2024

Great news for English language learners due to the ‘Oxford Test of English Advanced’, the new exam aimed at students wanting to certify their proficiency in English at an advanced level: levels B2 and C1 of the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).

This new test — developed by Oxford University Press (OUP), a leading publisher, and distributed in Italy exclusively by the educational publishing house Rizzoli Education — is the only language proficiency test accepted and certified by Oxford University.

According to a recent survey conducted by Oxford University Press, 91% of students prefer a test that is also valued in the job sector and by educational institutions. Such is the case with the ‘Oxford Test of English Advanced’, which is already recognised for admissions to postgraduate programmes at Oxford University.
Oxford University Press also extended its survey to English teachers, which revealed, in particular, that:

• 85% of respondents expect an increase in students interested in obtaining English certification in the next 12 months;
• 88% of teachers expect an increase in the importance of learning English in their country;
• more than 90% recognise the importance of English for both students’ employment and their personal and professional development.

The main features of the Oxford Test of English Advanced, which joins other English language proficiency examinations by Oxford University Press (Oxford Test of English and Oxford Test of English for Schools) are as follows:

• alignment with CEFR descriptors: developed following the latest versions of the descriptors in the CEFR Companion Volume, the test assesses the examinees’ actual skills, which are indispensable in academic and professional environments such as mediation and presentation;
• convenience: certification is fully online and available year round, for maximum flexibility;
• adaptation: the exam lasts approximately two hours and is adapted to the student’s reading and listening levels, minimising stress and providing an accurate reflection of English language proficiency. Like the other tests in the Oxford Test of English suite, it is not possible to fail: a result is always obtained.

Upon presentation of the ‘Oxford Test of English Advanced’ in Rome at an event organised by Oxford University Press in collaboration with the British Embassy and Rizzoli Education, Anthony Calanducci, Head of Italy at Oxford University Press English Language Teaching, said: ‘We are happy to present the Oxford Test of English Advanced, thus expanding our range of educational solutions for teachers and students. For students, the possibility of being assessed is an indispensable tool, as it provides an opportunity to demonstrate their level of English proficiency. With this new test, Oxford University Press provides a fast, flexible and reliable assessment tool, perfect for anyone wanting to prove their competence at a higher level (B2–C1). The Oxford Test of English Advanced helps to establish educational standards and benchmarks, ensuring that learning objectives are aligned with the desired outcomes. In essence, it is not only about measuring knowledge, but also about promoting growth, inspiring progress and improving the quality of education,’ Calanducci concluded.

Andrew Nye, Director of Assessment at Oxford University Press English Language Teaching, added: ‘Our English language proficiency tests are the result of years of rigorous research to ensure the highest standards in English language assessment. All levels of the Oxford Test of English have been designed and developed by OUP and a team of independent education, language and assessment experts. The process lasted several years, and great care was taken at each stage to ensure reliability, accuracy, alignment to the CEFR and quality.’ He continued: ‘This alignment with international standards implies the presence of mechanisms to ensure a high level of quality, such as the validation of test questions with different language groups to ensure that the questions are balanced and reliable. Our processes are also audited by Oxford University to ensure that they meet the highest testing standards,’Nye concluded.

Santiago Ruiz de Velasco, Director General of OUP English Language Teaching, emphasised: ‘I am delighted that we can now offer English language learners the opportunity to certify their skills with the world’s largest university publishing house, validating the months and years often patiently spent “finding the words”. As the most widely used language in international exchange, English allows people to participate in global conversations on the most pressing issues, from the climate crisis to social movements. I am proud of the fact that with the Oxford Test of English, we are helping students to demonstrate their advanced English proficiency, which can help them find job and education opportunities around the world, as well as express their opinions on topics of international importance,’ Santiago Ruiz de Velasco concluded.

Oxford University Press and Rizzoli Education

Part of the University of Oxford, a university par excellence in research, scholarship and education publishing worldwide, Oxford University Press (OUP) is the world’s largest university publisher, with the widest global presence: it publishes thousands of new publications each year, has offices in about fifty countries and employs around 5,000 clerical staff worldwide. It is known to millions of people through its varied publishing programme, which includes scholarly works in all academic disciplines, Bibles, music, school and university textbooks, children’s books, materials for teaching English as a foreign language, business books, dictionaries and academic journals.
Publications and new digital products by Oxford University Press (OUP) are distributed by Rizzoli Education exclusively for Italy. Rizzoli Education, Mondadori Group’s educational publishing house, operates in the sector on all levels of education, from primary to secondary school. For over 45 years, Oxford University Press and Rizzoli Education have supported quality education and training in Italy, preparing future generations for an increasingly interconnected and global world. This strong partnership involves millions of students in Italy with the supply of high-quality educational resources that support learning and growth.

