mazzini society
Fighting fascism one generation at a time
When we started reading about how Arturo Toscanini created the film “Hymn Of The Nations” we discovered the people in the Mazzini Society, which he was a member of, and the Rosselli brothers, all proud Italians both in America and in Europe, fighting fascist regimes in the 1930’s through World War II.
the mazzini society history written by alan joseph
Giuseppe Mazzini was a 19th century Italian journalist, politician and activist whose activities helped bring about the unification of Italy under a single government in 1861. In 1939, inspired by his fortitude and accomplishments, Italian American antifascists, some of whom had belonged to the Italian antifascist movement, Giustizia e Liberta, formed the Mazzini Society in Northampton, Massachusetts.
Its members included Gaetano Salvemini (politician, historian, author, and original founder), Jewish Italian – American journalist Max Ascoli, journalist and author Tullia Calabi-Zevi, historian and art critic Lionello Venturi, journalist, politician and diplomat, Alberto Tarchiani, Italian nobleman and former foreign minister, Count Carlo Sforza, and conductor and musician, Arturo Toscanini, to name a few.
Another prominent member was author and playwright Amelia Pinchele Rosselli, mother of Carlo and Nello Rosselli. Carlo was one of the founders of Giustizia e Liberta. Both Carlo and Nello were assassinated in 1937 by French fascists (cagoulards) on Mussolini’s orders.
Together, the group spread an anti-fascist message across the United States and the Americas through public meetings and speeches, and its newsletters. Its members hoped to support a free Italian government in exile.
After the end of WWII, most of the society’s members returned to their native Italy.
In December 1943 Arturo Toscanini filmed his adapted performance of Giuseppe Verdi’s “Inno delle nazioni” calling it “Hymn of the Nations” as part of a documentary film released by the Office of War Information to describe how Italian-Americans aided the allies during the war. The performance was filmed at the NBC Studio in New York City and featured Ellen’s uncle, renowned tenor Jan Peerce, with the Westminster Choir and the NBC Symphony Orchestra. Many of the Italian – Americans highlighted in the documentary were also members of the Mazzini Society.
listen to the old bones odyssey original songs below
The songs Old Bones Odyssey and These Walls Are Alive are the main themes of our entire project. They are inspired by the people that fill our stories.
"old bones odyssey" - the album.
please click here for our linktree
