Dear friends,
How are you?
The summer days keep coming along, one more sunny and wonderful than the other. Life is always beautiful but for me in the summer, my favorite season of all, life is even better than great…can it be????
I’m Italian and I really depend on the weather: so a lot of sunshine and my heart sings of full happiness!!
And talking about sunshine and happiness I will tell you today all about my weekend: a fantastic one!!
Last weekend I was very happy and blessed to be part of the 17th Memorial Concert in the Memory of Sergio Franchi!!
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| Singing in the Garage of Sergio in 2008 |
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| Eva and her mom and us singing |
I’ve been in America six years now, and I’ve been part of this event for the last 5 years. The 2009 the Concert didn’t took place since Eva had to take care of her beloved mother who wasn’t well, who’s by the way now doing better and she just turned 97 last Saturday!! And of course also counting the year 2008, when the Concert got wiped out because of the Hurricane Hanna!! What you may not know is that, since most of the performers where there already in Stonington, we ended up having a wonderful day performing songs for a very limited audience of friends, family and volunteers in Sergio favorites place: the garage of his beloved collections of cars!!
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| With Jeff Domoto |
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| With Giorgio Fumanti |
Here are some precious and my own private collection pictures of it!! It was a very special day!!
I just love this event, and I may say is one of my favorite events to perform at!!
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| Sergio Franchi |
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| Cover CD of Sergio Franchi |
Even if I’m sure you know Sergio let me start sharing with you some headlines of his life. Sergio Franchi was a great tenor who rose to fame in the 1960s, singing a repertory of mostly popular and Italian love songs as well as light classics. Besides maintaining a very busy concert schedule, he made numerous recordings, appeared on many television shows, and even enjoyed a brief career in the movies. Sergio was born in Cremona, Italy, on April 6, 1926, his father Neapolitan and his mama Genovese. Just like me he was half from the North of Italy and half of the South and just like me he was a crooner of love songs!! Another thing I share with Sergio is that although he showed considerable vocal talent in his childhood and adolescence, he followed his father's wishes that he study electrical engineering, while I studied Psychology! While working on his degree, he took private instruction in music, and after graduation seriously began focusing on a career as a singer. He accompanied his family when they relocated to Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1952, and there he took a part-time job as a draftsman; meanwhile he worked vigorously at developing his vocal skills.
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| Sergio Franchi |
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| The Original Poster |
By the mid-'50s, he became recognized as one of the most promising young singers in South Africa, but since he really loved opera he decided to return to Italy for further study, taking vocal instruction from the very famous vocal teacher Rossi Massetti. He soon launched his career in Europe, and in 1962 began a highly successful tour of the United States, singing a mixture of Italian and popular songs. His rise was meteoric, equaled by few singers before or since: Sergio, a virtual unknown when he set foot on American soil, became an overnight sensation who was immediately booked for an appearance on the most popular television variety program, The Ed Sullivan Show, as well as on the equally popular comedy program, The Red Skelton Show. In 1963, he appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show twice and gave numerous sold-out concerts.
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| Sergio on the Ed Sullivan Show |
He signed with RCA Victor label and his albums "Romantic Italian Songs" (his first US album, 1962) and "Our Man From Italy" (1963) were both on Billboard's top-40 album charts during their respective years. Throughout the 1960s and '70s, Sergio made numerous concert tours and recordings, as well as many lucrative nightclub appearances, such as those at the Flamingo Room in Las Vegas (1969 - 1971). He kept himself in the national public eye with his regular television appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Red Skelton Show, and Hollywood Palace. Sergio expanded his career into films when he appeared in the 1969 Stanley Kramer comedy “The Secret of Santa Vittoria”, which starred Anthony Quinn and Anna Magnani. Sergio loved his heritage and he was also very proud to be an American! He became an American citizen in 1972, and very proudly he used to say, "Now I'm a Yankee Franchi!”