On Friday, 12 July, Gen Z idols will be in Giulianova (TE), in Piazza del Mare, for the new edition of Webboh Fest, the summer music event organised by Webboh, the first community dedicated to Gen Z and Gen Alpha, followed by over 4 million followers on social networks.

An evening of music and fun, during which many artists will take turns on stage from 8 p.m., including Vyperr, the Spanish creator with almost 10 million followers on TikTok, whose hit song ‘Supersonico‘ is climbing all the Italian charts and who has chosen Webboh Fest in Giulianova for his first performance in Italy. Then there will be Chadia Rodriguez, rap music star, to keep things going with Il Rosso and Fubbe, Twitch idols, and many other singers who are popular on TikTok and YouTube, like Pucho, Luk3, Ascanio and Lorenz Simonetti. The favourite creators of Gen Z and Gen Alpha will also be there, like acapodelglobo, a creator from the Power Talent Agency roster with over 2.4 million followers and the newcomer of the year at the Webboh Awards 2024, and Giorgia and Alice Mordenti. At the end of the evening, fans can continue the fun with a DJ set by Matteo Robert, one of the most famous Gen Z TikTokers in Italy.

And it’s not only music: during the first evening of Webboh Fest, hosted by Andrea Prada, Webboh will also entertain the audience with challenges and lots of fun (free admission). Backstage access will be narrated by Stardust House creator Lisa Luchetta, star of Webboh Backstage Secrets Summer Tour, the format born from the collaboration between Webboh and DeAKids (Sky Channel 601). Lisa will interview the stars of the event and report on the tour with exclusive content: clips will be available on the TV channel’s social media. From the afternoon onwards you’ll also get to receive numbered gadgets, which will allow you to take part in a special draw that will give you access to Webboh Fest backstage and follow the entire event from a special location: the backstage area. Radio Bruno, a partner for the festival, will follow Webboh on its tour, revealing on stage in Giulianova what the most popular songs of summer 2024 are.

The event’s sponsor is essence, the famous cosmetics brand from cosnova Italy, which will be showcasing the products of the Spring Summer 2024 collection together with popular creator, acapodeglobo. In the plaza at the totem-station equipped with a mirror, you’ll be able to take ‘a selfie for a kissable summer’ and receive the iconic Juicy Bomb lip gloss, one of the most popular products among Gen Z and Gen Alpha.

For those unable to attend, highlights of the event will be posted on Webboh‘s Instagram and TikTok profile stories.

Webboh Fest: the fun continues!

After the stop in Giulianova, the most entertaining music tour of the summer will continue in Rimini on 3 August and in Mirandola (MO) on 6 September. Lots of events are planned, and there;ll be plenty of surprise guests, with unmissable performances, music and shows. Summer 2024 will be unforgettable for the Webbohcommunity who’ll be with its audience, in-person on the Internet and on social media.

Webboh is the flagship media for Gen Z. Created in April 2019, it has been part of Mondadori Media since February 2023. It currently has a fanbase of 4.5 million followers across TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and WhatsApp, 70% of which are under 24. The website receives 3 million unique monthly users (source: Audiweb Last Quarter 2024). It is in the top ten most influential Italian media companies on social media, as well as the first targeting Generation Z for engagement and video views (source: Italian Top Media Rankings for First Communication made by Sensemakers). The topicality, authenticity and interest generated by the content is guaranteed by the bottom-up editorial model: the community is involved in every part of the creative process.

The Wom, Mondadori Media’s all-digital brand that has always supported the LGBTQIA+ community, told the story of Milano Pride this year through numerous editorial initiatives.

Speaking for diversity and inclusion since its inception in 2022, the innovative social media and web magazine – with a total fanbase of more than 9 million followers – is dedicated to Gen Z and young millennials, generations for whom uniqueness is a strength and value that enriches themselves and others, going beyond labels. Through its editorial products, The Wom promotes a culture that affirms the free expression of personality through inclusive content and language, addressing key issues for younger generations, such as gender equality, self-acceptance and sustainability.

