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The Accademia Teatro alla Scala and Fernet-Branca have created the Fernet-Branca 2021 Calendar, a project whose proceeds will be used to provide a scholarship to attend the Accademia Teatro alla Scala. The initiative, born on the occasion of the 175th anniversary of the foundation of Fratelli Branca Distillerie, is an example of sharing between two Italian excellences in the world. Two ultimate goals: to enhance the creative ability of the students in an interdisciplinary project and to allow new talents, thanks to the funds raised, to access and train within this prestigious Academy.
As Luisa Vinci, General Director of the Accademia Teatro alla Scala, points out, “When two Milanese institutions, which share a centuries-old history, meet for a project that merges their values and vision, it can only result in a fruitful and profitable collaboration. A calendar that, inspired by the historic Branca calendars, highlights the beauty of the arts and crafts of entertainment through the faces of the young people who entrust their aspirations for success to the Accademia Teatro alla Scala every day, today more than ever it gives us confidence in the future”. “Since its birth 175 years ago – continues Niccolò Branca, President of Fratelli Branca Distillerie – Branca has not only created a product that has been successful in various parts of the world, but has always been aware of the role that a company must have within the community in which it operates. This concept of a sustainable company was the dream of its founder Bernardino Branca and is what continues to guide its development today. Thus, this project which sees Fernet-Branca alongside the Accademia Teatro alla Scala to enhance the talents of the new generation It is an example of our philosophy of doing”.
The inspiration for this project came from the historic Branca calendars, first produced in 1886. and quickly became a cult object awaited every year. In each edition, a subject of particular value for civil society was brought to light, through the gaze and talent of famous artists of the time, and in which, in line with its mission as a 'sustainable' company, Branca showed its closeness to the community and awareness of its role in society. A valid example of this is the 1892 Calendar for the 400th anniversary of the discovery of America and the 1904 one dedicated to the genius of Marconi. Suspended during the period of the world wars, today, in the year of the celebration of 175 years since the creation of Fernet-Branca, the idea was born to return to producing the Branca calendar while maintaining its original mission and making it contemporary in the role it played within the community.
The Fernet-Branca 2021 Calendar, entirely created by the talents of the Accademia Teatro alla Scala, was born as a truly transversal project, thanks to the involvement of many of the souls of the Scala School: over 50 students of the artistic and technical disciplines, once again had the opportunity to experience in the field what it means to work in a group to create a project. The project was particularly complex. Starting from the study of the works of the Branca Collection and the historical context in which they were born, the students of the Theatre Scenography Course created four costume projects, one for each season of the year: clothes with an ancient soul, but with a touch of modernity given by the contemporary style of the students and their ability to look to the future.
Interpreters of the four seasons, as many professional figures of the theatre:
– the Orchestra Director, the student of the Course for assistant conductors Cristina Ciulla, protagonist of the Winter shots
– the Musician, Anna Castellani, student of the Course for Orchestra Professors, protagonist of the Spring
– the Dancer, Letizia Masini, who graduated this year from the Scala Ballet School, photographed in the summer months
– the Photographer, Annachiara Di Stefano, student of the photography and video course, interpreter of Autumn.
The shots of the seasons were taken by Laura Ferrari, a former student, now a career professional and teacher of the Stage Photography and Video Course, and under his guidance, the student photographers, authors of the portraits of the protagonists. In fact, the pages of the calendar contain the biographical portraits of all 12 talents involved, in a story capable of highlighting the inimitable character of each. The 2021 calendar joins the other historical calendars and will be exhibited at the Branca Collection in via Resegone 2 in Milan. The 2021 Calendar has been produced in only 175 copies available from 01/12/2020 for purchase on the e-commerce platform created specifically on the website www.fernetbranca.com/calendario2021. All proceeds from the sale will go towards the creation of a scholarship to allow new talents to access the Accademia Teatro alla Scala.
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