Maietta, for the promotion of Made in Italy, Gianni Todini, director of the Askanews agency, So-Chung Shinn, philanthropist and Managing Director of the Metropolitan Opera in New York.
A special recognition was awarded to the pianist Joseph Lu for the song Power of Love, dedicated to the theme of autism. The event, sponsored by Campania Region and come on Committees of New York, The event was attended by Italian and American institutions, as well as distinguished guests from the New York community. Among those present was the award's spokesperson, attorney Michael Sarno, a well-known face on Rai Uno. Among the international musical talents present in New York: the jazz musician Marco Di Gennaro, the soprano Kristin Sampson, the violinist Giovanna Ferrara and the pianist Kathryn Oleander.
