On October 29, 2025, JCU’s Modern Languages and Literature department hosted an event to pay homage to Pier Paolo Pasolini on the 50th anniversary of his death. Pasolini (1922-1975) was an Italian poet, writer, film director, actor and playwright who is considered one of the most important public intellectuals in 20th-century Italy.
The event, organized by Professors Federica Capoferri and Paolo Prato, focused on Pasolini’s relationship with music. Singer Isabella Alfano and pianist Domenico Sanna were invited to perform four songs written by Pasolini.
Isabella Alfano and Domenico Sanna
Isabella Alfano began playing the violin in youth orchestras at age 11. She would later go on to enter singing competitions, including the Castrocaro Festival and SanremoLab in 2009, and the Italian TV program “I Raccomandati” in 2010. She won the XXIII Festival della Canzone Romana in 2013. She attended Saint Louis College of Music in Rome, where she graduated with a degree in Jazz Vocal Performance. Along with her work in concerts, theater, and vocal coaching, Alfano is also engaged in dubbing and voice acting, collaborating on Netflix films and series as both a performer and instructor.
Domenico Sanna began playing piano at the age of six. He moved to Rome in 2003 and attended the Università della Musica, where he graduated with honors in 2007. In 2007 and 2008 he was awarded the Tuscia in Jazz Jimmy Award. He has recorded more than 50 albums and is a highly regarded pianist in today’s music scene.
Professor Capoferri and Professor Prato introduced the songs written by Pasolini, three of which are in the Roman dialect. The songs performed were “Valzer della toppa” (The Patch Waltz), “Macri Teresa detta Pazzia” (Teresa Macri, known asMadness), “Ballata del suicidio” (Ballad of Suicide), and “Cristo al Mandrione” (Christ at Mandrione). Pasolini wrote these songs for his close friend and actress Laura Betti’s show titled “Giro a vuoto” (Going in circles). The music for these songs was composed by Piero Piccioni and Piero Umiliani.
The event also included clips from Pasolini’s films where music plays a central role, poems by Pasolini set to music, and songs dedicated to him by other singers.
