Mar. 10 – Singer and actor, Giovanni Calone, stage name Massimo Ranieri, is one of the most popular artists in Italy. Born on 3 May 1951 in the district Saint Lucia in Naples, Ranieri first reached success as a young singer before quickly established himself as an actor. His life hasn’t been slow, with significant encounters and prestigious artistic partnerships, Vittorio De Sica, Giorgio Strehler, and Anna Magnani to name just a few. Today, the artist, who “sings because he cannot swim,” faces Raffaele Viviani, the actor, playwright, composer, poet and writer from Naples, famous “street urchin” of the ’20s and ’30s, who conquered national audiences with comedies such as “L’ultimo scugnizzo” and “Guappo ’e cartone”. At the Cinema Teatro di Chiasso, in Switzerland, Massimo Ranieri reinterprets the poems, lyrics and music that made the history of Neapolitan theater. Thursday, 13 and Friday, 14 at 8:30pm, “Viviani Variety” goes on stage; the tribute to Neapolitan theater is directed by Maurizio Scapparo starring Ernesto Lama, Roberto Bani, Angela De Matteo, Mazio Zinno, Ivano Schiavi, Gaia Bassi, Rhuna Barduagni, Antonio Speranza, Simone Spirito and Martina Giordano. Set in 1929, on board the Duilio steamer traveling from Naples to Buenos Aires, Ranieri plays Viviani who is crossing the ocean alongside his company of actors and musicians. During the long voyage, Viviani stages the show that is meant to bring him fortune in the New World – but in the end the Avant première takes place in front of the emigrants on the steamer. Massimo Ranieri and Maurizio Scapparo recompose the gallery of portraits created by Viviani’s works, bringing to life the street urchins, hawkers, prostitutes and poor people that composed the third class of the ship – making them the main characters of life’s stage.