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| Sergio posing with his billboard |
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| Sergio and Eva Franchi |
Sergio became also closely identified with several charities in the United States, including Boys Town, from whom he received the Michelangelo Award for his vigorous philanthropic and social support. He died of brain cancer on May 1, at 64 years of age, in 1990. A tremendous life that ended far to soon, with great success and great love!!
Sergio was married when he met Eva at one of his Concert at the Flamingo Room in Las Vegas. Eva, a beautiful former ballerina from Hungary and Sergio fall in love immediately: their love was love at first sight and endless love for sure.
To this day, 17 years after Sergio has died, Eva, one of the most beautiful and sweet women I’ve ever met, still loves Sergio with all her heart!! It is for love that seventeen years ago, she decided to start an annual concert honoring her husband, when her grief after her husband's death from cancer in 1990 was still fresh. Eva decided to start a Foundation too with the intent to continue what Sergio so much believed in believed in... helping others.
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| The Sergio Franchi Estate |
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| The Sergio Franchi Estate |
Since 1993 The Foundation have been able to award over 470 scholarships, worth more than a million Dollar in scholarships, and awards to students of vocal studies, young tenors and sopranos, with the hope that through beautiful, romantic, classical music they can keep the spirit of romance alive in the hearts of people “the very thing that Sergio has always stood for”, as Eva love to recall.
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| The stage |
The Memorial Concert still take place in the impressive beautiful lawn of Eva and Sergio 240-acre Stonington estate, where all we artists get to perform accompanied by a wonderful 40 piece orchestra also this year directed by Jeff Domoto. The attendance of the Concert is every year impressive, and still the sing of how much love and respect Sergio still have among his fans. It started with 1500 people and its attendance has averaged about 4,000, but once reached 6,000.
The day of the Concert people have the chance to enjoy the music, or stopping by the little family chapel and museum on the property, and wandering like old friends through the handsome brick main house, gazing at paintings Sergio collected and ones he did himself and admire the collection of beautiful cars of Sergio, another of his great passions!
I love this event and I love Eva, her positive energy and her passion and love for Sergio. I think that this has been the driven force behind this event. She’s a generous and real human being and honoring Sergio and his musical legacy has been Eva's primary focus for the past 20 years. Well you know by now that I’m a romantic soul and I do believe in the power of love, this may be one of the reason I love this event: it’s moved by a sincere and strong love of a woman for his man!!
My weekend of fun started last Friday when I jumped into the car around 1PM direction Stonington CT where the Estate of Eva is. Well the traffic was insane, took us 5 hours to get there, in place of the 2 and half needed. But we enjoyed the ride and the music in the car. Without rush, just having fun!!
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| Rehearsal |
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| Rehearsal |
It is always wonderful to drive into the Sergio Franchi Drive and see the wonderful estate and huge stage ready for the Concert!! When we got there the rehearsals where already started. We could already hear the music playing!! It is a very welcoming event, and already the day before people are welcomed to walk around the property and why not, since the rehearsal are in the garden of the estate, to attend the rehearsals. It was wonderful to get to see already Sandra and Forrest and Susan, great friends and supporters of my music who had already arrived.
It had rained Friday afternoon so they had to remove for security the microphones and monitors from the stage. So I did partially my rehearsal and we planned, with Jeff Domoto, the conductor of the orchestra, to rehears and sound check too the day of the Concert, in the morning!!
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| Hilary's Estate |
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| My bedroom at Hilary's house |
Also this year I was lucky to be guest for night at the wonderful house of the neighbor of Eva, the wonderful Hilary Heminway!! Hilary, who I’m so blessed to be calling now a dear friend, is a very respected interior designer for the rich and famous!! And she’s the most adorable person in the world. So after rehearsal we drove to her place, that, even if neighbor of Eva, still will take us 10 minute to get to and of course with the help of the navigator or we’ll get lost in the forest…those estates are so beautiful and big!!
