GUESTS’ PROFILES
Among the greatest interpreters of the Italian blues, Zucchero (born Adelmo Fornaciari) is one of the Italian artists who sold the most records. His album “Oro, incenso e birra” sold more than eight million copies and was for a long time the most sold album in the history of Italian pop music worldwide. He was the first Western artist to perform at the Kremlin after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Zucchero was the only Italian artist to participate at the 1994 Woodstock Festival, at the Freddie Mercury Tribute and at all the Nelson Mandela 46664 events. He was the only Italian artist to be nominated for the Grammy Awards alongside Billy Preston and Eric Clapton for best “R&B Traditional Vocal Collaboration.” His December 2012 concert held at the Higher Institute of Art in Havana is considered as the biggest concert ever held by a foreign singer in Cuba. His music has spread across national borders thanks to numerous collaborations with international artists such as Bryan Adams, the Blues Brothers, Bono, Jeff Beck, Ray Charles, Eric Clapton, Joe Cocker, Miles Davis, Peter Gabriel, John Lee Hooker, B.B. King, Mark Knopfler, Brian May, Iggy Pop, Alejandro Sanz, Sting and many others.
Starting his career with legendary rock band BOOWY as their lead guitarist, Hotei debuted his solo career in 1988 with his album “GUITARHYTHM”.
He is also widely recognized as a producer, lyricist and songwriter.
He received an offer from famous director Quentin Tarantino for his song “BATTLE WITHOUT HONOR OR HUMANITY” to be the theme music for hit movie “KILL BILL”. The song received wide critical acclaim, and to this day is a classic hit.
In 2012 he moved to the UK, where he successfully completed his 3rd live performance in London.
In 2014 he performed with rock band The Rolling Stones at Tokyo Dome, and the following year (2015) he signed with record label Spinefarm Records.
He released his international album “Strangers” in the UK and Europe in October 2015, which was also later released worldwide.
As 2016 marks his 35th year in his performing career in Japan, he is currently organizing a 35th Anniversary project called “8 Beats’ Silhouette”.
In addition, this year in February alone he successfully performed at Berlin, Paris, and Amsterdam.
From Hotei, we can expect that 2016 will see not only spectacular performances abroad but also in Japan as well.
Born in Modica (RG) in 1990, Giovanni Caccamo is a poly-instrumentalist, composer and songwriter who began singing from a very young age. At twenty, after spending his teenage years composing and writing songs, while studying Architecture at the Polytechnic University of Milan Giovanni started working as a TV presenter and VJ (Rai Gulp, Lo Zecchino d’Oro, Social King); he also created his ‘Live at home’ tour format, a unique type of intimate concert allowing him to perform “door to door” shows all over Europe.
At the tender age of 25 Caccamo can already boast a history of prestigious collaborations, such as his work with singer-songwriter Franco Battiato, who produced Giovanni’s single “L’indifferenza” (2013) and sang with him in the duet “Satelliti nell’aria”, included in Caccamo’s Sugar-produced début album “Qui per te” (2015). Caccamo began working with Sugar, the company he has called his new “musical family”, in 2014. In 2015 Sugar brought his song “Ritornerò da te” on the stage of the Ariston theatre. The song, which Giovanni wrote and composed himself, was performed as part of the “Newcomers” section of the Sanremo Festival and later included in the singer’s début album. The song was a critical and commercial success, winning first place in the competition as well as being honored with the Mia Martini Critics’ Award and the Radio-Tv-Web Press Office Award.
After his first Sanremo experience, which included a stint of composing with the Malika Ayane song “Adesso e qui (Nostalgico presente)”, Caccamo performed during Italy’s most important live events and continued his songwriting career, writing songs such as “Finalmente” (with Alessandra Flora), included in Emma Marrone’s album “Adesso”; he also contributed material for Deborah Iurato’s album “Da Sola” and wrote “Tutto questo vento”, with Francesca Michielin and Federica Abbate, (a song included in Michielin’s album “d20”). Caccamo then began a string of performances in Italian theatres, but at the same time was determined to nurture his close relationship with his audience. He did so by including a few select ‘Live at home’ dates to his “Qui per te TOUR” both in Italy and abroad, performing in cities such as Jerusalem and New York. In September 2015, Giovanni and Malika Ayane were chosen by Disney-Pixar to provide vocal performances for the short film “Lava”, theatrically released alongside the record-breaking Pixar movie “Inside Out”.
