Claudia Laffranchi – We will miss you!
Claudia Laffranchi (IMDB - fb - tw), 49, Angelena-Ticinese, journalist and emcee of the International Film Festival in Locarno, was found dead in her Los Angeles apartment in the early afternoon of May 22nd. The cause of death is uncertain at this time, but it appears foulplay is ruled out – the body was discovered by a personal friend after not having heard from Claudia for a few days.
Claudia was in very close contact with her Homeland Ticino in southern Switzerland, where she regularly collaborated with local television stations and newspapers as their Los Angeles entertainment correspondent. For the past seven years she was also the multi-talented, multi-lingual live presenter at the Piazza Grande during the Locarno International Film Festival.
Living in Hollywood and having extensive first-hand exposure to the World of cinema and television, enticed her to also produce and direct. Last year, Claudia was welcomed to the elite circle of influential journalists by winning the prestigious 53rd journalism award given by her peers of the Los Angeles Press Club.
She graced thousands of people with her presence, her beautiful smile, her wit and sense of humor – and was a great cheerleader for the Angeleno-Swiss/Ticinese community, who encouraged many creative projects and actively promoted young talent, and mingled among the great Hollywood Stars with her usual poise, class, style and grace.
We were so much looking forward to growing old together – either in LA, in Ticino, or enjoying the Best of both Worlds – but she left us way too early. Our hearts are aching and our sincere condolences go to her loved ones in Ticino. If you wish to send a condolence note to the Family, please mail it to:
Bianca, Paola e Ivano Laffranchi
Via Taverna Nucleo 8, CH-6975 San Nazzaro/TI, Switzerland
Per Claudia’s last wishes, her Family has announced that a cremation ceremony be held in Los Angeles, since most of her friends live here. Details are yet unknown, but will be posted as soon as they are available.
In Memory of Claudia: Festival del Film Locarno, Erich Maria Remarque & Paulette Goddard Foundation
Media:
(Italian Corriere del Ticino, tio.ch, Ticinonews, Giornale del Ticino, InfoInsubria, RSI-Quotidiano - video)
(German: Blick / GMX / Tages Anzeiger )
(English: LA Observer / ScreenDaily )
Previous Helvetic.LA stories of everyone’s best friend, our eternally beautiful Claudia
#SwissBizLA – Tuesday May 22. – SACC/LA Dinner at the Beverly Hills Hotel
presents:
“Mystical Dreams”
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Sunset Ballroom
The Beverly Hills Hotel
9641 West Sunset Boulevard
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
6:15 p.m. Reception / 7:00 p.m. Dinner
Mr. George Hamad
Master Violinist & Composer
Master Violinist George Hamad is a sought after performer and composer, best known for his performance’s on the sound track “Seeds of Change” from the Movie ARABIA Co-Composed by the great composers Steve Wood and Naser Musa; his beautiful performance in one of the greatest songs ever written by Inspirational Singer NIJOLE SPARKIS “Sweetest Fruit” and arranged by her husband the great Composer FRITZ HEEDE; he also performed in “Emerald Treasure” a masterpiece from Belly Dancer DOLPHINA’s “The Goddest Workout”. Mastro Hamad has a unique approach to the beautiful music of the violin, a love that started as a young boy when all the other neighbourhood friends played ball, and George practiced violin. From unique Arabic themes, classics and modern compositions, audiences are blessed, thrilled and always surprised at the lively and informative performances of this Master Violinist. (YouTube)
Join us on Tuesday, May 22 for a unique look inside the beautiful music of this Master Violinist.
Primary Color
Mr. Ron Hirt
During the evening it will be our extreme pleasure to take a deeper look into the million dollar Graphic communications industry. Join us as we explore with Mr. Ron Hirt, the amazing world that Primary Color plays in. Whether preparing stunning visual graphics for the opening day of the Angels Baseball Season, or producing inspiring printed material for product marketing, Primary Color is first in the print media business.
The Hirt Family
A (Swiss) family owned company, Primary Color leads the technology in print innovation and provider of graphic arts services offering comprehensive print solutions. Primary Color was established in 1985, and is key innovator in 3D publications, litho printing, digital printing, high speed digital flatbed printing and variable data digital printing.
