Bagni di Lucca Ponte’s exhibition at the casinò celebrating International Women’s day also includes several events. On Facebook I publicised the inaugural concert at the casinò given by Eleonora Tirrito and Valentina Bartoli, who performed classic songs ranging from Modugno to Nina Simone and Carole King (and their own too). Here are a few snippets from it:

https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=Q0BPtfexn4Y

 

It’s amazing that, given its quality, this was the first concert the two artistes gave. They were naturally a little nervous and my main criticism would have been that there should have been less introductory chat but I’m quite sure that they’ll have realised this by now.

The technical backup for sound and light show, incidentally, was excellent.

Another event which I had publicised was the evening dedicated to Napoleon’s sister, Paolina Borghese.

This was another fascinating occasion with some excellent contributions.

Paolina’s bodyguard also made a special appearance at Bagni di Lucca:

 

The short documentary on Paolina was beautifully produced and included locations in Elba and Rome associated with a person who was truly a precursor of ‘women’s lib’. ‘I’m still waiting for a 14^th July for women’ said Paolina and instead of posing as Diana for the sculptor Canova, (‘what me as a chaste goddess?’) decided on being the Venus Victrix in that well-known statue at Rome’s Villa Borghese.

Bruno Micheletti, head of the local historical society, followed with a clear talk on Paolina’s sister Elisa, better known by the Lucchesi since she was princess of Lucca. Bruno mentioned Elisa’s efforts in town planning in Lucca, which did not go too well with the locals, especially as a church, famed for its miraculous picture, was demolished to give way to today’s Piazza Napoleone. Indeed, the Lucchesi don’t like to name the place with the Emperor’s name but rather as the ‘Piazza Grande’. Bruno also stated that few Lucchesi lamented Elisa’s departure from their city when the Napoleonic Empire collapsed.

You can read more about Elisa’s town planning at Lucca in my post at:

https://longoio.wordpress.com/2013/11/19/town-planning-elisa-style/

Parenthetically, Elisa is buried in Bologna’s San Petronio church as I have described in my facebook entry at

https://www.facebook.com/fpettitt/posts/10214908440239059

Regarding Paolina, a find by our local historical association revealed that she visited Bagni di Lucca as late as 1824, the year before she died.

A nephew of Elisa, incidentally, was the Emperor Napoleon III who, exiled after his defeat in the Franco-Prussian war, was buried at Farnborough. You can read all about this fascinating link between Lucca and Farnborough in my facebook entry at

https://www.facebook.com/fpettitt/posts/10214823717241037

The captivating evening on Paolina Borghese was concluded by an account of the supremely elegant ‘Empire style’ in furniture by Renata Frediani. Such classic items as the lyre chair:

and the boat bed

are from this era.

Renata emphasised the fact that the Empire style was also regarded as a male ‘military’ style and was a direct reaction against the floral frivolity and elaboration of the feminine grace of the ‘ancien regime’s’ Louis XVI chic.

Paolina’s seaside villa in Viareggio has been beautifully restored with the help of Renata Frediani with original Empire furniture. It’s definately a place to go and visit.  For more information see:

https://www.visittuscany.com/en/attractions/villa-paolina-civic-museum-in-viareggio/

My next event for women’s week at Bagni di Lucca’s casino’ will be this evening’s presentation of ‘Women in music and art’ by Francesca Rafanelli Maffucci.

Incidentally, Francesca is the wife of Samuele Maffucci (see https://www.facebook.com/samuele.maffucciorganaro.3) who works with our local San Cassiano lad Enrico Barsanti, well-known for his organ playing skills. It’s another event not to be missed.