The Wom Loves Pride, the brand’s values in the squares of Milan

On Saturday 29 June, The Wom and its community celebrated Milano Pride, an annual event and benchmark for anyone wishing to promote the values of inclusion, acceptance, personal well-being and respect for others.

The Wom team – equipped with the environmentally friendly ‘The Wom Loves Pride’ cargo bike – engaged numerous participants from the very beginning of the parade in Via Vittor Pisani for an Ask&Tell session to raise awareness, support and spread Pride values.
A large number of people stopped by to answer questions posed by Noemi David, trend editor of The Wom, and share their experiences and support for those who advocate for social issues in the city and beyond. Many topics were covered, from the values celebrated by Pride events around the world to historical milestones that have marked the evolution of civil rights in recent years.

Interaction with participants also occurred through challenging quizzes on the world of LGBTQIA+, which led to IG stories in the style of a ‘challenge’, a real video reportage in the field.

Web and social media coverage for rainbow-themed storytelling

In addition to the favourable reception and ‘live’ participation, the success of the initiatives by The Wom was also reflected in the numbers. The numerous content items produced in recent months to inform and build anticipation for Pride, together with live coverage on the ground in June and subsidies from artists and public figures that support the values espoused by the brand – the social media interview given by Ariete, a singer and activist, is just one example – allowed the brand to achieve remarkable results in terms of traffic and engagement.

Through these initiatives, the content created and published in the last few days on Instagram and TikTok brought the brand a total of 3 million video views.

‘We are proud to contribute to a more colourful world. Together, with everyone’s work every day, we can make a difference in making our communities open and truly inclusive,’ says Daniela Cerrato, Digital Marketing Director at Mondadori Media. ‘This year, for the first time, we decided to continue to interact with our large fanbase and make the awareness-raising journey we have undertaken even richer, going far beyond the confines of Pride and social media.

Pride in EveryBody: The Wom for Virgin Active

To celebrate Pride month, The Wom also contributed as media partner to the Virgin Active Pride in Every Body event last Tuesday, 25 June. A talk led and moderated by Valentina Lonati, culture editor of The Wom, celebrated uniqueness in all its forms. The talk was attended by personalities from the LBGTQIA+ world such as Muriel de Gennaro, Giada Buldrini and Serena Galassi from the 2 mamme e 3 figli account, and the YouTuber and presenter Guglielmo Scilla. They talked about caring for one’s body and the way in which this can become a means of loving and accepting oneself, a philosophy that is at the heart of the values promoted by Virgin Active and The Wom. The message was also amplified through a video interview on Instagram with the three participants.

The project was realised in full synergy with Mediamond and its Brand On Solutions structure.

The Wom is an all-digital, social-first media brand dedicated to Millennials and Gen Z, a generation that views uniqueness as a strength and a value that enriches themselves and others. The Wom is a benchmark for younger generations on TikTok and Instagram, with a total fanbase of 9 million followers (source: Comscore Shareablee and Social Insights February 2024) and 10 million unique users on the Internet (Audiweb Total Digital Audience February 2024). The Wom Beauty: the first vertical channel dedicated to cosmetics for the young generation, under 35, Instagram and TikTok first with 1.2 million followers.

Tv Sorrisi e Canzoni, the leading brand in the entertainment world, renews and expands its collaboration with Cornetto Battiti Live, the travelling festival organised by Radio Norba in the most beautiful plazas of Southern Italy.

Building on last year’s success and having followed Battiti’s performances “on the road” in May, Sorrisi now accompanies the event’s new big evenings of music and entertainment in the most beautiful cities of Apulia, with even more exclusive live content in the magazine and on social media.

After the three-day event in Molfetta on 21–23 June, Sorrisi will also be in the front row at the Battiti stage in Otranto on 6 and 7 July, when the tour closes. For the first time, Cornetto Battiti Live will also be broadcast on Channel 5 in the early evening, with five dates hosted by Ilary Blasi – the star of this week’s Sorrisi cover story – and Alvin. This will start on Monday, 8 July.

The new Glass Box

Among the new features in this edition is the exclusive Glass Box located in the heart of Battiti next to the main stage: a customised space where there’ll be live accesswith presenter Rebecca Staffelli to interviews and games and where the Sorrisi editorial staff will broadcast unmissable content on the brand’s website and Instagram channel.

