Piero Angela
Encyclopedia
Piero Angela, Grand Officer OMRI
(born 22 December 1928) is an Italian
science journalist and writer, and pianist. He was born in Turin
.
, around the age of seven he began taking private piano
lessons and developing interest in jazz music. At the age of twenty, in 1948, he was performing jam sessions
in various jazz clubs around Italy. In the same year he was noticed by entrepreneur Sergio Bernardini, who invited him to play at the opening evening of the Capannina night club in Forte dei Marmi
.
In the early 1950s he formed a musical trio, along with drummer
Franco Mondini and several alternating double bass
ists. The trio often played with other artists, such as Nini Rosso
, Franco Pisano and former Duke Ellington
cornetist Rex Stewart
.
Hired by RAI
, at the time the Italian State radio broadcaster, in 1952 Angela stopped his professional music work to devote himself to journalism
. Angela sometimes played piano in one of his TV scientific programs.
and later from Brussels
, from 1955 to 1968. Together with Andrea Barbato, he anchored the first lunchtime edition of the Italian TV news in 1968 and, in 1976, became the first anchorman of the newly born second Italian network.
Influenced by Roberto Rossellini
, in 1968 Piero Angela realized a series of documentaries titled Il futuro nello spazio ("Future in space"), centered on the Apollo Program and the quest of taking the first astronaut
to the Moon
). Thus began his long activity of informal science education
, that brought him to host and produce several information programs in the following years.
, the first show of the kind in Italy aimed at a general public.
The format relied on the most advanced technological means and the latest communication techniques available at the time, in order to make scientific topics accessible to the average family. Examples include featuring documentaries by the BBC
and by David Attenborough
, or cartoons by Bruno Bozzetto
in order to help visualize the most abstract concepts; interviewing experts who strove to use the simplest possible language adequate to the complexity of subjects; or staging experiments and explanations directly in the studio. This first program originated many different spin-offs, some of which still exist, dedicated to different subjects: naturalistic documentaries (Quark speciale and Il mondo di Quark), finance (Quark Economia) and politics (Quark Europa).
In 1984 a new project, Pillole di Quark, first aired on Rai Uno
, consisting of short 30-second clips about technical, medical, scientific, social and educational topics. In the same year Piero Angela produced the first talk-show to mix entertainment with science education finalities: six prime-time shows with live public interacting with public figures from culture, science, media and sports.
In 1986 and in 1987, from Turin
's indoor arena, he hosted two prime-time events aired on Rai Uno
centered on climate problems, followed by three TV series exploiting newly developed computer graphics
technologies, staging a trip inside the human body (La Macchina meravigliosa: eight episodes), life in pre-human times (Il pianeta dei dinosauri: four episodes), and outer space (Viaggio nel cosmo: seven episodes). Such series, realized with the collaboration of his son Alberto
, was translated into English
and sold in over forty countries in Europe
, the Americas
and Asia
(including Arabic countries and China
).
Quark italiani, a series of documentaries about nature, the environment, explorations, and the animal world, produced and filmed by Italian authors (among which Alberto Angela, who realized some documentaries in Africa
), also aired in 1988.
In 1995 Superquark was launched, and on 4 June 1999 two thousand episodes of the Quark franchise were celebrated. In the same year Speciali di Superquark (evenings dedicated to a single issue of great social, psychological and scientific interest) was also kicked off, and a collaboration was started with the Sunday TV program Domenica In, where Piero Angela hosted a space devoted to culture.
Since 2000 Piero and Alberto Angela also produce and host Ulisse, a program consisting of episodes centered about historical and scientific subjects.
Together with his popular activity on television, Piero Angela has been active in scientific awareness publishing. He is the long-time editor of the space "Scienza e società" on the magazine TV Sorrisi e Canzoni
; in 2001 he founded the monthly magazine Quark, modeled on the show of the same name, which he also edited and supervised, and later closed in 2006 for lack of funds.
Piero Angela is also the author of over thirty books, many of which translated into English, German and Spanish, with overall sales volume of over three million copies.
In 1989 Piero Angela was among the co-founders of CICAP
, an association promoting scientific and critical investigation of claims on paranormal phenomena.
During his long career Piero Angela has received numerous recognitions in Italy and other countries, among which the Kalinga Prize
of UNESCO
for his contributions to public awareness of science, and several honorary degrees (currently eight).
He likes to play chess
from time to time, though he never takes part in tournaments. In 2006 he was a guest of honour at the 37th Chess Olympiad
, played in his home city.
Omri
Omri was a king of Israel, successful military campaigner and first in the line of Omride kings that included Ahab, Ahaziah and Joram.He was "commander of the army" of king Elah when Zimri murdered Elah and made himself king. Instead, the troops at Gibbethon chose Omri as king, and he led them to...
(born 22 December 1928) is an Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
science journalist and writer, and pianist. He was born in Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
.