ATTIRE: Cocktail Festive
RSVP 626/974-5429 – or download PDF and FAX your details to 626/974-5439
#StreetPiano Project Reaches #LA via Geneva
We’d like to welcome guest blogger, Ms. Imogen Reed - featuring a story about the amazingly fascinating “Play Me, I’m Yours” Art & Music project, which currently delights Angelenos and visitors alike!
Thank You for your contribution, Imogen!M:)
Street Piano Project Reaches LA via Geneva
There is a meeting place where Geneva meets Los Angeles and art meets music. If you didn’t catch the ‘Play Me, I’m Yours’ artwork in Geneva and haven’t yet caught up with it in LA you may well be wondering what kind of a junction that could possibly be and how to get there. Read on…
Luke Jerram is a British artist. His art project began touring four years ago and has since touched two million people. As you read this, the number of participants is rising by the minute, not to mention the numbers of works or keys played. The work involves pianos and the project has 30 in LA at the moment. Local communities were invited to customize the pianos and passersby are now invited to ‘Play Me, I’m Yours’, a slogan that is written on each and every one of them.
Jouez, Je Suis A Vous
Just last June it was ‘Jouez, Je Suis A Vous’, when twenty pianos were placed around Geneva as part of the Fete de la Musique. They were placed by the lake, the Floral Clock, the Grand Theatre and in parks and squares throughout the city. Each piano has its own blog where content can be shared. The Geneva pages show a city genuinely pleased by the event. Many seemed to be adults who could play well but just hadn’t for some time. Suddenly they had time and the opportunity. Pedestrians were enchanted, stopped passing and stopped to sit down and listen.
One child played as a tram went by. A gifted man played to perfection by the lake as a boats went by. Passengers in taxis, tourists in carhire vehicles as well as local residents and cyclists looked on. Sometimes there was singing or other instruments joined in. Some chose fast catchy jazz pieces, some chose slow, moving classical works. People stopped to see what was going on, listened and joined in. That was Jerram’s intention. To provide a focal point around which communities would gather with the pianos becoming “a catalyst for conversation and changing the dynamics of a space”.
It worked. The project has been so successful that it has now travelled to 22 locations; many are in the UK but also include Brazil, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, Spain and locations in Australia and the US.
Play LA
Did you play in Geneva? Get yourself to one of the thirty pianos in LA and play again. They are located in a number of downtown locations, including two at Bunker Hill, one in Chinatown, one at LA Live and one in Union Square. Then there are a number spread throughout the rest of the city and you can find out where your nearest one is on http://streetpianos.com/la2012/
Thirty pianists opened the event on 12 April by simultaneously playing the first prelude from Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier. Then they handed them over to the public for its three-week turn. There is a free event ‘Love Letters to LA’ on 26 April at the piano situated at the Egyptian Theatre, Hollywood Boulevard, where local artists will chose and perform a song that represents Los Angeles to them, unplugged.
So where does the art come in? Is this not a music project? The project has brought about an interesting fusion. The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra that has brought the project to LA has been busy commissioning organizations, individuals and designers to customize the pianos with their artwork. One piano by muralist Kent Twitchell marks Jeffrey Kahane’s fifteen years with the LA Chamber Orchestra, another bears mermaids and mountains by local artist Raoul de la Sota, another is colourfully decorated by an arts project that works to try to prevent students from dropping out of high school and another was decorated by the Braille Institute. The very preparation of the pianos called upon communities to work together and it is this that has excited Jerram about the brevity of the LA event.
Besides, it is the effect of the project that matters, not quibbling over categories. Public art plays a vital role in cities, whether it is the Jet d’Eau in Geneva or the letters of Hollywood in LA. So maybe you can’t play for toffee but fancy a go, or maybe you have been playing for years? Maybe you can think of something to play then post on the website that will put the Angeleno-Swiss community on the Street piano map? Get down there, join in. Enjoy!
Related articles
- Play This Piano (franklinavenue.blogspot.com)
- “Play Me, I’m Yours” (keepingsane.com)
- Pianos Scattered Across SoCal For Any Member Of The Public To Play (losangeles.cbslocal.com)
M:)
jdeburen
SwissCenterLA
marleneva
lafoodbitch
swisswatching