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| With Hilary, Alex and his girlfriend |
Hilary was there awake waiting for me and JJ. It was so wonderful to see her after a year. After some cheat chat she showed us the way to our beautiful rooms, actually two beautiful bedrooms to choose from and two bathrooms!! Since she’s an interior designer you can imagine how beautiful and perfect her house is. And so welcoming! I just love Hilary and her whole house!! Actually Hilary had also written a few books, so if you like it you can look up for them at your bookstore and see some of her incredible work!!
Hilary’s estate is so beautiful and quiet. At night it really gets dark there and I love to walk outside and admire the stars: I know it’s not possible, but it looks like the stars are more there than in any other place in the world I’ve been! Beautiful night!!
Ad after a stars sight we went to bed.
I had to be at Eva’s house to do sound check and rehearsal at 11AM! So we woke up at 9AM and after an exquisite breakfast with fresh berries, orange juice, coffee and home made cake at Hilary’s, I did my make up and hair, and we drove to Eva’s.
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| The audience |
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| With Eva and Sean Arnold |
There were already hundreds of cars on the streets and parked on lawn trying to get into the Estate for the Sergio Franchi Memorial Concert.
But thanks to our VIP/Artist sign, we got to drive in quickly avoiding the long line! Already hundreds of people where on the garden and Eva was walking around checking that Sergio’s collector cars where parks on the right places, and checking that everything was perfect!! That’s Eva!!
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| The Tenors |
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| With Dawn, Latonia and James |
She is also very much involved in the whole preparation of the show, from choosing the performers among the many who wants to participate, looking for some new talents too, choosing all of the songs for each of us! And every year she does a great job with it!
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| Swaying with Sway |
This year among the great performers there were the great tenor of the Metropolitan Opera James Valenti, who performed a few wonderful arias and also a wonderful lovely duet with the beautiful mezzo soprano, and real life James ‘s girlfriend, Dawn Pierce, tenor Jesus Garcia, tenor Sean Arnold, soprano Latonia Moore, Mezzo soprano Margaret Mezzacappa, my great friends tenor Chris Macchio and the super funny Filippo Voltaggio and a wonderful 13 years old tenor prodigy from Russia Afanasy Prokhorov.
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| Singing Sway |
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| Enjoying the applause after Sway |
A surprise appearance of tenor Frank Tenaglia at the closing numbers with the 4 tenors Sean, Chiss, James and Jesus was a very funny and uplifting addition.
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| Singing La Vie En Rose |
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| Singing La Vie En Rose |
This year Eva had chosen for me two very close to my heart songs to sing: “Sway” the song my parents dance when they met in Venice and “La Vie En Rose”, the song that made me a singer. And it was so very special to me to get the standing ovation after my rendition of “La Vie En Rose” a song I love with all my heart and that the audience loves too!!
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| Back Stage with Filippo and Chriss |
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| Back Stage with Giulia, Chris and Johnatan |
It was such a great day. The weather was picture perfect, and for the first time in the last 5 years not humid at all, which is good for my hair as you can imagine!!
While JJ was selling CDs with the great help of my friend Susan, under the CDs tent, I was helped back stage the whole day, by dear friend Lissa and Giulia. We had so much fun together and it was so wonderful to get to spend the whole day with them!! Lissa also took all the pictures of the Concert that you see in this blog!! She was my angel!!
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| With Lissa and Giulia |
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| With Eva and a fan after the show |
It was just a perfect day surrounded by people I love so much!!
And even if I was so exhausted, it was wonderful to get to meet after the show many old and new friends and fans and to talk to them and take pictures with them and sign CDs.
They all where saying how much they loved the whole show and of course, since there was the rumor that this would have been the last memorial Concert for Sergio, at least in this form, many of them where saying that they hoped it was only a rumor!!
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| With Afanasy Prokhrov |
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With Margaret Mezzacappa |
I can’t say what the future of this event will be, since only Eva can decide that, but knowing Eva I think she won’t be able to stop doing this. She’s moved by love and love can’t be stopped!! But maybe the Concert will change venue or change its’ size. Only time can really tell!!
