Sabrina Impacciatore, a familiar face to American audiences through her roles in “The White Lotus” and “The Paper,” recently took center stage in a time-traveling musical performance celebrating 100 years of Winter Olympics history. The show featured a dazzling array of on-stage costumes, including a stunning vintage ski outfit designed by Emilio Pucci for Princess Soraya of Iran, who donned it during the 1956 Winter Games in Cortina, Italy.
Back in 1956, Cortina did not rely on artificial snow for the games. Fast forward to the present day, with concerns about global warming, organizers are planning to use snow cannons to distribute approximately 2.4 million cubic meters of snow for the 116 Olympic medal events scheduled over a 17-day period. The promise of using renewable energy to power these cannons ensures ample snow cover for the competitions.
Impacciatore’s performance took the audience on a journey through the decades, from the 1920s to the 1990s and into the modern era. The musical selection featured a mix of jazz and swing music, including the iconic Italian singer Adriano Celentano’s groundbreaking hit, “Prisencolinensinainciusol,” often regarded as the first Italian rap song with its improvised lyrics in a pseudo-English language.
“Prisencolinensinainciusol,” a song believed to symbolize universal love, made its way into Spike Lee’s film “Highest 2 Lowest,” where it was recorded by Aiyana-Lee under the title “Prisencolin (Americano Joint).” Impacciatore’s portrayal of Valentina, the hotel manager in the second season of “White Lotus” set in Sicily, not only introduced her to a broader international audience but also boosted her career back home in Italy.
Overall, Impacciatore’s captivating performance, coupled with the rich history of Winter Olympics and musical highlights, made for an unforgettable show that bridged the past and present seamlessly on stage.