In 2016, Giovanni Caccamo competed in the 66th Sanremo Festival, singing with Deborah Iurato in the duet “Via da qui”, written by Giuliano Sangiorgi; for the second year running he reached the Festival’s podium, winning third place in Italy’s most prestigious musical competition.
While the Festival was underway, Giovanni released his second studio album “Non siamo soli (Sugar), which includes a duet with Carmen Consoli entitled “Resta con me” and his Disney-Pixar “Lava” song with Malika Ayane, as well as his Sanremo hit “Via da qui”.
Immediately after the Festival, Giovanni resumed his live performances. On February 17th he was already in Rome for a special sneak peek of his “NON SIAMO SOLI TOUR”. True to his close relationship with his fans, Giovanni Caccamo decided to offer them a “gift” of 8 exclusive concerts for which no tickets were sold: access to the venues was reserved to all those who owned a copy of Giovanni’s album “Non Siamo Soli”.
Marianne Mirage was born in Cesena, Italy.
At the age of 7, mostly thanks to her painter father, she approached the world of art discovering a deep passion for music: from black to black soul, by way of the great voices of international jazz such as Billie Holiday and Sarah Vaughan, not to mention psychedelic and grunge music. A wide-ranging love that led her to sing and play guitar from an early age. In her conviction that art is knowledge and that all knowledge springs from travel, Marianne spent her teenage years on the road, from London to Paris, from Berlin to Turkey, while studying literature, photography, music and acting.
In 2012 she graduated from Milan’s Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia, and immediately started a series of acting commitments. In 2014 Marianne Mirage released her first single, “Come Quando Fuori Piove” with Sugar, Caterina Caselli’s record label, sparking an immediate and significant media interest. That same year, Rolling Stone chose her to perform on the occasion of the magazine’s party held at Milan’s historic Alcatraz venue. Later on, Marianne performed as an opening act for several Italian and international artists such as Kiesza, Patty Pravo, Tiromancino, Raphael Gualazzi and more. In 2015, Microsoft picked her as a featured artist for the launch of its innovative Surface app, which Marianne employed to play guitar with the help of a technological device. This innovative idea caught the attention of several news outlets, so much so that Vanity Fair chose her as a performer for its 2015 Christmas party. The young artist’s new year has begun with a flurry of commitments, and this February she will star in DeejayTV’s “TADA’” with Filippo Timi, flanked by such artists as Elio E Le Storie Tese, Marco Mengoni, Malika Ayane and more.
2016 is shaping up to be an important year for Marianne Mirage: her debut album with Sugar, “Quelli Come Me”, is slated to be released on March 25th. Produced by Max Elli and Jack Jaselli, recorded at Como’s Auditoria Records and mixed by Enrico La Falce, “Quelli Come Me” is Marianne’s heritage debut, a great work of creativity which the artist dedicates to all those who see and live life as she does “This record is me”, Marianne says, “it is a snapshot of my essence, my ideas and hopes”. The partly autobiographical “Quelli Come Me” is an anthem to daily battles, to life stories and to anyone who fights for an idea, against subjugation and for love. “I have learned there is no gain without fight, and this has molded both my personality and my artistic pursuits”.
The album’s lyrics flowed naturally over a guitar base, to which a soul drum and a groovy bass line were later added. “It is a sensual, simple record, made with love”, Marianne herself says.
Miss Italia 2014 – Clarissa Marchese
Clarissa Marchese was born in Sciacca, a town of the Agrigento region in Sicily, to a Sicilian father and American mother. Currently a student at Parma University studying speech and language therapy, at 20 years old she participated in beauty contests. In 2014 she was chosen as Miss Italia, catapulting her to international fame. “Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.” (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe) In respect to this quote, Clarissa hopes to achieve her dreams and aspirations further, and urges the young generation to do the same.
Born into a family of hair stylists, he began working as an apprentice when he was thirteen years old, after travelling all over the world and working at the highest level. When he was just sixteen he was a protagonist of the runway shows at Pitti Moda. He took part in major events in New York, London, Paris and Shanghai, and in 1995 was the L’oréal Professionnel testimonial on the international stage provided by Cosmoprof.
Even though he likes to refer to himself as simply a hairdresser, Franco Curletto excels in all sectors connected with the world of hair stylists: salons, shows, fashion, communication and art.