Music
Son of the Turinese physician and antifascist Carlo AngelaCarlo Angela
Carlo Angela was an Italian doctor, who has been recognized as a "Righteous Gentile" for his efforts during World War II in saving Jewish lives. He is the father of TV journalist and science writer Piero Angela.-Early life:...
, around the age of seven he began taking private piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
lessons and developing interest in jazz music. At the age of twenty, in 1948, he was performing jam sessions
Jam Sessions
Jam Sessions is a guitar simulation software title and music game for the Nintendo DS based on the Japan-only title Sing & Play DS Guitar M-06 originally developed by Plato. It was brought to North America and Europe, courtesy of Ubisoft...
in various jazz clubs around Italy. In the same year he was noticed by entrepreneur Sergio Bernardini, who invited him to play at the opening evening of the Capannina night club in Forte dei Marmi
Forte dei Marmi
Forte dei Marmi is a sea town and comune in the province of Lucca, in northern Tuscany . It is the birthplace of Paola Ruffo di Calabria, Queen of the Belgians....
.
In the early 1950s he formed a musical trio, along with drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
Franco Mondini and several alternating double bass
Double bass
The double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
ists. The trio often played with other artists, such as Nini Rosso
Nini Rosso
Raffaele Celeste "Nini" Rosso was an Italian jazz trumpeter and composer.-Biography:Born in Turin, Rosso's parents had attempted to send him to university, but at 19 he chose the trumpet over academia, and left home...
, Franco Pisano and former Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
cornetist Rex Stewart
Rex Stewart
Rex Stewart was an American jazz cornetist best known for his work with the Duke Ellington orchestra....
.
Hired by RAI
RAI
RAI — Radiotelevisione italiana S.p.A. known until 1954 as Radio Audizioni Italiane, is the Italian state owned public service broadcaster controlled by the Ministry of Economic Development. Rai is the biggest television company in Italy...
, at the time the Italian State radio broadcaster, in 1952 Angela stopped his professional music work to devote himself to journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
. Angela sometimes played piano in one of his TV scientific programs.
Journalism
His first job at RAI was as a reporter and collaborator of the radio news; with the advent of television in 1954 Angela became a correspondent for the television news, first from ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and later from Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, from 1955 to 1968. Together with Andrea Barbato, he anchored the first lunchtime edition of the Italian TV news in 1968 and, in 1976, became the first anchorman of the newly born second Italian network.
Influenced by Roberto Rossellini
Roberto Rossellini
Roberto Rossellini was an Italian film director and screenwriter. Rossellini was one of the directors of the Italian neorealist cinema, contributing films such as Roma città aperta to the movement.-Early life:Born in Rome, Roberto Rossellini lived on the Via Ludovisi, where Benito Mussolini had...
, in 1968 Piero Angela realized a series of documentaries titled Il futuro nello spazio ("Future in space"), centered on the Apollo Program and the quest of taking the first astronaut
Astronaut
An astronaut or cosmonaut is a person trained by a human spaceflight program to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a spacecraft....
to the Moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
). Thus began his long activity of informal science education
Science education
Science education is the field concerned with sharing science content and process with individuals not traditionally considered part of the scientific community. The target individuals may be children, college students, or adults within the general public. The field of science education comprises...
, that brought him to host and produce several information programs in the following years.
Science education
At the end of the 1970s, Angela decided to entirely devote himself to scientific TV programs and in 1981 went on to produce QuarkQuark
A quark is an elementary particle and a fundamental constituent of matter. Quarks combine to form composite particles called hadrons, the most stable of which are protons and neutrons, the components of atomic nuclei. Due to a phenomenon known as color confinement, quarks are never directly...
, the first show of the kind in Italy aimed at a general public.
The format relied on the most advanced technological means and the latest communication techniques available at the time, in order to make scientific topics accessible to the average family. Examples include featuring documentaries by the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
and by David Attenborough
David Attenborough
Sir David Frederick Attenborough OM, CH, CVO, CBE, FRS, FZS, FSA is a British broadcaster and naturalist. His career as the face and voice of natural history programmes has endured for more than 50 years...
, or cartoons by Bruno Bozzetto
Bruno Bozzetto
Bruno Bozzetto is an Italian cartoon animator, creator of many short pieces, mainly of a political or satirical nature. He created his first animated short "Tapum! the weapons' story" in 1958 at the age of 20. His most famous character, a hapless little man named "Signor Rossi" Bruno Bozzetto...
in order to help visualize the most abstract concepts; interviewing experts who strove to use the simplest possible language adequate to the complexity of subjects; or staging experiments and explanations directly in the studio. This first program originated many different spin-offs, some of which still exist, dedicated to different subjects: naturalistic documentaries (Quark speciale and Il mondo di Quark), finance (Quark Economia) and politics (Quark Europa).
In 1984 a new project, Pillole di Quark, first aired on Rai Uno
Rai Uno
Rai 1 is the primary television station of RAI, the national public service broadcaster, and the most watched television channel in Italy. It was born as Rai Tv from 1954 to 1961, called Programma Nazionale from 1961 to 1979, after called Rete 1 from 1979 to 1982, then called Rai Uno from 1982 to...
