World Famous Italian Tenor Jets In For Cow Concert.

Vintage Italian Ice Cream Recipe Calls For Operatic Ingredient

LONDON, Friday 18th May 2009: A vintage recipe for ice cream has provided the inspiration, this morning , for an acclaimed Italian tenor to stage a unique operatic performance – for cows.

Marcello Bedoni, one of Europe’s leading tenors, flew to the UK specially for the cow concert following an invitation from Italian ice cream maker Antonio Federici who are re-launching a 100 year old brand.

The gelato, which goes on sale this month, has been faithfully recreated from a century old family recipe. Its creator Antonio Federici, who lived near Portofino on the Italian Riviera, believed that listening to the opera he loved was beneficial to his cows and co-workers.

He was convinced that it stimulated the production of endorphin-rich milk and created a happy working environment.

He stipulated that opera must be an essential ingredient to the recipe. The recipe, which has been handed down through the generations, has now been passed onto his grandson Frank Frederick.

Frank Frederick says; “My grandfather always sang to the cows before milking and in our quest to recreate the gelato my brother and I enjoyed as children, we are sticking faithfully to his recipe. The cows will enjoy the recital and this will be reflected in the quality of the milk they produce for us. The passion of the music will be reflected in the product. We also plan to stage opera performances within the Antonio Federici  factory this summer for our work force so that everyone enjoys the benefits of this wonderful music. ”

The ice cream manufacturer has laid on a series of opera recitals which kicked off today at Cockshotts Farm near Clitheroe, Lancashire where the Fresian herd were serenaded with tunes including Amore ti vieta by Giordano and E lucevan le stelle by Puccini.

Hayley Campbell-Gibbons, Dairy Adviser to the NFU commented “Soothing sounds or music can reduce stress and induce relaxation and a healthy, contented cow is likely to produce more milk and anything that enhances that can only be a good thing.”

Marcello’s recent international performances have included the title roles in Berlioz’s LA DAMNATION DE FAUST in Warsaw, LES CONTES D’HOFFMANN in Wuppertal, as well as TOSCA and MADAME BUTTERFLY in Dublin.

Bedoni says; “I am looking forward to the concerts – the cows are such gentle beasts and have a good ear for opera. I have put together a special repertoire for my audience including soothing arias and Napolitan songs. I am steering clear of rousing numbers like Wagner and Carmina Burana!”

Marcello Bedoni will be joined by female trio The Gelato Girls – Nara Taylor, Alexandra Carter and Alexandra Jones – who will be performing their own take on “That’s Amore” – “That’s Gelato”! The trio will also be making appearances at the factory in Wigan where Antonio Federici’s is produced, to give the workers a little of the dolce vita too.

Antonio Federici dedicated his life to his love of gelato – he was still whipping his own ice cream aged 102 and fell off his bike delivering it aged 96. And now, more than 100 years after the grandfather of Italian ice-cream created the first perfect scoop, his grandsons Frank and Philip Frederick have worked to recreate for the market the Pistacchio, Panna Cotta and Gianduia (chocolate and hazelnut) gelati the family enjoyed at home.

Notes To Editors

Ice cream impresario Frank Frederick, opera singer Marcello Bedoni, Farmer Robert Gill, and National Farmers Union expert Gwyn Jones are available for interview.

More information about Italian gelato Antonio Federici’s can be found at www.antoniofederici.com

 The range of gelati are for sale in Sainsbury’s stores across the UK with a full roll out expected in September.

Video clips and pictures are available

For more information please contact Kat Taylor at Taylor Herring PR – 020 8206 5151 / 07881 786 240 / [email protected]