A special Telegatto for Battiti

For Cornetto Battiti Live 2024, Tv Sorrisi e Canzoni has created a new edition of the Telegatto, the prestigious award given to the most important personalities in show business. Throughout the tour, Sorrisi will hand out the statuette in its Glass Box to numerous artists, including Annalisa and Il Volo, who received the award during the first stop in Molfetta.

Vote for the summer hit

Finally, this year the Sorrisi audience will also be able to get involved with Battiti by crowning this year’s summer hit. Audiences can vote for their favourite song by visiting sorrisi.com. The winning entry will be awarded a special Telegatto.

TV Sorrisi e Canzoni is the leading brand for TV and entertainment fans, reaching a total monthly audience of 2.6 million readers (source: Audipress 2024/I), 3.4 million users (source Audiweb Media, March/April 2024) and over 1.1 million fans (source: Social Insights for IG, FB, Twitter, YouTube), thanks to a multi-channel system comprising the magazine, the website, the socials, and the events and side products.

Mondadori Store, the largest network of bookstores in Italy, is opening a new shop dedicated to the world of entertainment, books and culture in Pomigliano d’Arco (NA) tomorrow, Wednesday 3 July at 5:30 p.m.

The library fits into a central, strategic area in southern Italy, with the aim of spreading culture and promoting reading to the widest possible audience and particularly among the younger generations, in line with the network’s mission.

‘After 15 years’ experience in retail with Mondadori Store, I have finally realised my dream of opening my own bookstore in the city where I was born,’ says Mondadori Store franchisee Marina Iasevoli. ‘Together with the network of bookshops, we will continue to grow and develop our business, promoting culture in all its forms and aiming to meet the different needs of an increasingly varied public, even through workshops, reading groups and meetings with authors. Together with my partner Pasquale Avallone, we want to embrace the younger generation in particular. The aim is to create effective communication between us and the schools, so that young people can come to the bookstore, even if it is only for advice, to consult a text or to exchange opinions,’ Marina concludes.

Expanding the already extensive network of Mondadori Stores, the new bookstore in Pomigliano d’Arco covers 90 sq. m and offers a selection of around 4,000 titles, from the great classics to best sellers — including fiction, non-fiction and others. Particular attention is paid to early readers with the We are Junior format, which includes educational games and illustrated books to stimulate children’s imagination with the most fascinating stories, and the department dedicated to manga and comics, Just Comic. Areas dedicated to #BookTok, for the new generation of readers, as well as stationery, gift cards and gift boxes, also expand the store’s offer. 

The Mondadori Bookstore in Pomigliano d’Arco is completely at the service of readers at the shop, not only with the support of a specialised and highly qualified staff, but also online. Customers can keep up to date through the Facebook and Instagram pages and get in touch with the store through Mondadoristore.it digital services to check if a book is available, order it and pick it up in the store, choosing from a catalogue of over 1 million titles.

Webboh, Italy’s number one media brand for the younger generation, gets into the swing of things this summer with no less than eight events across the country, as well as a new back-to-school line.

These events cement Webboh’s ability to engage its 4.5 million followers with a 100% under 24 target audience with live – and online – initiatives, something that generates more than 16 million interactions on social media each month (Sensemakers/Comscore Data, May 2024).

Webboh Fest

The main event is the Webboh Fest, a travelling music festival for the very young, which returns this year from July to September and will feature the most popular singers and creators. It’s set to start on 12 July on the new stage in Giulianova, followed by Rimini on 3 August and Mirandola on 6 September. The three stages will be hosted by Andrea Prada and will feature Sara Esposito, creator and YouTuber with millions of followers, as co-hostess. Admission is free.

Among the many artists who have confirmed they will be participating are Rosa Chemical, El Matador (newcomer of Netflix’s talent show ‘Nuova Scena’) and NewGen’s favourite youngsters, like Il Rosso, Pucho, Luk3, Ascanio and Lorenz Simonetti. At the end of each evening, there will be a DJ set by Matteo Robert, one of the most famous Gen Z creators in Italy.

Among the changes of this edition is the addition of DeAKids (Sky Channel 601) cameras, which will give a backstage look into the different stages with creators Lisa Luchetta and Alberto Tozzi. All exclusive content will be shown over the course of the summer on the channel’s social media page and, in September, on DeAKids in the Webboh Backstage Secrets Summer Tour special, which will relive the event’s best moments.

Also worth mentioning is Radio Bruno, which will be a radio partner for Webboh Fest.

