The fascinating magic of Carnival at Viareggio
Fun, laughter, applause, interrupted unexpectedly by a loud
voice that shouts: "Silence please, the performance is about to begin!" The
buzz of voices gradually dies away, only to become even louder and stronger
than before when it can finally acclaim the long-awaited arrival of the most
popular magician of the year. He certainly makes a spectacular, gay and colourful
entrance and, armed with magic wand and top hat, Mr. Carnival starts preparing
his fantastic macromagic act. Who knows what incredible surprises this odd,
amusing, jesting character, lover of the sea and pleasure, has reserved for
us this year in his favourite town, Viareggio, where everyone joins in the
Carnival masquerade?
The Triumph of Life (1931) We cannot deny that when we talk about Carnival
in Tuscany, we immediately think of Viareggio, capital of the spectacular
parades of allegorical floats that have animated the streets, avenues and
the hearts of the area for so many years, though many other events are held
to celebrate this festival throughout the region. The traditional Viareggio
Carnival, a spectacular event that attracts people from all over the world,
dates from way back in the past. The first edition was in fact held as long
ago as February 1873 and was the idea of some young people from the upper
classes. What made their idea so new and original was the fact that they decided
to celebrate the festive occasion with a parade of floats through the streets
in direct contact with the townspeople. An idea that very soon became reality,
for a series of processional floats were built by sculptors and craftsmen
in wood, plaster and sackcloth for the occasion. From then on they were to
become the monumental protagonists of the event, forefathers of a tradition
that has been repeated every year, apart from during the First World War and
the Belle Epoque,
when the Carnival of Viareggio fell into disuse. However it was reinstated
in 1921 and returned with renewed vigour. This can be seen from the incredible
Carnival constructions of the period, which became more festive and daring
than ever before, enriching the town's already wonderful surroundings set
against the beautiful Apuan Alps. Telemonster (1990) In 1925 the float builders
discovered new ways of making their fanciful constructions as lightweight
and colossal as possible thanks to the introduction of papier mach; this
was to bring them the enthusiastic praise of the national and international
press which described them as the magicians of this technique. Ever since
then, the Viareggio Carnival, which celebrated its 125 birthday two years
ago (the revelry and merrymaking lasted a whole month), has always been an
extremely popular attraction and naturally, this year, it intends to greet
the arrival of the new century with more floats, parades, revels in the town
quarters, carnival balls, exhibitions and events of all kinds; plans have
been made to construct a Carnival City, a group of buildings that will include
an arena for performances, a multimedial museum, a school of papier mach
and allow other cultural initiatives and entertainment. This year, for the
joy of adults and children alike, social and political subjects, with clear
references to the year 2000, will make up the main themes for the floats on
parade on Viareggio's famous promenade on February 20th and 27th, and March
5th, 7th and 12th. The first float to open this edition is dedicated to the
memory of Alfredo Morescalchi and entitled "Make way for his Majesty Carnival",
with a series of personalities created by the late master of carnival floats.
This will be followed by the "Carnival Concert" by Fabrizio Galli, who entrusts
the orchestra conductor with the task of interpreting the festival as a musical
event, "The South calls the North", carried out by Emilio 
Cinquini
with the collaboration of Sergio Staino, "The hour of the Apocalypse", by
Roberto Vannucci, symbolic of the fear of the unknown, and "Collateral effect"
carried out by Franco Malfatti.Silvano and Arnaldo Avanzini's float, "2001,
a century for peace", metaphorically linked to the importance of peace, vaguely
reminds us of a famous film by Kubrick. These are followed by constructions
alluding to personalities in the forefront of the world of politics, "Jubilee
2000: even D'Alema and company is on parade at Viareggio, amen", by Renato
Verlanti and Giovanni Lazzarini and "Abracadabra", by Simone Politi and Federica
Lucchesi, dedicated to Carlo Azelio Ciampi, disguised as a magician trying
to create a trait d'union between the opposition and the governmental majority.
Pierrot (1967) So Mr. Carnival, while we wait for the curtain to come down,
we can only hope that your acrobatic magic will manage yet again to surprise
us, make us dream and ironically exorcise all the fears and problems that
grip humanity as a whole. After all, as someone once said, life itself is
also rather like a dream. Translated by Susan Glasspool İMEGA Via Faentina
69 50134 Firenze tel. +39 055 4288418 fax +39 055 412931 Email mega@mega.it
Translated by Susan Glasspool