His creative approach means that he is always ready to try out new experiences that allow him to translate into hair styles the suggestions offered by art, culture, film and music.
For several years he work with international artists, including Vanessa Beecroft and the fashion photographer Giovanni Gastel, with whom he realized many projects.
Franco Curletto has curated the hair style look for many italian national events and shows and he is a habitual partner of Milan Fashion Week. He works with top fashion houses and designers like come Roberto Cavalli, Valentino, Elie Saab e Valentin Yudashkin. E inoltre con Angelos Bratis, Aigner, Massimo Rebecchi, Angelo Marani, Carlo Tivioli, Chiara Boni, Basharatyan, Byblos, Blu Marine, Harmont & Blaine, Fausto Puglisi, Romeo Gigli, Iceberg, Jean Morgan, Les Copains, Fisico, G.F. Ferrè, Laura Biagiotti, Mila Schön, Salvatore Ferragamo, Soprani, Trussardi, Rocco Barocco.
For “Italia, amore mio!” Franco Curletto will mix the world of beauty, art and food into a performance that has previously been done with artist Vanessa Beecroft.
Born in Ferrara, with an academic background that goes from architecture to shoe design and visual merchandising, Davide Pizzotti starts collaborating as fashion editor in 1995 with international trend magazine Zoom in Fashion Trends first to later move on to fashion iconic names such as GQ Germany, GQ Spain, GQ South Africa, Maxim, Vogue Pelle, Muse and Donna.
Beside styling for look books and print campaigns and consulting for fashion and beauty brands as Belstaff, Wolford, l’Oréal, Revlon he collaborates with the most prestigious ad agencies (Armando Testa, Red Cell, Ogilvy) and international photographers as Fabrizio Ferri, Giovanni Gastel, Riccardo Vimercati, Marino Parisotto, Mustafa Sabbagh. Between 2008 and 2013 he is consultant for Leonardo Cozzi shoe design and art director for Dressing Spa where he is in charge of the artistic direction and the office product-style for the brand Roberta Scarpa. He currently works in Milan consulting for Laura Strambi and Sara Roka.
Antonella RondinoneHer voice and recitative skills have given to Antonella Rondinone the chance to perform 30 opera roles, the most important being “Mimì” in “La Boheme” by Puccini, “Tosca” by Puccini, “Donna Elvira” in “Don Giovanni” by Mozart, “Micaela” in “Carmen” by Bizet, “Nedda” in “Pagliacci” by Leoncavallo, “Helena” in “A midsummer night’s dream” by Britten, “Rita” by Donizetti, “Belinda” in “Dido and Aeneas” by H. Purcell.
She has sung in the most important Italian and foreign theatres: Teatro dell’Opera in Rome, Teatro Comunale in Bologna, Teatro Massimo in Palermo, Teatro Carlo Felice in Genova, Teatro Verdi in Trieste, Auditorium of Lingotto in Torino, Teatro Verdi in Pisa, Teatro of Giglio in Lucca, Teatro Goldoni in Livorno, La Commedie des Champs Elysees in Paris, Le Theatre de la Ville in Saint-Malo (France), Teatro Tartini in Pirano (Slovenja), Auditorium Municipal in Portimao and Auditorio Magno in Porto (Portugal).
In september 2015, Antonella Rondinone has sung with Josè Carreras, in Matera.
She has been directed by G.Gelmetti, O. Leshmann, J. Webb, J. Tate, S. Mercurio, R. Marrone, S.A Reck, G. Carella, E. Boncompagni.
She has worked with the directors Franco Zeffirelli, Lindsay Kemp, M. Van Hoeke, M. Znaniecki, C. Alvirez, F. Tiezzi, M. Mirabella. She teaches Canto at the Conservatorio di Musica in Matera, Italy.
Yoshitaka Murata[ITA] Laureato in canto presso il Conservatorio (lett: Università della Musica) di Kunitachi. Completamento del 46º ciclo del Nikikai Opera Stadio Master Course. Membro della Nikikai Opera Foundation. Nel 2001 selezionato per la partecipazione a un concorso canoro in Italia (Sezione di Siena). Ad oggi la sua attività è incentrata sull’Opera italiana con esibizioni in Giappone, Italia e Slovenia. Nel 2016 ha eseguito come solista il Requiem di Mozart presso il Teatro Rossini e la Basilica di San Paolo fuori le mura in Vaticano.