Webboh at AquaFan in Riccione

Once again this year, thanks to its partnership with AquaFan, Webboh will bring the historic amusement park in Riccione to life together with leading Italian creators with a mini-show and a meet and greet open to the public. Four dates: 11 and 25 July and 8 and 21 August, during the night-time openings of the park.

Webboh Camp

The Webboh summer continues with the Webboh Camp, from 20 to 27 July in the Tuscan Maremma, in an extraordinary location immersed in one of Italy’s most beautiful landscapes, together with its prestigious partner, Experience Summer Camp, Italy’s number one organiser of summer camps for young people aged 6 to 22. An opportunity for the community to spend an unforgettable summer experience together with five creators: Alberto Tozzi, Jenni Serpi, Sara Esposito, singer Luk3 and the face of Webboh, Claudia Mariani who, together, have more than 4 million followers on TikTok alone.
The youngsters will experience a digital education with Alessio Carciofi, one of Europe’s leading experts on digital well-being. Once again, the DeAKids will be on hand to watch and reveal the highlights of the holiday.

BeYou Diary and Licensing

It’s not just events taking place in the country: Webboh is also preparing to accompany the very young in the new school year.
Created in collaboration with BE YOU, the BE YOU Webboh Diary, created together with the community, is back for the third year running. It features over 100 stickers, more than 40 special ‘against boredom’ pages for break times, birthdays of favourite creators and a brand new ‘treasure hunt’. The diary, which has sold out immediately over the past two years, will be available from the end of June in shopping centres, bookshops, stationery stores and online.

A new addition this year, along with the case, is the BE YOU Webboh backpack.

Continuing with the theme of licensing, the smartphone cover created by the Webboh community in collaboration with La Casa de Las Carcasas will be on the market from September and will be launched from the Webboh Fest stage on 6 September in Mirandola.

Opportunities for Brand Partners

Webboh’s summer initiatives represent a further business opportunity with a broader offer of content and diversified branded content solutions.
Among the first partners to have joined in is cosnova Italia, a well-known cosmetics brand involved in coordination and collaboration with Brand On Solutions, a Mediamond project area, which at the first stage of the Webboh Fest, in Giulianova, will focus on the new Spring-Summer 2024 Essence Collection with the involvement of acapodelglobo, a creator from the Power Talent Agency roster with over 2.4 million followers, and Newcomer of the Year at the 2024 Webboh Awards.

Webboh is the flagship media for Gen Z. Created in April 2019, it has been part of Mondadori Media since February 2023. It currently has a fanbase of 4.5 million followers across TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and WhatsApp, 70% of which are under 24. The website receives 3 million unique monthly users (source: Audiweb Last Quarter 2024). It is in the top ten most influential Italian media companies on social media, as well as the first targeting Generation Z for engagement and video views (source: Italian Top Media Rankings for First Communication made by Sensemakers). The topicality, authenticity and interest generated by the content is guaranteed by the bottom-up editorial model: the community is involved in every part of the creative process.

Great success for the Chi magazine summer party “By Moonlight”, the exclusive event founded on charity that took place on Thursday, 27 June at the Palace Hotel in Milano Marittima. The editor-in-chief of Chi, Massimo Borgnis, together with the magazine’s editorial director, Alfonso Signorini, were the hosts of a special evening dedicated to glamour and charity.

After the “Let’s Help Emilia-Romagna Together” fundraiser launched last year by Mondadori Media with Banca Mediolanum, Chi decided to continue its commitment to this region, collecting the entire amount needed to support the purchase of a state-of-the-art ultrasound scanner (the second of its kind in Italy) for the work of the Infant and Paediatric Neonatology Department of the Rimini Hospital at Gala Dinner 2024. 

The were many guests that evening, from Milly Carlucci to Michelle Hunziker, from Elisabetta Gregoraci to Orietta Berti, and again Perla and Mirko, Sophie Codegoni, Samira Lui, Beatrice Luzzi and many Taag! talents, like Margherita Zanatta, Antonella Fiordelisi, Elen Ellis and Alice de Bortoli. 

Chi ‘s association with the Batani Select Hotels Groupalso continued with this initiative: the Palace Hotel in Milano Marittima, a five-star hotel belonging to the Batani Group, was the setting for the large invitation-only party ‘By Moonlight’. On the new Milano Marittima waterfront, VIPs and entrepreneurs paraded in anticipation of the placée dinner on the beach.

