Guided Tour & Rehearsal at the Opera - February 26, 2025

Join us for a unique experience at Rome's opera theatre. This journey will take us to the most beautiful rooms, including the entrance foyer, stalls, the royal box, the gallery and the museum room. Our English-speaking guide will illustrate the historical and architectural changes since 1880 and narrate curious anecdotes about the leading figures and artists who have graced the stage of the opera house.

Rome's Teatro dell’Opera is celebrating the 125th anniversary of Giacomo Puccini's Tosca, which premiered here in 1900. You may not get tickets to this sold-out opera starring Anna Netrebko as Tosca, but we'll have the immense pleasure of watching 30-45 minutes of the rehearsal after the guided tour. The rehearsal “all’italiana“ will be without the set but with full orchestra and possibly with costumes.

After this feast of sounds and beauty, those who wish can digest it all over an aperitivo in a restaurant nearby. 

When: Wed., Feb. 26, 2025

Time: tour starts at 3:30 p.m. for about 1 hour; rehearsal at 5 p.m. 

Where: Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, Piazza Beniamino Gigli 

Cost: €25 for the guided tour and rehearsal. Advance payment required.

RSVP: canadarome@gmail.com ATTN Marina by Feb. 24.

CCR Talks: Jubilee Levity - February 2, 2025

“The one where the cardinal’s mule goes crazy!” The first of our "CCR Talks" this year will be a humorous introduction to the 2025 Jubilee. Yes, the new Holy Year is now upon us and to help us be patient as we negotiate the roadblocks and the crowds, Olivia will outline the main features of a holy year, why this one is a jubilee, and the origins and meanings of the terms.

We will have some refreshments at a potluck Sunday brunch while embarking on a (hopefully humorous) historical overview of the monumental achievements and artistic events we owe to past holy years, but we will also hear about the many mishaps and contretemps of all kinds which pilgrims and Romans had to put up with during the last 700 years.

When: Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025

Time: 11 a.m.

Where: Trieste neighbourhood. Confirmed participants will be informed by email of the exact meeting point.  

Cost: €10 for members and €15 for non-members.

NB: Attendance limited to 14 people due to space limitations. CCR members have priority.

Potluck: Contributions welcome of wine/prosecco and snacks to nibble on at the beginning; salad and dessert will also be welcome.

RSVP: canadarome@gmail.com ATTN Peter by Jan. 30. You are financially responsible for your reservation.

CCR Wine Tasting: Volcanic Wines of Italy - January 25, 2025

Some of the most exciting wines coming out of Italy have volcanic origins in their soils. A surprising number of great wines, from Veneto down to Sicily, hail from volcanic terroirs. We’ll be tasting volcanic favourites and new surprises.

Where: Residence of CCR members (Monteverde Vecchio area), exact details will be sent to registered participants.

When: Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025

Time: 6 p.m. 

Cost: €35 for members (€40 for non-members); advance payment required to confirm your place. A light dinner will follow the wine tasting.

RSVP to Linda; payment by Mon., Jan. 20 at canadarome@gmail.com. Please note that you are financially responsible for your reservation.

We are pleased to have Marco Lori, Italian sommelier and wine master, lead one of CCR’s wine tastings. Marco’s sommelier training in 1995 sparked his passion for wine and set in motion years of study. In 2014 he earned the “Italian Sommelier Executive Wine Master” status, recognized by the Worldwide Sommelier Association. He is the founder of “Off the Vine,” a gastro-tourism venture in Italy.

Guest Speaker: Judge Graciela Gatti - January 19, 2025

We're honoured to have Judge Graciela Gatti Santana, President of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT) at The Hague, give us a talk on her work at "the Mechanism," as it's commonly known. This UN court deals with matters arising from the work of earlier tribunals set up following conflicts in former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, including the tracking and prosecution of war crime fugitives.

Before becoming President of the Mechanism, Judge Gatti Santana worked within the Uruguayan judiciary for over 30 years, she has taught at various universities, and, in addition to her native Spanish, she is fluent in English, French and Italian.

Rome's CBC correspondent Megan Williams will moderate our Q&A with Judge Gatti. Book soon, as space is limited.

When: Sunday, January 19, 2025

Time: 5-7 p.m. Doors open at 4:45 p.m., 5:15 presentation begins (no latecomers admitted after 5 p.m.).

Where: Official Residence of Canada's Representative to the Holy See, Via di Porta San Sebastiano (exact address and details will be sent to confirmed participants only).

Cost: Free for current CCR members, €10 for non-members. Light refreshments will be served.

Security: Mandatory registration of all participants. Please note that due to Canadian embassy security requirements, we will need the full name of each person attending at the time of booking and you are required to have photo ID with you on the day of the event. Anyone not on the guest list will be denied admission.

RSVP to canadarome@gmail.com ATTN Marielle by noon Jan. 17th, or until all places booked. Space is limited and CCR members have priority.

CCR Book Club - January 26, 2025

"The Glassmaker" by Tracy Chevalier is the novel chosen for discussion in January. The Guardian review calls it a "time-skipping Venetian tour de force."

When: Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025

Time: 1 p.m.

Where: Private residence of CCR member; exact address sent to confirmed participants by email. Open only to current members of the CCR. 

Potluck: Please let Lucy know what you'll be bringing.

Further info & RSVP: canadarome@gmail.com ATTN Lucy. As space is limited, reservation is compulsory.

CCR Book Club - December 15, 2024

The CCR Book Club's Christmastime meeting will be a cozy lunchtime get-together. The group has decided to discuss a Christmas tale, "Brightly Shining" by Ingvild Rishoi (translated by Caroline Waight).  According to the New York Times, this short novel is "an emotionally packed little gem" that includes a "dose of Christmas magic."

When: Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024

Time: 1 p.m.

Where: Private residence of CCR member (Villa Pamphili area); exact address sent to confirmed participants by email. Open only to current members of the CCR. 

Potluck: Please let Lucy know what you'll be bringing.

Further info & RSVP: canadarome@gmail.com ATTN Lucy. As space is limited, reservation is compulsory.