TOEven in the feline world, it is time to put the female gender back at the center. It does it, in a big way, the City of Cats2024 edition, which inaugurates on the occasion of National Cat Day, Saturday 17 February. The national festival of comics, cinema, music and feline culture in Milan (but with events also in Rome and Vigevano) is in fact dedicated to the most iconic cats of our imagination. From the provocative Catwoman, Batman’s friend-enemy to the refined Duchess of Aristocats, from the Black Cat who accompanies Spider-Man to the demented Krazy Kat. Until, of course, The catby Gino Paoli, also present as an illustration, signed by the Genoese singer-songwriter himself.
The festival consists of an exhibition, many appointments with feline culture experts and workshops dedicated to the little ones. But also of irresistible city tours to discover the cat colonies, in addition to the now traditional Feliway Concert in Miao dedicated to music.
National Cat Day, the City of Cats celebrates it with exhibitions and meetings
But let’s go in order: the City of Cats officially opens its doors on February 17, 2024 in Milan, with a open day at the cattery of Cat World for a collection of baby food and some cuddles for guests.
The exhibition Once upon a time there was a catby Gino Paoli a Cat eyes
The exhibition Once upon a time there was a Cat instead it goes on stage at WOW Comics Space – Comics Museum of Milan. And, before arriving at the kitten Luna from Sailor Moon and Hello Kitty, it starts from afar. From one of the oldest depictions of a female cat: that is, the goddess Bastet, who in ancient Egypt was venerated as the protector of abundance, to whom a city was also dedicated. We then naturally arrive at Catwoman, and her alter ego Black Cat, Spider-Man’s friend-enemy (1979). And, again: the Cat Woman who later became Tigra, a heroine with feline powers, such as accelerated healing, overdeveloped senses and retractable claws, created for an audience of girls and published in Marvel magazines since 1972.
And also very famous for generations of girls are the three very skilled thieves, very clever, very smart and agile sisters of the series Cat eyes. The real “gem” of the exhibition, however, are the illustrations created by Gino Paoli to illustrate a volume dedicated to his song The catdisplayed in color reproductions.
The exhibition is curated by Luca Bertuzzi, Riccardo Mazzoni and Enrico Ercole.
Workshops for children and animals and feline femininity
During the inauguration, Saturday 17 February at 4.00 pm, Luigi Bona, director of WOW Spazio Fumetto will present the Urban Cat award to the project Arcabimbivet created for small pet owners. The project’s meetings and workshops aim to introduce young people and children to animals and the work of veterinarians.
Also on the occasion of the inauguration, a speech by Dr. Sabrina Giussani, a veterinary doctor expert in animal behavior, entitled Females versus males: an all-feline comparison.
Feliway Concert in Miao, from Rossini to Mozart
The evening of National Cat Day, February 17, 2024, is appropriately celebrated with the Feliway concert in Miao. Guest of honor, Elisabetta Viviani, beloved voice of the historic Heidi theme song. She will open the program with the anthem of this edition: The cat by Gino Paoli.
We continue with the Funny duet of two cats with music by Gioachino Rossini performed in the version for soprano (Anna Rita Taliento) and mezzo-soprano (Manuela Boni), in which two crazy cats compete for the stage.
Then it will be the turn of the fun duet Nun Liebes Weibchen K625 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in which a husband (the tenor Danilo Formaggia) returns home to find his wife (the mezzo-soprano Manuela Boni) transformed into a petulant cat.
Following, the “Duo Miaulè” by Maurice Ravel. Taken from the opera L’enfant et les Sortilèges tells of a cat (Danilo Formaggia) and his love serenade to a cat (Manuela Boni), who responds in kind.
It couldn’t be missed Memoriesthe symbolic song of the musical Cats, where it is sung by the old cat Grizabella (Manuela Boni).
The protagonists of the Feliway Concert in Miao (press office)
Cartoons dedicated to female cats, come on Aristocats to Bruno Bozzetto
Between one song and another, clips of themed cartoons will be screened. Including the unforgettable singing lesson that the mother of the Disney Aristocats, Duchess, gives to her kitten Minou, disturbed by her turbulent little brothers.
The segment, with a high level of poetry, taken from the animated masterpiece will be screened Not too cheerful by Bruno Bozzetto, on the beautiful “Triste Waltz” by Jean Sibelius. With the scared little cat wandering among the rubble of her old, demolished house.
It will also be a unique opportunity to see the first feline cartoon in history with the score performed live on the piano: “Feline Follies” in 1919 starring the famous cat Felix busy courting an evanescent white kitten named Miss Kitty White. And many other little kitty surprises.
Each piece will be accompanied on the piano by Maestro Antonio Bologna and introduced by the expert catophile and musicophile journalist Enrico Ercole. The concert will be repeated on Sunday 3 March in Vigevano
at the San Dionigi Auditorium.
Violence against women and violence against animals: what are the common points?
The appointment on Tuesday 20 February, at 9.30 pm, is online. On the cats’ side (on Facebook, Beast that Thursday). A moment of reflection following the news events which saw protagonists, on the one hand, men who hate women, on the other, young people who don’t like animals. See the Tik Tok video of a girl drowning a kitten that garnered an incredible number of views.
To investigate these different phenomena but with many points in common, Paola Frassinetti, Undersecretary for Education and Merit, will speak from Milan. Andrea Carlo Cappi, author of Segretissimo, the Diabolik Novels and expert on serial killers. Giovanna Mazzoni, president of the Alto Milanese Women’s Business Movement. But also Giovanna Bellini criminologist responsible in the task force created by Anvi to investigate the case of the disappearance of 50 cats in ten days last year in Livorno. And Maria Teresa D’Abdon, the mother of Monica Ravizza, killed and burned by her ex-partner Diego Armando Mancuso in 2003 in Milan, president of the Difesa Donna association and creator of the female anti-aggression project.
iO Donna © ALL RIGHTS RESERVED