On the occasion of Dantedì 2026, join us at the Italian Cultural Institute of Washington, in collaboration with the Italian Cultural Society of Washington, for an evening at the crossroads of great literature and music.
Italian and international songwriting has long drawn inspiration from the literary canon — and Dante’s case is truly distinctive. His work has moved artists across cultures and generations.
Prof. Francesco Ciabattoni (Georgetown University) will guide the audience through songs by renowned singer-songwriters — Vinicius de Moraes, Fabrizio De André, Gianna Nannini, and Loreena McKennitt — that echo Dante and the Divine Comedy. The band The i-Talians will then bring these songs to life, following Prof. Ciabattoni’s critical introduction.
📍Embassy of Italy
3000 Whitehaven Street, NW
Washington, DC 20008
About The i-Talians
A Washington, DC-based band The i-Talians have been playing pop, rock and folk Italian music since 2011.
Gianpiero Antonazzo (guitar) is a founding member of the band. He has played rock, pop, blues, and jazz in the DC area for 15 years.
Roberta Berzero (voice) joined The i-Talians in 2023 as the lead vocalist. Roberta formed musically between Milan and Washington, DC.
Francesco Ciabattoni (piano) formed in Turin and Baltimore, MD. He studied music and literature, has published scholarly essays on this topic. He directs Georgetown University’s program of Global Medieval Studies.
John Guido Vitullo (drums) graduated in Percussion Performance from Youngstone State U. He teaches at the Levine School of Music and has played in many bands, also performing at Carnegie Hall in 2015.