, consisting of short 30-second clips about technical, medical, scientific, social and educational topics. In the same year Piero Angela produced the first talk-show to mix entertainment with science education finalities: six prime-time shows with live public interacting with public figures from culture, science, media and sports.
In 1986 and in 1987, from Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
's indoor arena, he hosted two prime-time events aired on Rai Uno
Rai Uno
Rai 1 is the primary television station of RAI, the national public service broadcaster, and the most watched television channel in Italy. It was born as Rai Tv from 1954 to 1961, called Programma Nazionale from 1961 to 1979, after called Rete 1 from 1979 to 1982, then called Rai Uno from 1982 to...
centered on climate problems, followed by three TV series exploiting newly developed computer graphics
Computer-generated imagery
Computer-generated imagery is the application of the field of computer graphics or, more specifically, 3D computer graphics to special effects in art, video games, films, television programs, commercials, simulators and simulation generally, and printed media...
technologies, staging a trip inside the human body (La Macchina meravigliosa: eight episodes), life in pre-human times (Il pianeta dei dinosauri: four episodes), and outer space (Viaggio nel cosmo: seven episodes). Such series, realized with the collaboration of his son Alberto
Alberto Angela
- Biography :Alberto Angela was born in Paris.He accompanied his father, the well-known Italian TV announcer Piero Angela, on his trips ever since he was a child, something that allowed him to learn many European languages and to appropriate a cosmopolitan culture...
, was translated into English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and sold in over forty countries in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, the Americas
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
and Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
(including Arabic countries and China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
).
Quark italiani, a series of documentaries about nature, the environment, explorations, and the animal world, produced and filmed by Italian authors (among which Alberto Angela, who realized some documentaries in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
), also aired in 1988.
In 1995 Superquark was launched, and on 4 June 1999 two thousand episodes of the Quark franchise were celebrated. In the same year Speciali di Superquark (evenings dedicated to a single issue of great social, psychological and scientific interest) was also kicked off, and a collaboration was started with the Sunday TV program Domenica In, where Piero Angela hosted a space devoted to culture.
Since 2000 Piero and Alberto Angela also produce and host Ulisse, a program consisting of episodes centered about historical and scientific subjects.
Together with his popular activity on television, Piero Angela has been active in scientific awareness publishing. He is the long-time editor of the space "Scienza e società" on the magazine TV Sorrisi e Canzoni
TV Sorrisi e Canzoni
TV Sorrisi e Canzoni is an Italian weekly listings magazine and is the most sold weekly in Italy.Based in Segrate, Milan, Italy, it is published by Arnoldo Mondadori Editore, the biggest Italian publishing company....
; in 2001 he founded the monthly magazine Quark, modeled on the show of the same name, which he also edited and supervised, and later closed in 2006 for lack of funds.
Piero Angela is also the author of over thirty books, many of which translated into English, German and Spanish, with overall sales volume of over three million copies.
In 1989 Piero Angela was among the co-founders of CICAP
CICAP
CICAP is an Italian, non-profit, skeptic organization, founded in 1989. CICAP's main goals are the promotion of the scientific analysis of alleged paranormal phenomena...
, an association promoting scientific and critical investigation of claims on paranormal phenomena.
During his long career Piero Angela has received numerous recognitions in Italy and other countries, among which the Kalinga Prize
Kalinga Prize
The Kalinga Prize for the Popularization of Science is an award given by UNESCO for exceptional skill in presenting scientific ideas to lay people...
of UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
for his contributions to public awareness of science, and several honorary degrees (currently eight).
He likes to play chess
Chess
Chess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...
from time to time, though he never takes part in tournaments. In 2006 he was a guest of honour at the 37th Chess Olympiad
37th Chess Olympiad
The 37th Chess Olympiad, comprising an open and women's tournament and the general assembly of the Fédération Internationale des Échecs , took place between 20 May and 6 June 2006, in Turin, Italy.-Open tournament:...
, played in his home city.
List of television programs
All the following programs have been broadcast by Rai Uno.- Il futuro nello spazio (1968)
- Destinazione uomo (1971)
- Da zero a tre anni
- Dove va il mondo?
- Nel buio degli anni luce
- Indagine sulla parapsicologia (1978)
- Nel cosmo alla ricerca della vita (1980)
- Quark (since 1981), and related sister projects:
- Pillole di Quark (since 1983)
- Il mondo di Quark (since 1984)
- Quark Economia (1986)
- Quark Europa (1986)
- Quark Speciale
- Quark Scienza
- Enciclopedia di Quark (1993)
- Superquark (since 1994)
- Speciali di Superquark (since 1999)
- La macchina meravigliosa (1990)
- Serata Oceano (1991)
- Il pianeta dei dinosauri (1993)
- Viaggio nel cosmo (1998)