During the after party, which also took place on the hotel’s private beach, which was transformed into an exclusive club with musical performances, DJ sets, an open bar and many corners that provided guests with entertainment and fun, The Kolors performed their most popular hits. Orietta Berti treated those present to a medley of songs, then left the stage to the DJ set, organised by Visit Romagna and the anticipation of the Notte Rosa, which will take place on the first weekend of July throughout the Romagna Riviera.

A special partner for this edition was Food Network, with whom Chi launched the new TV format where Massimo Borgnis and Roberto Valbuzzi travel around Italy describing the ‘Locande del cuore‘. Roberto Valbuzzi, a much-loved chef and TV personality, co-signed the charity dinner menu with Palace Hotel executive chef, Roberto Scarpelli.

On Chi’s Instagram account, users will be able to follow all stages of the evening live, which will be reported minute by minute (@chimagazineit; #alCHIarodiluna).

Event sponsors and partners

Joining Chi on this special occasion will be institutions and companies, who have responded to the appeal for support launched by the magazine, also participating in the event in cooperation with Piemme, the brand’s exclusive dealer.

Among these were: Andrea Mereghetti, VIP travel agent, with his Dreamsteam, Assolombarda, Atelier Nieri, Barzan studio legale, De Marquet, Discover Cervia (the emblem of ‘Cervia In per il turismo’, the participatory foundation in the Municipality of Cervia and private stakeholders), GroupM, Mondadori Media, Orogel, Piemme, Publicis Groupe, Visit Romagna.

Compagnia della bellezza –  Hair Collection, with over 200 beauty salons in Italy and abroad, is the international franchise founded and directed by the Hair Designer Salvo Filetti.It offered guests unique hairstyling and Artdecò make-up in the hairstyling and make-up area. Partesa provided the wines for dinner; Spirito Reale was the star of cocktails by the pool and on the beach with an open bar until late at night. The lighting design was by Platek and the elegant and refined atmosphere featured differently-scented candles offered by Yankee Candle.

Freshly set up a beauty corner, Eurotarget took care of accompanying all guests to the big event for the second year and, finally, Msc offered a cruise as a prize, drawn among those present during the evening. Many attractions and experiences were offered to the guests to make the evening even more unique: a telescope to view the sky and stars by the Arar Association, digital stations to interact with artificial intelligence thanks to OMAI; a relaxation corner with table football that saw a succession of entertaining challenges between guests, and a large illuminated moon that set the scene for the party.

The creative setting was entrusted to the Palace Hotel in Milano Marittima together with the Left&Right agency.

Milan is celebrating Enrico Baj (Milan, 31 October 1924 – Vergiate, 16 June 2003), a master of the Italian and international neo-avant-garde, with an extensive retrospective that will stand out among exhibitions this autumn, as it is designed to cover all the topics and subjects of his long and multifaceted experience.

Baj returns to Sala delle Cariatidi in Palazzo Reale exactly a hundred years after his birth and twelve years after the exhibition I Funerali dell’anarchico Pinelli (The Funerals of the Anarchist Pinelli) was held in the same room. For the first time, this exhibition will be integrated in an anthological itinerary and a timely dialogue with other works by the master.

Promoted by the Municipality of Milan – Culture and produced by Palazzo Reale with Electa, the project is curated by Chiara Gatti and Roberta Cerini Baj and includes nearly fifty works distilled in a time span ranging from the early 1950s to the dawn of 2000. It crosses the artist’s research phases and his adherence to different movements over time: from the revival of Dadaism and Surrealism to the modes of Informal art, from his closeness to the Nordic CoBrA to the genesis of the Nuclear art movement, which Baj founded in Milan with Sergio Dangelo in 1951. Starting from the gestural abstraction of his beginnings, passing through the birth of his larval anthropomorphic figures and the eruption of the liquefied mountains in the magmatic body of the Generals, the exhibition touches on the parody of extraterrestrial invasions, reaching the Meccano army and the animated world of chests of drawers and trumeaux.

His characters that have become part of the common imagination — the Ladies and Generals, the Ultrabodies, the Mirrors, the Furniture and the Monsters of the Apocalypse — will animate a flurry of creatures from the surrealist and sci-fi universe of an artist who made irony and the grotesque a picklock for dismantling bourgeois conformism and taking sides against all forms of consolidated power.

