The president:
Comm. Umberto Bertoldi
THE BENIFICIAL COMMITTEE OF THE CARNIVAL OF ST. STEFANO
The continued success of the Carnival of St. Stefano obviously relies on the committee that looks after the organisational aspects of the various events. Behind every Mask in all the quarters of the city, there is a committee that can be joined, on a voluntary basis, in order to give a hand when it is needed and naturally to have a good time and enjoy oneself. In the history of the Duca della Pignata, we know that from the very beginning a committee was set up surrounding Siro Zuliani then known as the Committee of St. Stefano and St. Giorgio. It was this committee that bestowed the first decorations and organised the impressive celebrations for Luni Pignatar in 1884. The president was Duke Zuliani, while Giovanni Battista Federigo was Secretary. The names of the other 13 members are mentioned on the original poster announcing the festivities. Appearing beside these names are the signatures of another committee, set up for the occasion as a sort of twinship, the committee of St. Giovanni in Valle and St. Maria in Organo, to represent the ‘Isolo’ quarter through which the court of the ducal Bacchanalia passed. In 1923, on the occasion of the revival of St. Stefano’s Carnival, a committee was set up to work alongside Duke Ercole Germani. After another long lull, a new committee was set up in 1948, when the quarter of St. Stefano gave a new lease of life to Verona’s Carnival. Luigi Bonetti was called on to be president of the committee (it was deemed inappropriate for the same person to be involved in the role of Duke, held at the time by Angelo Germani, and that of President of the committee). Luigi Bonetti retained the position until 1973. He was followed by Giovanni Morandini (1974 – 1976), Luigi Bonetti once again (1977 – 1978), Sergio Meneghini (1978 – 1979), Vittorio Battistella (1980 – 1983) and Umberto Bertoldi, nominated in 1983 and president to date. In over fifty years of uninterrupted activity, the Committee has seen a large number of members from Verona (at the moment there are about forty members), who contribute, in various ways, to the Carnival of St. Stefano. While working quietly behind the scenes, their contribution is nonetheless invaluable. In accordance with the present statute, the objectives of the committee are the promotion of recreational and folkloristic activities for charity and welfare, thus following the spirit of Duke Zuliani who may have been a little eccentric but undoubtedly had a big heart. The President is assisted by a board of directors. It is their job to set out the committee’s guidelines, to plan all appearances by the Ducal Court and the God of Gold and to organise a series of events, beginning with the Luni Pignatar celebrations. Every year well-deserving citizens of the St. Stefano Carnival are awarded the decorations of Commende and Gran Croci which were first bestowed in 1884 and the ranks of figures that surround the principal masks are continually renewed, from Gran Ciambellano to that of the Commendatori Ufficiali, from the Dames to Primavera, from Tigellino to the amusing Pignatini. A special section of the committee looks after activities for children, the elderly and the disabled. The Committee through its President, joins up with all the other committees in Verona to organise common events.
The
Committee presently resides in Via S. Giovanni in Valle, 13 in Verona,
in a charming location, full of character, inside the so-called ‘Court
of the Duke’.
Contact
us
Postal Address:
Via San Giovanni in Valle, 13/c
37129 VERONA
Project:
Alberto Cornaglia
webmaster@ducatosantostefano.it
Text, Researh and Advice:
Carlo Bortolon - Tiziana Gherardi - Franco Ballini
Marilena Garofalo - Marion Hogan - Anna Capasso