Benevenuti!

Io mi chiamo Raffaela Marie Rizzo.

     Yes. That's my name. It's a long name, but everyone loves saying it (Raf-eye-ela) and pronouncing Rizzo like "pizza," a hard "t" sound made by the double "z."

It all started when I was five. The Italian immigrant population in Connecticut is where I grew up, and I socialized around music at church, at home, at weddings, baptisms, and confirmations. Whether it was the Italian masters on the Victrola or sitting at mass, intoxicated by the organ as it played Tallis, Palestrina, Mozart, and Messiaen. Music and songs have always indescribably elevated my soul. I have always felt I was born to sing, and the passion and intensity of music permeate my soul. From the moment I became aware of a love greater than ever imagined, I have been flooded with the overwhelming need to give praise and thanks to God through song. Without realizing it, I'd often find myself stirred to make audible my gratitude for God's unconditional love and mercy. But I'm so lacking that even my husband will not sit next to me at mass if I attempt to express praise through song.

     It is clear that songs such as O Holy Night, O solo Mio, Funiculi Funicula, the Ave Maria, and Ode to Joy are for me to appreciate and enjoy, but best left to others with melodious and velvet throats to bring to life. Reflecting on the musical gatherings of my childhood and my enduring passion for song, I eventually came to realize, many decades after the age of five, that God had provided me with other ways to express love and praise. While I was not granted the gift of a melodious voice, I remain grateful for my many blessings, especially the ability to tell stories, of which I have many.

     My stories are deeply rooted in the sun-drenched land of the Mezzogiorno and stretch across the ocean to embrace our great United States of America. They are joyful melodies, woven from simple words, meant to resonate with your own experiences. As we journey together through hidden corners of Italy that few tourists ever find, I hope you’ll discover a new side of its people, their vibrant culture, and enduring traditions.

     These stories, when carried across the Atlantic, have helped weave some of the most intricate and beautiful threads in the fabric of American life and language—creating a lasting song of love, heritage, and joy.". As we journey together through hidden corners of Italy that few tourists ever find, I hope you’ll discover a new side of its people, their vibrant culture, and enduring traditions. These stories, when carried across the Atlantic, have helped weave some of the most intricate and beautiful threads in the fabric of American life and language—creating a lasting song of love, heritage, and joy.