His celebrated aesthetics of trinkets and trimmings, tassels and shiny buttons like insignia on the truncated chests of his emblazoned soldiers, is a thread that stitches together sections of the broadest themes of Baj’s poetics, freed from a rigid chronological sequence or genre classification, with continuous cross-references between art and literature, colours and words, following a sort of script that, also in the setting, suggests a theatrical time and space for observers.

From 16 July to 13 September 2024, in anticipation of the major retrospective at Palazzo Reale, the Museum of Natural History on Corso Venezia will also host a tribute dedicated to by the artist’s engravings and books, in which Enrico Baj classified the natural world with irony and imagination. Under the title Enrico Baj. Zoologia fantastica e altre nature (Fantastic Zoology and Other Natures) will feature 22 panels divided among the Manuale di zoologia fantastica (Manual of Fantastic Zoology), Paradiso perduto (Paradise Lost), the folder I Fiori (The Flowers, with its visionary botany), as well as etchings from the famous De Rerum Natura of 1958, a homage (reinvented) to Lucretius’ Latin poem.

BAJ. BajchezBaj is also in Savona and Albissola Marina.
The unique catalogue published by Electa

To mark the centenary of the Milanese artist’s birth, an exhibition curated by Luca Bochicchio and dedicated to Baj’s ceramic work in all its historical and chronological development opens on 8 October. Entitled BAJ. Baj chez Baj will open at the Ceramics Museum in Savona, with a section also at MuDA – Museo Diffuso Albisola in Albissola Marina, in the exhibition centre and Casa Museo Jorn. The scientific collaboration between Milan and Savona, among curators and institutions, aims to outline two independent yet complementary itineraries paying homage to Baj’s eclectic genius. This is documented in the single catalogue published by Electa, in which the two exhibition itineraries unravel between places, forms, materials and encounters, tracing Baj’s fascinating cosmogony, an epiphany of intelligence and creativity.

Baj will also become a topic in Electa’s A-Z series, an array of monographic titles on eclectic 20th-century figures.

In the splendid setting of the Palazzo Niemeyer Park, many people, employees and collaborators, together with their families and children, accepted the invitation from Mondadori Group Chair Marina Berlusconi and CEO Antonio Porro to spend an evening together.

Over 1,700 people attended this opportunity to meet, chat, greet old and new colleagues and enjoy an exclusive concert.

It was a great turnout, demonstrating the strong sense of belonging to the publishing house and its values. It also confirms how Palazzo Mondadori, the Group’s historical headquarters, continues to be a wonderful place for relationships and sharing and that soon, thanks to the redevelopment work in progress, it will be even more beautiful and functional.

The new edition of the Summer Evening organised for #NoidellaMondadori follows in the footsteps of what has now become a tradition, despite an interruption of a few years.

This year the stars on the big stage set up in the Palazzo Mondadori Park were Perpetuum Jazzile, who energised the evening with a unique mix of vocal arrangements, innovative interpretations, eclectic sounds and lights.

These artists form a vocal orchestra that has gained worldwide acclaim – from the United Nations in New York to Pope Francis, from France to China to Canada – with performances of pop songs that have been popular on social media channels.

Chi, Italy’s most-read ‘people’ magazine, presents the new edition of ‘By Moonlight’, the exclusive event founded on charity that – after last summer’s success – returns this year to Emilia-Romagna in a beautiful location, the Palace Hotel in Milano Marittima, where it will have a massive impact.

An unmissable summer party based on the magical and evocative notes of the theme ‘By Moonlight’ – which will take place on Thursday, 27 June with the involvement of more than two hundred personalities and stars from jet setters, show business, politics, business and the local area – and which will above all be about having a generous and supportive heart.

After the ‘Let’s Help Emilia-Romagna Together’ fundraiser launched last May by Mondadori Media together with Banca Mediolanum, Chi continues its commitment to this region: the entire proceeds from the 2024 Gala Dinner will be donated to support the purchase of a state-of-the-art ultrasound scanner for the work done by the Infant and Paediatric Neonatology ward of Rimini Hospital.

“Today, after years and years of social events, what makes the difference and what makes me still take part is that they serve a purpose”, said Alfonso Signorini, Chi‘’s editorial director. “That’s why I’m so delighted that, after last year’s successful goal, this year Chi is again working to raise funds for less fortunate children. Their smiles will be with us on the ‘By Moonlight’ night and we will do our utmost to make them even more radiant again!”

