Following the presentation of his book 'Marco Largi ovvero Carlo Magri drammaturgo maltese. Vita e opere' (Midsea Books, 2018) held at the Italian Cultural Institute in Valletta in November 2018 and at the Biblioteca Alessandrina of La Sapienza University in Rome in June 2019, Dr Mario Pace, Resident Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Education, was invited by Dott.ssa Ivana Legname, Tutor aziendale della Camera di Commercio italiana a Malta to present his publication in two other Sicilian cities, namely Gela and Augusta.
In Gela the event was held at the former church of San Giovanni. In front of a packed audience, which included the vice mayor of Gela, university professors, teachers and theatre experts, Dr Pace was interviewed by Avv. Graziana Cannadoro about the cultural ties that existed in the 17th Century between Sicily and Malta and about Carlo Magri鈥檚 contribution to the theatre of the time. During this event, the famous Sicilian actor Prof. Biagio Pardo interpreted excerpts from Carlo Magri鈥檚 plays.
The second book presentation was held at the historic Circolo Unione premises at Augusta. The event, which was organised and presented by the President of Italia Nostra in Augusta Prof.ssa Jessica Di Venuta, was also very well attended. Amongst those present, Dott.ssa Gaetana Bruno Ferraguto, the President of Circolo Unione together with other distinguished guests.
The book presentation, during which Dr Pace spoke about the life and works of Carlo Magri, also saw the participation of actor Gianni Alderuccio who acted out two monolgues from Magri鈥檚 plays and the young pianist Lavinia Pitari who played a couple of 17th Century piano compositions. The two events were given great prominence by Sicilian TV channels and newspapers.
In between the two book presentation ceremonies, Dr Pace was invited for meetings with, amongst others, the Mayor of Piazza Armerina, Avv. Nino Cammarata, the Assessore per il turismo e lo spettacolo of Piazza Armerina Dott. Ettore Messina, the Vice Mayor of Gela Dott. Terenziano Distefano, the historian Prof. Nuccio Mul猫 and the famous Sicilian film director Gianni Virgadaula.
Dr Pace's book has also been selected as one of the finalists for the prestigious Premju Nazzjonali tal-Ktieb 2019 organised by the National Book Council (Malta).
