Author's column by Italian journalist Debora Scalzo
Debora Scalzo is the founder of Desca Production, an Italian film production and distribution company. Born in Asti, with Sicilian roots and Milanese by adoption, she is a multifaceted artistknown for her work in literature, music, screenwriting, and film directing. She is the author of several award-winning novels such as “Io resto così” (I Stay Like This), “Fuoco Freddo” (Cold Fire), “Cuore Marchiato” (Branded Heart), and “Un dolore da difendere” (A Pain to Protect), all of which explore significant social issues including psychological abuse, prostitution, fallen officers, and suicides among law enforcement personnel.Her contributions to literature have earned her numerous prestigious international awards. Among them, she received the Apoxiomeno Award at the International Police Awards Festival inthe Literature category—a highly regarded international recognition, previously awarded to Oscar winners such as Colin Firth and Helen Mirren. This prize is dedicated to the police forces, highlighting the author’s commitment to honoring and telling their stories. In addition to her literary career, she is deeply engaged in social issues, particularly in the fight for women’s rights. She founded the cultural initiative “Parent Love”, supporting the “Casa diPaolo” project in memory of Judge Paolo Borsellino. She is also the Artistic Director of the Juliet Art Academy in Verona, as well as creative writing and film in Italian schools in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Merit.She works as a Literary Agent and is the Director of the "Pagine di Cinema" series for the Santelli Group. Her passion for cinema extends to her roles as International Film Distribution Manager at Underground Distribution and Head of Production at Santelli Pictures. She is currently distributing the docufilm “Paolo Vive” (Paolo Lives), dedicated to Judge Paolo Borsellino, through an international network in collaboration with the Italian Ministry of ForeignAffairs and International Cooperation, Italian embassies, and cultural institutes worldwide. She is also producing the anti-mafia film “Beyond the Uniform”, dedicated to the Carabinieri military police force. Among her upcoming projects, she is set to direct a major film about the G8 Bolzaneto barracks events, which will be produced and shot between Genoa and Tuscany in 2026, with a release scheduled for 2027. Author of the successful "Made in Italy" column featured in the prestigious American magazine "My New York Magazine".
KATIA RICCIARELLI
The great Italian excellence Soprano
Katia Ricciarelli the great Italian Soprano was born in Rovigo. Beloved by the general public, a multifaceted, straightforward artist with a great personality. She studied at the “Benedetto Marcello Conservatory” in Venice, making her debut in Mantua in 1969 with “La bohème” and appearing the following year at the Regio di Parma in “Il trovatore”. She rose to prominence in 1971 after winning “Rai Voci Verdiane International Competition” by performing an aria from “Il cor saro”. She has performed in the world's major theaters: Lyric Opera of Chicago, Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Royal Opera House of London, Metropolitan Opera, ranging between the operas of Puccini, Verdi, Rossini, Donizetti and reaching levels of particular excellence in the second half of the 1970s (Anna Bolena, Parma 1977; Tancredi, New York 1978).
In 1994, for her 25-year career, she was awarded the title of Kammersängerin in Vienna and “Grand Official of the Italian Republic”. In 1999 on the occasion of her 30th career anniversary she made her debut in “Fedora”. Since the 2000s she has combined her musical activity with a new career as an actress, initially in successful TV films and dramas such as: “Carabinieri”, “Don Matteo” and “Un passo dal cielo” later in art films covering leading roles, such as in Pupi Avati “La seconda notte di nozze”, whose performance earned her the “Nastro d'Argento”.
He studied at the “Benedetto Marcello Conservatory” in Venice, making his debut in Mantua in 1969 with “La bohème” and appearing the following year at the Regio di Parma in “Il trovatore”. How did the love for music come about?
Singing has always come naturally to me. Ever since I was a child, I would appear and let myself go in singing. When I sang, nothing existed for me anymore. It was a neighbor, a musician, who pointed out to my mother that I had a talent for music. That I had a talent for music. "Your daughter has the voice of an angel," she said, after listening to me through the wall, and after listening to me through the wall, and in a way that's when my career began.
In 1971 came international success by winning the Rai Voci Verdiane International Competition with an aria from Il corsaro. He performed in the most important theaters in the world: Lyric Opera of Chicago in Milan (1972), Teatro alla Scala (1973), Royal Opera House in London (1974), Metropolitan Opera in New York (1975), ranging between the operas of Puccini, Verdi, Rossini, Donizetti. A memory of his from those years, which he carries in hisheart.
Singing at La Scala is the greatest thrill there is for a singer. It is no accident that it is called the temple of Opera, and let us not forget that last year UNESCO declared Italian opera singing an Intangible Heritage of Humanity. But, if you ask me to evoke a memory of those years, I think of first of all of certain moments spent with Pavarotti, Carreras and other artist friends, together with whom we used to organize card games. We used to meet in Italy, but also around the world, and we loved being together, even beyond the performances. Pavarotti, at cards, had an incredible, he always won! And he was a great cook, he would cook for everyone, and make dishes of pasta that were memorable!
She is a great Italian excellence in the world, an artist of world caliber. A great woman and artist who has gotten where she has because of her talent, passion, strength and determination. A woman to take inspiration from. What advice do you feel like giving to young girls who want to take the same artistic path as you?
To study, study and study again. To do things with love, with passion, without forgetting that doing this job is a privilege. To be humble, never believing that you have "arrived", because there is always learning, there is always improving. And then, of course, I advise them not to never stop believing, because dreams are made to be realized.
Music is the soundtrack of our life. Life made up of joys but also sorrows. It is said that music saves us in some situations, because it makes us dream but at the same time stay grounded. Has music saved you? And what is the soundtrack of your life, a music that you carry deep inside you.
The Italian opera repertoire, and let's not forget that Melodrama was born in Italy, is all extraordinary. Many Italian opera arias are universals of song. The aria from "La Wally," "Ebben? Ne andrò lontana..."; has always been in my heart. And I must say that I really love the music Neapolitan. Some songs in the classical Neapolitan repertoire, they are comparable to authentic arias of opera.
Recently speaking of music, at the Cefalù Film Festival the docufilm "In
principio era il canto" directed by Flavio Pagano, dedicated to the sea and the
beauty of Cape Palinuro, was awarded the "Earth Day 2024 Award," starring
her with her unique and intense voice. What does she tell us about the project,
her emotions on the set and her special bond with Palinuro.