OperaVera
Mai Nishida (Soprano Singer) Born in Tokyo. Graduate from “Musashino” Music University in Tokyo. Graduate with maximum grades in Singing from the “G. Verdi” conservatory of music in Milan. Performed main roles in “La Bohéme”, “La Traviata”, “Don Giovanni” “Serva padrona” and other operas in Milan. Won 1st prize at the ʻFrancesco Paolo Tostiʼ competitionʼs under 22 section in Japan and 3rd prize at “C. Bonafini – D. Ronconi” and “Symphoniam” international competitions in Italy. In 2014 she performed together with Teatro alla Scala Ballet Company.
Paolo Andrea Di Pietro (Bass Singer) Born in Milan. Studied singing at the “G. Verdi” conservatory of music in Milan and with the tenor Angelo Loforese. Graduate in “Cultural and Linguistic Mediation” from the University of Milan. Had his opera title role debut in 2012 in “The Marriage of Figaro”. In 2013 performed the role of Daland from “The Flying Dutchman” in over 20 famous Italian theatres such as Modenaʼs Pavarotti and Bolognaʼs Comunale theatre. In 2015 had his operatic debut in Japan as Colline in “La Bohéme” for the Japanese Agency of Cultural Affairsʼ production.
Megumi Nakanomori (Piano) Piano graduate from Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. In 2009 she moved to Italy and began studying at the “G. Verdi” conservatory of music in Milan. Won 1st prize at the Beltrami, Camaiore, Spinea and Cortemilia international music competitions. In 2013 and 2014 was a member of the Teatro alla Scala Academy Ensemble. In 2016 she will be featured in a duo album with saxophonist Andrea Mocci and in a solo album of Italian composers.
Soprano Rie Takaesu has been performing as a soloist in opera both in Milan and Tokyo. Classified 2nd in the “Burckhardt International Music Contest“.
Yasutaka Shibata studied musicianship in Milan from 2006 to 2013. With his flexible and powerful voice, he performs in various locations and stars for movies and commercials in Japan.
The Goninbayashi create a music of their own blending classics and inherited sounds from the past with new arrangements.
Bussoletti was born in Italy near Castelfidardo,
an area considered to be the world capital of accordion making. He began his musical education at age eleven,
studied at the Gioacchino Rossini Conservatory
and received a degree in pianoforte. Moreno also holds a diploma in accordion playing from the Egidio Marchetti School. At the Testaccio School in Rome he studied jazz piano. Moreno’s professional career began at 15. Since then he has performed in many parts of the world. Teaming up with musicians, enjoying collaborations as well as different cultural environments are all part of Moreno’s success story, which includes appearances on TV and studio recordings.
Alessio Silvestrin, graduated at the Académie de Dance Classique Princess Grace in Monte-Carlo and the Ecole Atelier Rudra Béjart in Lausanne. Under the guidance of Francesco Valdambrini he has become a composer of the new school of “Tricordale Music”. He worked as a dancer, choreographer and composer with the Béjart Ballet Lausanne and with the Ballet de l’Opéra National de Lyon. He join the Frankfurt Ballet in 1999 and since then he has been often invited as a guest artist with The Forsythe Company and performed Willam Forsythe’s Choreographic Objects. Since 2003, he became an independent artist resident in Japan. Among his commissions and collaborations: Aichi Arts Center, YCAM, Noism 01, New National Theater, Cerulean Tower Noh Theater, Studio Architanz, Venice Biennale Dance, São Paulo Conpanhia de Dança in Brazil, Link Dance Company in Australia and Ensemble Muromachi.
Akiko Kubota, performing mainly narrative songs such as “Heike monogatari” ( The Tale of the Heike ) and war chronicles. Creating and performing herself new narrative works based on fairy tales and folk tales. Among her wide-range of activities: Anime and TV music recordings, theatre music and playing with instrumental ensembles. She challenges a new kind of biwa perfomance by two players “Biwa futarigatari” called “Yanaka Biwa Style” and participating to many activities abroad Japan. With her teacher Yoshiko Sakata, she is involved in promoting the popularity of the biwa in Kagoshima. Affiliation: Pro Musica Nipponia, Wagakudan Koh, Yanaka Biwa Style and Ensemble Muromachi.
Manuel Belleri
Born 29 August 1977 in Brescia.