At the end of the show Eva’s played a recording of his beloved Sergio, “The Lord’s Prayer”, she graciously thanks the people for coming to the show and of course at the sound of Sergio’s voice, her voice broke into a deep commotions!! It was a very sweet and touching moment that made me realize that she won’t be able to let go this event easily after all.
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| With Babe and Tatiana |
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| The after party at Eva's house |
At the end of the day I had this feeling of happiness and joy!! We were invited to join Eva’s at her house for the after show dinner. Almost all the performers where there and some of the closest friends of Eva and members of the family!! A very special night after a very special day!
The house, where Sergio and Eva spent 10 year together is a beautiful special place. Eva has arranged that no matter in which room you are there are few pictures of Sergio. So no matter where she’s sitting there is always Sergio looking at her!! Is it this romantic??
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| Paintings in Sergio's Estate |
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| Memories of Sergio |
Eva was finally happy and relaxed. As you can imagine such an event is not an easy thing to organize, especially for Eva that loves to get involved in everything!! But her happiness was contagious and we all were feeling the same!!
I went to bed with a big smile in my face and so much love into my heart: it’s wonderful to be part of an event like this where music and love are one!!
Sunday morning we woke up early to have another wonderful breakfast with Hilary and this time also her son Alex and his girlfriend.
Of course talk of the breakfast was the Concert. Hilary, also a dear friend of Eva, had attended the Concert and Alex and his girlfriend didn’t so we had to share with them the wonderful memories of it…and some gossip too!!
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| The beach |
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| The beach |
It was then time to say goodbye…I never like that moment!! But Of course Hilary and Alex are also great supporters of my music so we made plans to see them soon at one of my Concert in New York City, as they will come with Eva as well!! So we don’t have to wait long to see each other again!!
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| The Water Cafe' in Stonington, CT |
With JJ we decied to go sightseeing, since the whole area is so beautiful!!
We drove to Stonington to see the village and to take a walk in the sand on the beautiful beach. We went for a wonderful lunch at the best restaurant on Stonington, the Water Café! This is a wonderful restaurant of my dear friend Stephanie, who I have met a few years ago at the Memorial Concert of Sergio Franchi. Stephanie is also a dear friend of Eva, and even though I had seen her briefly the day of the Concert, I thought it was nice to surprise her with a visit at her fantastic place.
I just came to realize, while writing this blog, that most of my best friends are people I get to meet thanks to my music: precious friends, another gift that music bring into my life!!
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| Beautiful home in Watch Hills, RI |
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| Ocean House in Watch Hills, RI |
Then, after more kiss goodbye with Stephanie, on suggestion of her, we drove to Rhode Island to see a beautiful place called Watch Hill.
Really breathtaking place, my ideal place to live: some very impressive wonderful houses with view on the Ocean!! More things now in my wishing list!!
And then it was time to drive back home!
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| The Ocean House in Watch Hills, RI |
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| The balcony of the Ocean House |
Luckily the traffic was not that bad and we were back home in the normal 3 hours!!
It was a great weekend: a wonderful weekend of music, special friends and dear fans. One of those weekend that makes me realize how lucky I am to have got from God my talent and my wonderful life, my friends and my fans!!
I can’t wait for next year, to do it all over again…because I’m sure there will be a next year for sure!!
The Sergio Franchi Memorial Concert won’t stop playing his music!! I love this event, and Eva and Sergio. Eva said that Sergio was always saying to her "No matter what you do, my love, if you can't do it with passion, don't do it." "This concert" as Eva says” "I've been doing it with passion, and without the passion it would not work."
All I do in my life I’ve been doing it with passion too, or it wouldn’t work and I can add…I would have stopped doing it long ago.
Music is my passion in this life, but for sure is not easy at all and if it wasn’t for the passion that drives me, well I would have stopped already so many times. More bad days than good ones….but one day of musical joy, one applause….and there we go again full of energy again!!
Stay tuned for my next blog for more memories, music, travels to Italy and recipes!!
Life is beautiful and I want to take this chance to thank you all for being part of it!
Love always,
Giada
