Luca Bonomi, president of the <a href="https://www.dantealighieri.com/">Società Dante Alighieri in Siena, Italy</a>, will return to the University of Tennessee at Martin after hosting UT Martin students at his school during a fall 2018 Italian study-abroad program. Bonomi will discuss the importance of female characters in 19th century Italian opera beginning at 6 p.m., Feb. 12, in room 117 of Gooch Hall.

The presentation will focus on both the importance of and the complexity behind women’s portraits in Giacomo Puccini’s 19th century Italian lyric operas. Bonomi will discuss the most significant aspects of female characters in narrative dynamics and stage presence, including emotions, affections and feelings. He will also explain how the topic helps understand 20th-century European society from cultural and social perspectives. The presentation is co-sponsored by the UT Martin University Honors Programs and the provost’s office.

Bonomi teaches courses in Italian language, culture, opera and the history of Italian cinema for the Società Dante Alighieri di Siena, a multinational school of language, culture and gastronomy. The school hosted 20 UT Martin students in an extended study-abroad program this past fall.

Bonomi will also meet with university officials and faculty during his visit to discuss the future of the study-abroad program in Siena and throughout Italy. UT Martin will send another group of students to participate in the program this fall.

For more information on Bonomi’s visit or travel opportunities to the Società Dante Alighieri, contact Dr. Joseph Ostenson, associate professor of psychology, at 731-881-7542 or email <a href="mailto:jostenso@utm.edu">jostenso@utm.edu</a>.

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