He has been a professional football player for nearly 20 years, joining Serie-A teams like Udinese and Lazio, where he played for 8 years earning UEFA B-licence and the qualification to be a sport director. In 2015 he became a member of AC Milan Academy and from February 2016 he is in charge of AC Milan Soccer School in Tokyo.
Luca Monese,
Born April 29th 1981 in Verona. In his early twenties he started the coaching activity gaining experience in Serie-A teams, working 9 years for Chievo-Verona and 2 years for Hellas-Verona. Also, he coached the Serie-A female Bardolino Team, which participated in the Champions League. He joined AC Milan Academy in October 2012, with the qualification of Physical trainer and Athletic trainer. The same year he took charge of AC Milan Soccer School in Oita as a Technical director. From 2014 he is in charge of Chiba and Sakura Schools.
From Rome, Italy. As a cooking expert, he has appeared in many TV programmes, cooking shows, seminars, and food/cooking related events in Japan. Going beyond cooking, he now works as a cultural ambassador between Italy and Japan.
Andrea Tranchero
Executive Chef, Barilla Australia
Fluent in five languages and having worked in Italy, America, France, China and Japan, Barilla’s new Executive Chef, Andrea Tranchero, brings with him invaluable experience from the global stage. Lured into the culinary world at an early age, and with his career now spanning over 25 years, Andrea has developed his own unique flair for Italian cuisine.
In Tokyo, Andrea continued to expand his skills as Executive Chef of the highly acclaimed L’Estasi Restaurant, the Tokyo restaurant of famous Italian Michelin-starred Chef Claudio Sadler. Moving to the world-class Armani Ristorante in 2007, Andrea was personally selected to cook for, amongst others, Virgin Group’s Richard Branson, the President of the Italian Republic, Giorgio Napolitano, and fashion designer, Giorgio Armani.
Mario Frittoli came to Japan in 1987 to work for world-famous chefs Paul Bocuse and Angelo Paracucchi, as they were opening restaurants in Daimaru department store in Kyoto and Shinsaibashi, Osaka. He began teaching at the Tsuji Culinary Institute in Osaka the following year.
In 1989, he became Head Chef at Los Angeles celebrities’ favourite Lido, and Il Forno in Santa Monica. It was there that he created an original menu and concept that incorporated the taste of Californian cuisine, thus proving his creative talents.
In 1990, Frittoli returned to Japan for the opening of Il Forno in Roppongi, as Head Chef. He was subsequently assigned as the Vice President of Stillfoods, assisting with the opening of 28 restaurants. This led to his assignment as the Executive Chef of Il Pinolo in Higashi-Azabu in Tokyo.
In 2008 he opened Mario i Sentieri in the Nishi-Azabu district in Tokyo. In 2015 he created Milano Red Bar @ Mario i Sentieri, the first Italian bar and restaurant in Japan where one can enjoy Milan-style Aperitivo.
Mario Frittoli’s international mind of freely juggling several languages together with his esthetic sense proper to Italians, all in a friendly personality, made him gain popularity in Japan. Currently he is active in various fields, including appearances on TV (NHK) and magazines.
Teatro del Fuoco
Teatro del Fuoco is brand ambassador of Italian culture in the world, innovative cultural tourism product marketing, high quality event created in 2008. Teatro del Fuoco was granted a product of cultural tourism and innovative marketing by the President of the Italian Republic and it is quoted in Forbes magazine as one of the 12 coolest festivals worth world travelling for. Teatro del Fuoco presents international artists that make shows with different body languages like mime, dance, music, acrobatics, lights and every year it organize a festival in tour in the Mediterranean islands. Teatro del Fuoco performances were judged particularly suited to seduce any kind of audience.
Nittsu Kendo Team
Nittsu Kendo Club was founded in 1957. It counts 90 members with 4 male athletes of 7-dan 2 women in 5-dan.
CIEL Waseda University Ballet Club
Founded in 2007, Their performances vary from classical ballet to Jazz.
Flag Baton Club Musashino University
Robin
TV, magazine and fashion personality. In 2015 he is chosen as Shibuya 109men’s summer billboard face and selected to be on the podium of the sportsmen entertainers of the year.
Pietro Cristo
Former Serie A Napoli Team player. Referees’ Association of Tokyo board Member. Popular talent with many cameos in dramas, videos, CM, soccer and cuisine programs.