“I’m especially happy that the second edition of ‘By Moonlight’ will take place again in Romagna, in the Hotel Palace in Milano Marittima. Not only because it’s a location that is in a way part of the history of Chi, but also because the success of last year’s charity dinner for the people affected by the floods shows that Romagna is a generous and hard-working place”, stressed Massimo Borgnis, Chi’s editor-in-chief, who went on to say: “Just a few days ago, we gifted an ambulance to the 118 in Ravenna, which is one of the five projects financed by the 160,000 euros raised last year. The other projects, which are nearing completion, are for kindergartens. With the children still in mind, this year we decided to donate the proceeds of the charity dinner to purchasing a state-of-the-art ultrasound scanner for the Neonatology and Paediatrics Department of Rimini Hospital. Because the most beautiful outcome that an evening like this can achieve is to bring smiles to the faces of so many children and their families”, finished Borgnis.

An exclusive evening 

Chi ‘s association with the Batani Select Hotels Group continues: the Palace Hotel in Milano Marittima, a five-star hotel belonging to the Batani Group, will host the large invitation-only party ‘By Moonlight’.

“I’m delighted that the collaboration with Chi and Mondadori Media, with whom we have a long-standing friendship, continues year after year. Last year’s event, which took place in the Grand Hotel in Rimini to support the flood victims, lit up the summer of the Adriatic Riviera and I am certain that the 2024 edition of the event will also be beautiful and have a massive impact. I am moved by Chi and Mondadori Media’s willingness to continue the charity year after year, this year supporting paediatrics. It’s a special evening with an even greater meaning, given everyone’s commitment”, said Paola Batani, CEO of the Batani Select Hotels Group.

The exclusive event will start at 7 p.m. with a welcome cocktail in the majestic setting of the new Milano Marittima waterfront. Afterwards, guests will move to the beach where the Gala Charity Dinner will begin: the placée dinner reserved for over 200 guests, including entrepreneurs, associations and personalities from the world of entertainment, who have chosen to be there and give their support. The evening will continue with an after party on the hotel’s private beach, which will be transformed into an exclusive club with musical performances, DJ sets, an open bar and many corners that will provide guests with entertainment and fun. And a musical surprise…

On Chi‘s Instagram account, users will be able to follow all stages of the evening live, which will be reported minute by minute (@chimagazineit; #alCHIarodiluna).

Event sponsors and partners

Joining Chi on this special occasion will be institutions and companies, who have responded to the appeal for support launched by the magazine, also participating in the event in cooperation with Piemme, the brand’s exclusive dealer.

These include: Andrea Mereghetti, VIP travel agent, with his Dreamsteam, Assolombarda, Atelier Nieri, the Barzan law firm, De Marquet, Discover Cervia (the emblem of ‘Cervia In per il turismo’, the participatory foundation in the Municipality of Cervia and private stakeholders), GroupM, Mondadori Media, Orogel, Piemme, Publicis Groupe, Visit Romagna.

With over 200 beauty salons in Italy and abroad, beauty company Hair Collection, the international franchise founded and directed by Salvo Filetti Hair Designer, will offer guests unique hairstyling; Partesa will provide the wines for dinner; Spirito Reale will be the star of the cocktails by the pool and on the beach with an open bar until late at night, the lighting will be by Platek, and the elegant and refined atmosphere will feature differently-scented candles offered by Yankee Candle.

Freshly will set up a beauty corner, Eurotarget will take care of accompanying guests to the big event and, finally, Msc will have a nice surprise for all guests. On the beach there will also be: a corner with a telescope by the Arar Association to see the stars, stations to interact with AI thanks to OMAI, an AI development laboratory for events, a relaxation corner, and a stage for musical performances and DJ sets, organised by Visit Romagna, which will make Milano Marittima the preview of Pink Night, the special event that will take place along 110 kilometres of the Romagna coastline, from 5 to 7 July. A special partner for this edition will be the Food Network with whom CHI has just launched a new TV show where Massimo Borgnis and Roberto Valbuzzi travel around Italy describing the ‘Inns of the Heart‘. Roberto Valbuzzi, a much-loved chef and TV personality, will not only be there at the event, but will also co-host the charity dinner menu with Palace Hotel executive chef Roberto Scarpelli.

The creative set-up is entrusted to the Palace Hotel in Milano Marittima together with the Left&Right agency.