Wine and parties of a thousand and one nights: Naples is the navel of the world
Deer sculptures, horn players, gospel choirs, dances, theatrical performances. And goblets of wine. While elegant clothes parade in the rooms of the most prestigious buildings in history, rich trays of delicacies tempt the palate of members of royal families, art historians, fashion photographers, artists, actors. It is the fabulous world created by Generoso Di Meo which for twenty years has spread the culture of Naples and its connections with the rest of the globe, enclosing them in a calendar. And the idea of creating a publication full of anecdotes and flavors that every year stops in a different city could only come from a refined and volcanic mind like that of a Neapolitan intellectual. With the intention, as soon as possible, to land in Odessaterritories tormented by war: “As soon as the conditions allow it we would like to bring our event in Ukraine“. Gynecologist by profession, patron by passion, wine producer in the family business of the same name in Salza Irpina (Avellino), Di Meo annually reviews a place – of which he deepens the historical ties with Naples – which the following year becomes the protagonist of the calendar. A project that the scholar, dandy from Monte di Dio, a hill overlooking Piazza Plebiscito, has turned into a highly anticipated event. “A cultural operation, of respect and love for my city”, he says. From Rome to Warsaw, from New York to Marrakech. 2022 is dedicated to Turin, immortalized by Massimo Listri with written contributions by Evelina Christillin, Alessandro Barbero, Giovanni De Luna, Mario Martone and many others. City of Turin where Di Meo first of all invited desserts such as Festivo, the chocolate cake from the historic Pfatisch pastry shop. “But it’s the Tropeziana that drove me crazy!”, He says. From Lisbon he loved Pastéis de Belém, from Istanbul Baklava, and then those sweets with honey, “what were they called?”. But at the base of everything there is the vineyard. “Wine is identity”, Di Meo emphasizes.
How and when was the calendar project born?
“Everything starts with the wine. One day 21 years ago I am on a plane with the photographer Luciano Romano who shows me some wonderful photos of the Borghese Gallery. I immediately think that it would be great to create an analogue thing by combining art and Taurasi wine. So I invite a series of fashion, cinema and art photographers to our wine estate to take some shots: Giovanni Gastel, Massimo Listri, Uberto Gasche, Mario Testino. My idea is to make a book out of it but the publisher suggests: why don’t you make a calendar? Calendar that was born the following year: in 2022 he turned 20 ”.
Why did you choose Turin for 2022?
“It is the city where the modern Italian nation was born, steeped in Risorgimento ideals. It is important to return to reflect on the history of Italy and on the reasons for unity: it is a way of reacting to the anguish of this bad present. Both Turin and Naples were capital and then, when it was moved to Florence, they became peripheral. Among the points in common there are also characters such as Piero Gobetti, from Turin, and Benedetto Croce (from L’Aquila who lived and died in Naples, ed), who theorized the religion of freedom. By studying, I got into the Turin mood and discovered a city full of surprises “.
What is the purpose of your work?
“The meaning of the Calendar lies in the search for similarities between the two cities and the aim is to understand each other better and to open a dialogue between peoples. Some cities were also great revelations such as Warsaw, which I met starting from the images of Bernardo Bellotto. Naples and Turin seemed distant, there were many clichés about the differences between Northern and Southern Italy. And instead I’m close. We presented the 2022 calendar in Venaria, among horn players and sculptures, the famous deer by Paolo Grassino. And during the days of the presentation, our guests were able to visit the city’s museums for free ”.
What will 2023 have in store?
“I’m working on Seville which has many similarities with Naples, even witty things as shown in the 1958 film“ Bread, love and Andalusia ”. We will present the work at the Alcazar Palace… ”.
How do you get the most prestigious buildings in the cities?
“Through friends and thanks to the institutions: in Seville the mayor, a tourism expert, was happy to give the green light. Ours is a festival that has cultural value and local authorities are happy with this showcase. To manage the expenses we support sponsors and the institutions themselves, for the rest I do everything by myself, it is a job that I love. In Belgrade, the party took place at the Serbian Palace, where no one usually enters. They are beautiful evenings based on music, art, wine: in New York there was gospel, in Istanbul a performance by the popularizer Ayhan Sicimolu ”.
Who are the guests?
“Friends, art historians, entrepreneurs, artists. Characters such as Maria Gabriella di Savoia, Beatrice di Borbone, Vittorio Sgarbi, royal families, intellectuals such as Fernando Mazzocca, in the past we had Marta Marzotto. And then entertainers, Alessandro Preziosi, Alba Parietti, Rita Pavone, Mario Martone, Gelasio Gaetani. Pre-Covid, we have reached 1000 people “.
What drives this work?
“The taste of travel, I’m curious, I don’t feel like doing anything exceptional: it’s something that gives me pleasure, which I couldn’t do without, it gives me the rhythm of the year. And I can’t wait to go back to discover the world, without restrictions ”.
A VERY EXPECTED EVENT THAT TURNS 20 YEARS
After 20 years of history and a Grand Tour between the capitals of half the world, this year the small lunar celebrates the capital of Sabauda. The presentation of the Calendar, in a limited edition of 5000 copies, is a highly anticipated event at an international level. Over the years it has touched prestigious places such as the Royal Academy of Arts in London, the State Historical Museum in Moscow, the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, the Kadiri Palace in Marrakech, the Royal Palace of Ajuda in Lisbon, the Ç? Ra? An Palace of Istanbul.