From 26th December 2011 to 6th January 2012

A thick programme of theatre shows for everybody will entertain old and young, locals and tourists during the Christmas holidays and New Year’s Eve in Venice and Mestre.

The underlying theme will be the circus and clowns.

The first event is in Terraferma/Mestre, at the Momo Theatre. From 26th to 30th December the show will be “Circoparola” by Pantakin (written by Tiziano Scarpa). On 1st January the show will be “Quisquilia” – a poetic, funny circus theatre. On 31st December, the show at the Toniolo Theatre (10:30 pm), will be “A qualcuno piace carta” with Ennio Marchetto.

Amusement and entertainment at the Goldoni Theatre in Venice are to be expected with the Baccalà Clown (from Switzerland), performing in “Pss Pss” on 26th December, followed by “La cucina dell’arte” (Circus Ronaldo, Belgium) from 30th December to 1st January. The grand finale, on Twelfth Night, is “Fair play – Una maratona di risate” (Slapsus, Italy).

Until  January 22nd, 2012

The Exhibiton“Venice and Egypt” will be opened in the spectacular Sala dello Scrutinio of the Doge’s Palace in St.Mark Square, the heart and symbol of the Serenissima, until January 22nd, 2012. For the first time ever, more than 300 works narrate the thousand-year old relationship between Venice and Egypt.

“Venice and Egypt” will surprise the audience by the findings of the research conducted and by the exceptional works that were collected for this occasion.

The relations between different worlds emerges from the sections in which the exhibition is laid out: countries of “faraway” languages, traditions, customs and religions which, however, were capable of originating what may be defined as a “Mediterranean civilization”.

From the transfer of Saint Mark’s body from Alexandria in 828 to the 19th century adventures of explorers such as Giambattista Belzoni, from the vicissitudes of merchants and diplomats on the trail of goods, treasures and lands to oddities regarding humanists and scientists tackling the mysteries of hieroglyphs, of pyramids and of the ancient science of the pharaohs, all accompanied by precious finds, previously unseen texts and works of art which show how the great Venetian masters – from Giorgione to Titian, from Tintoretto to Tiepolo, from Amigoni to Strozzi, from Piranesi to Caffi – imagined Egypt. TD

The Casa dei Tre Oci, an architectural landmark in Venice built in the early 20th century and characterised by its archi-acuti (the three eyes) windows, reopens, following a lengthy restoration period, for the “Modernikon” Exhibition.

The very original palazzo was designed by the artist Mario De Maria (Marius Pictor) in 1913, as his home and studio space.

The Art of Being Contemporary foundation, Moscow, in collaboration with Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo, Turin, are delighted to present a major exhibition of Russian contemporary art entitled Modernikon, curated by Francesco Bonami and Irene Calderoni. “Modernikon”, at Casa dei tre Oci,  explores Russia’s young and still-evolving art scene of today, presenting the public with the newest artistic research from a country that has only recently presented itself on the international art scene.TD

Until November 27th 2011

Palazzo Fortuny, in Venice, is home – from June 4th 2011, thanks to the well-oiled collaboration between the Foundation of the Civic Museums of Venice and the Vervoordt Foundation – of TRA. EDGE OF BECOMING. The exhibition brings together more than 300 works, exploring the cross-connections among places, history, creative heritage and universal experience.

The exhibition circuit is arranged in such a way as to amplify as much as possible the dialogue and interaction among the works, the visitor and the magnificent rooms which were once Mariano’s dwelling and atelier: three side rooms on the second floor have been opened for the first time to host part of this exceptional exhibition. Some of the most important artists worldwide are represented in it, such as Marina Abramović, Miquel Barceló, Eduardo Chillida, Fernand Léger and Kazuo Shiraga. Some artists have even made their works especially for this show, e.g. Massimo Bartolini, Maurizio Donzelli, Jannis Kounellis, Giulio Paolini, Hiroshi Sugimoto, Kim Soo-Ja, Günther Uecker and Carl Michael von Hausswolff.

July 16th-17th 2011

This year too in Venice the magic of the Feast of the Redeemer cannot absolutely be misses: On July 16th a multitude of boats, of all shapes and sizes, will gather in St. Mark’s Basin, waiting for the firework display expected to take place at midnight.

