In 2011, the Agenia Proeventi collaborated on the creation of the Grand Masquerade Ball of the Venetian Carnival, whose tradition dates back to the early nineteenth century and draws every year fans from all over the world: "La Cavalchina"the Grand Gala of the Venetian Carnival.

The formula is unique as unique is the place where it takes place: the Teatro La Fenice. A grand masked ball of the nineteenth century with the use of shows à l'ancienne. A party with the show inside. Or, if you prefer, a show with the party around. The audience, freed from the armchairs, becomes for one night the most prestigious ballroom in the world, where famous orchestras and established disc jockey alternate until dawn. The most famous names of the international jet set are, in beautiful costumes, in the Foyer where the open bar is located and where they are entertained by the curious characters of the past made alive by the Ancients, while in the elegant Sale Apollinee is served the rich gala buffet. On the big stage, between a time and another of the dinner, parade the most varied and surprising numbers of the theater of variety, brought to the stage by the most established artists in the international field, specially selected by Proeventi, in every corner of the world, exclusively for the Cavalchina.

And there’s always, every year, a horse. The symbol of the Horsey. A real horse. Alive, flesh and blood. A horse that makes its entrance, triumphal, mounted by his knight, in the great hall of the theater, that crosses the audience between two wings of astonished crowd, that goes up on the stage, and on the stage dance, with the grace of a dancer, showing his virtues and his acrobatics in high school. Not even in the nineteenth century had succeeded in this. Not even after. We searched the archives: never before had a horse entered the Phoenix.

The direction of the artists was entrusted to Antonio Giarola and Roberto Bianchin.

As happened in the nineteenth century in many Venetian palaces, also in Verona, on the occasion of the closing evening of the carnival, the Bacanal del Gnoco Carnival Committee has restored the ancient tradition of masked ball, aiming to make it an indispensable party for those who want to live concretely the carnival of La Scala. To welcome and entertain the guests of the Gala, magnificent artists, musicians, the masks of the Scaliger carnival and many guests from the most important International Carnival Parties.

Il Magnifico Convivio, Last Night of Carnival in the Palace.

The Palazzo della Gran Guardia in Piazza Bra, in front of the Arena di Verona, with its magnificent loggia and the beautiful Bouvette room, lends itself magnificently as a precious setting for the event. Il Magnifico Convivio is organized by Il Comitato Carnevale Bacanal del Gnoco with the collaboration of Proeventi. The ball has the artistic direction of Antonio Giarola, already artistic director of various masked events within the Carnival of Venice.

The party is at the Palazzo della Gran Guardia in Verona. The costume ball is also attended by international artists. The buffet satisfies the most demanding appetites, the music inebriates souls, even good wine does its part. At the Magnificent Convivio the protagonist is fun, the show is you.

The most prestigious closing party of the Carnival of Verona.

It is a Gala open to all citizens, to celebrate the closing of the Carnival according to an ancient tradition and unfortunately gone into disuse in Verona, but that is very alive in Venice. The party, strictly in costume, is enlivened by the participation of various guests with rich costumes.

Origins

The origins of the Carnival of Verona date back to the late Middle Ages; for this reason it can be considered as one of the oldest in Italy. Known as "Bacanàl del Gnoco", the Carnival of Verona has its roots in the time of Tommaso Da Vico, doctor of the sixteenth century who imposed on his heirs the obligation to distribute annually, the Friday before Lent, food to the population of the district of San Zeno. Even today, in the square in front of the Basilica, next to the statue of Da Vico, there is a stone table where the poor were invited. In the "Description of Verona" Da Persico indicates 1405 as the year of the establishment of "Venardi Casolàr" - from the Latin "Caseum" (cheese) when gnocchi were traditionally seasoned only with butter and cheese. From which Venardi Gnocolàr.
Gianalberto Tumermani (printer and publisher from Verona), in a paper of 1759 tells the customs of the time: “ᴀɴɪᴍᴀᴢɪᴏɴᴇ sᴛʀᴇᴘɪᴛᴏsᴀ ᴅɪ ɢᴇɴᴛᴇ ɪɴ ᴍᴀsᴄʜᴇʀᴀ ᴇ ᴄᴀᴠᴀʟʟɪ ᴄᴏɴ ᴄᴀʀʀᴏᴢᴢᴇ ᴘᴇʀ ʟᴇ ᴠɪᴇ ᴅɪ Vᴇʀᴏɴᴀ, ʟᴇ ᴄᴇʀɪᴍᴏɴɪᴇ ᴅᴇɪ ɴᴏʙɪʟɪ ᴄᴏʟ Mᴀɢɴɪғɪᴄᴏ Cᴏɴᴠɪᴠɪᴏ ᴅᴇʟ Pᴀʟᴀᴢᴢᴏ ᴅᴇʟ Pᴏᴅᴇsᴛᴀ̀…”

The Artistic Direction

Il Magnifico Convivio boasts the artistic direction of Antonio Giarola, who has already directed various masked events within the Carnival of Venice.