The Puntarelle Questionnaire: Susanna Persichilli
Or TAFKAF (The Artist Formerly Known As Fufanna)
Months ago I started thinking about doing a series of interviews for this newsletter — a few things happened since then, but I never got the project off my to-do list.
And now, the time has come for…
The first interviewee of the series is Susanna Persichilli.
Coming from a family of musicians (her father, the late Angelo Persichilli, was a renowned flute player; her brother, Alfredo, is currently first cello in the orchestra of Teatro alla Scala in Milan), Susanna attended liceo artistico, holds a degree in violin from Conservatorio di Santa Cecilia, and also a degree in History of Music from Sapienza University of Rome. She subsequently worked as editor-in-chief for several music publications, and now she’s the artistic director of Scatola Sonora, a music school and academy in Rome where she teaches violin, viola, and in workshops for string ensembles.
She’s been creating art with mixed media throughout all her life, in her teenage she even briefly collaborated with renown Sardinian artist Maria Lai, but only in the past few years she picked up watercolours again, and is now about to open the first solo exhibition of her watercolours (more info at the end of the questionnaire!).
The Puntarelle Questionnaire: Are you a “romano de Roma” (born and raised in Rome by equally born and raised in Rome parents, and their parents, and their parents’ parents…), “romano versione base” (born and raised in Rome by non-Roman parents), or “romano acquisito” (you were born elsewhere, then moved to Rome, by choice — yours or of your family)?
Susanna Persichilli: I’m “romana/versione base”: I was born in Rome to a Roman mother, Esther, while my father, Angelo, hailed from Molise, although he moved to Rome at a very young age.
TPQ: What’s your neighbourhood’s name, and what is it like?
SP: I don’t live in the city centre, but since 1997 I’ve been working in the Esquilino neighbourhood, a very multicultural one, so I consider that my Rione.
TPQ: What’s your favourite place in Rome?
SP: The lessen known alleys in the city centre, between piazza Navona, the Pantheon, and Campo de’ Fiori, because they’re so picturesque, still looking like old Rome.
TPQ: What’s the most Roman side of your character?
SP: Swearing…
TPQ: What’s the most overrated thing about Rome?
SP: The jeering attitude of way too many Romans, which oftentimes becomes absolute rudeness, I really can’t stand that. But I appreciate very much our exceptional talent when it comes to joking about almost everything.
TPQ: What’s the most underrated thing about Rome?
SP: True culture, it’s so difficult to discover! I’d like to see more concerts, shows, orchestras being sponsored everywhere!
TPQ: If you were Mayor of Rome, what would be your first administration deed?
SP: I would immediately work on the transforming and upgrading our local public transportation, one of our main crosses to bear: we should absolutely reduce car traffic and pollution.
TPQ: If you couldn’t or wouldn’t live in Rome anymore, where would you live?
SP: I would move to a small seaside town, perhaps in Sicily…
TPQ: If you could go back in time, in which era of Rome’s history would you live?
SP: I’d go back to queen Cristina of Sweden’s court in Rome, mid-17th century, to meet the many artists and musicians she gathered around herself in her “Accademia” first at Palazzo Farnese, and then at Villa Farnesina and Palazzo Riario (today’s Palazzo Corsini alla Lungara, in Trastevere). But also to wear one of those beautiful dresses!
TPQ: With the exclusion of works of art, what’s the object that most represents Rome?
SP: Cats, because they’re just about everywhere in the city, from tiny alleys to archeological sites (especially in Largo di Torre Argentina).
TPQ: What’s your favourite Roman food?
SP: Carbonara!
TPQ: If you could change only one thing about Rome, what would that be?
SP: Quoting a character from Johnny Stecchino (a 1991 movie by Roberto Benigni): “il ciàffico” (the traffic)!
TPQ: Who’s the living Roman (not necessarily famous) you admire the most?
SP: Gigi Proietti (I know, he’s no longer among us, but it’s as if he still were), because he was such a great showman, he could sing and act, but he was unpretentious, a real sweetheart, and a true Roman!
TPQ: Who’s the Roman from the past (not necessarily famous) you admire the most?
SP: Emperor August — look at all the beauty he’s left us!
TPQ: What’s your favourite Roman song (either sung in Rome’s dialect, or by a Roman singer-songwriter, or both)?
SP: “Barcarolo romano”, by Romolo Balzani, that’s *the* Roman song for me; I’ve listened to it a million times, since childhood, as Balzani’s descendants are close friends with my family.
TPQ: What’s the Roman phrase in you say the most?
SP: Ammazza! (which literally translates as “kill!”, but it actually doesn’t mean that, at all! It’s used as an interjection, to express surprise… a bit like “wow!”.)
TPQ: Do you prefer driving on the Grande Raccordo Anulare, or cutting through the city centre?
SP: I always, always cut through the city centre, even when I know it will take longer to get from a place to another.
TPQ: North Rome or South Rome?
SP: Roma sud, out of congeniality (and because I actually live there).
TPQ: Does West Rome actually exist?
SP: No. Too many cardinal points!
TPQ: Forza Roma or Forza Lazio?
SP: Forza Roma: out of auntie duty (“core de zia”1, my nephew Federico, supports AS Roma).
What: Susanna Persichilli’s watercolours exhibition
When: opens on Friday 23rd February 2024, at 6.00 PM — open until 29th February 2024.
Where: Medina Art Gallery, Via Merulana 220, Rome.
Website: Acquerelli — di Susanna Persichill
“còre de zia” literally means “auntie’s heart”, as “còre” is dialectal for “cuore”. That’s usually the way grownups in Rome affectionately refer to younger people in the family: “còre de mamma” / “còre de nonno” / “còre de zia” = “mum’s / grandpa’s / auntie’s dearest one”…
Che Bello! Che bella - dovrei dire. Grazie Giorgia for this wonderful WOMAN artist. When I was in Italy in 2022 - I could easily tell how much road a woman Artist must still have to do - but it's a Start.
She looks wonderful.
Laura
Daje! I enjoyed this interview. Has Susanna worked with Antonio Pappano?