This is one of the holidays more sincerely felt by the Venetians, in which the religious and the spectacular aspects cohabit. The tradition of the Redeemer dates back to 1577 and commemorates the end of a terrible plague: to thank God, the Serenissima (the Most Serene Republic of Venice) had the basilica built by Palladio on the Giudecca Island, where, like every year, you can go on a pilgrimage through a massive pontoon bridge 330 meters long, specially built for the occasion.

All those who wish to participate, from citizens to tourists, gather with their boats, decorated for the occasion, in St. Mark’s Basin and the Giudecca Canal towards 7:00 pm for a rich dinner. Among delicacies and dances, they patiently wait for the fireworks, which start at 11:30 pm, lighting up the incredible architectural beauties overlooking this gorgeous lagoon water surface: the Doge’s Palace, St, Mark’s Square, St. George’s Church, Basilica of St. Mary of Health and of course the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer. Even those who do not have the opportunity to get on a boat can lurk on the banks, bringing with them food, and a great desire to dance and listen to music, thus taking part in this grand festival.

At the End of the fireworks, then, all flock to the Venice Lido to go on dancing on the beach and enjoy a swim at night.TD

From 26th February until 8th March 2011

A dramatic new event at this year’s Carnival of Venice 2011 will be the special theatrical tours designed by Alberto Toso Fei. Actors in costume will lead you through a magical and secret Venice in “The Secrets of Venice“.

Visitors will be drawn into a real touring show that will reveal the many mysteries and tales linked to evocative and little-known places in the city. Why does Ca ‘Soranzo have a hole in its façade with an angel looking through it? How did Elena Priuli’s lovers’ flee without her powerful procurer husband noticing? What sort of phantom resides in the well of Corte Lucatello and what secret lies behind the construction of the Rialto Bridge? These are among the mysteries to be revealed.

There are two scheduled tours, both in English and Italian (both of which can be booked on the official website).

The first tour, titled “Angels and Demons. Love and Seduction“, assembles in Piazza San Marco, before movig immediately to the Castello district, and then proceeding in a labyrinth of stories and places, some of which are named directly from legends.

The second tour, “Ghosts and grisly murders. Secrets and clandestine love affairs“, will begin in Piazza San Marco with an extraordinary tale: that of a dramatic uprising of 1310 and the birth of the formidable Council of Ten, and the introduction of a gracious white lady, whose body might be concealed in a well. Then you will move onto the Bridge of Bareteri, the ex-theatre of forbidden love and adventurous escapes. Meanwhile, the facade of the church of Fava conceals the story of a corpse bride. In the court of the Milion you can still hear the song of the princess without empire, unfortunate wife of Marco Polo, and overlooking the Grand Canal from the court of Remer you can occasionally see the corpse of Fosco Loredan that emerges holding the head of his wife.TD

19/20 February and 26 February – 8 March
Ottocento – Da senso a Sissi – The city of women

Venice discovers in 2011 the vibrant soul of its “theme” Carnival.“Ottocento” the nineteenth century evocation, will outline the Carnival, edition 2011, scheduled from February 19th till March 8th. It will be developed among romantic suggestions and Risorgimento impulses, while wearing its charming redingote and top hats, corsets and crinolines.

OFFICIAL PROGRAMME OF EVENTS

GRAND TOAST IN VENICE
Saturday February 19th, 7pm-8pm
Piazzetta San Marco

FESTA VENEZIANA
Sunday February 20th, from 10am
Canal Grande and Cannaregio

FESTA DELLE MARIE
Saturday February 26th, from 2pm (from San Pietro di Castello), arrival in Piazza
San Marco for the Prize Giving, 4pm ca.

THE FLIGHT OF THE ANGEL
Sunday February 27th, 12pm
Piazza San Marco

THE HISTORICAL RE-ENACTMENTS
Saturday, February 26th, from 2pm
Sunday, February 27th, from 12pm
Sunday, March 6th, from 2pm
Piazza San Marco

THE BEST MASKED COSTUMES CONTEST
Casting:
Thursday, March 3rd, 12pm-2pm and 4pm-5pm
Friday, March 4th, 12pm-2pm and 4pm-5pm
Saturday, March 5th, 12pm-2pm and 4pm-5pm
Conclusion:
Sunday, March 6th, from 3pm
Piazza San Marco

THE GRAND FOYER OF SAN MARCO SHOW
From Saturday, February 26th until Tuesday, March 8th. 2pm till late night.
Piazza San Marco

THEME DINNERS AT VENICE CASINO’
From Saturday, February 26th to Tuesday, March 8th, from 8pm.
Palazzo Cà Vendramin Calergi

The Garden of Flying Countries – Second edition of the Kids’ Carnival by La Biennale di Venezia
Giardini della Biennale
February 26th – March 8th, 2011. Opening hours: 10am – 6pm, Thursday, March 3rd , open until 9pm.

THE SILENT REGATTA
Tuesday, March 8th, Midnight

31st December 2010
Venice, St.Mark Square

At last it was announced the timetable for the New Year’s Eve 2010 in Venice, which includes the installation of a wonderful Cassarmonica, designed by Mariano Light, famous worldwide for its lights, a brilliant carousel- shaped stage topped by a cupola, which will provide a perfect acoustic amplification so that the sound is audible from anywhere in the Square, where the show “Love 2011” will start from 10.30 p.m., presented by the speaker Mauro Marino and the ever pleasant Prince Maurice. The romantic and bright setting created by the resonance will be enhanced by thirty blown glass balls from Murano, having different diameter and colours, arranged in such a way as to create a subtle play of lights and reflections.

From 11.00 p.m. everybody will be offered aperitifs by Bellini Cannella, which, for this occasion, has created a lightweight aluminum brand new bottle which is absolutely unbreakable that will be distributed only for the Venetian New Year’s Eve. The Bellini will be also offered in Piazza Ferretto in Mestre, where they will be entertaining music by Sergio Labruna and Tarozzo Roberto, both of Radio Italia.

Immediately after the countdown for the arrival of midnight, which will be punctuated by the inevitable collective kiss, there will be a stunning show with fireworks organized by the Parente Fireworks, already appreciated in Venice for its amazing performances created for the Feast of Redentore in the last three years. The show will represent the first moment to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy and thus the Italian flag will be the leitmotif.

Then, whereas in Mestre people will go on dancing with disco music until 2.00 a.m., in St. Mark’s Square DJ set by Paolo Negri will start with a lot of soft and romantic music which will envelop the most famous square in the world in order to let everybody dance until 1.30 a.m. TD

From 16th October 2010

Palazzo Grimani in Campo SantaMaria Formosa, which has been just re-opened to the public, continues with its cycle of exhibitions dedicated to the protagonists of the Italian art. The exhibition on Giorgione has been extended until 1st November even though his well known painting ‘The Storm’ will be moved to the Civic Museums of Eremitani in Padua from 16th October.

Nevertheless it will be replaced by a stunning collection of Giovanni Bellini’s allegories, which reiterates the same theme represented by Giorgione’s “The Old Lady” still exposed together with “The Naked” by Giorgione inside the marvelous rooms of Palazzo Grimani.

The group of allegories made up of: the Allegory of Melancholy (or fickle Luck), Allegory of Vanity, Allegory of Lust and Allegory of

Malicious gossip (or Slander) by Giovanni Bellini, dates back to the early sixteenth century and was part of a cabinet with mirror fortoiletry items. Usually this type of furniture was decorated with moralizing allegories in order to redeem their frivolous destination. The ensemble is completed by the Allegory of Fortune, attributed to Andrea Previtali, that probably belonged to another piece of furniture or could have replaced, here, a lost one. TD

September 4, 2010–January 9, 2011
Peggy Guggenheim Collection

The exhibition surveys the art of the American artist Adolph Gottlieb (1903-1974): from his initial paintings of Surrealist influence, to his expressionist and abstract works. The popularity of Gottlieb derives from his invention of a visual language more basic and universal than written language, purged of symbols with historical precedents.

His Pictographs are images of what appear to be archaic symbols in irregular grids; his Bursts and Landscapes are symbols of cosmic and universal, as well as uniquely aesthetic value. The show includes sketches, prints and sculptures. The exhibition has been organized in partnership with the Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Foundation, New York. It includes loans from the American Contemporary Art Gallery, Munich, various private collections, as well as the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Musée National d’Art Moderne (Centre Pompidou), and the Museum Frieder Burda. TD