 46 evenings of opera and 5 titles on the bill - George Bizets Carmen, Giuseppe Verdis Aida, La Traviata, Il Trovatore and Giacomo Puccinis Turandot - from 24th June to 28th August 2016. The event Roberto Bolle and Friends has been confirmed.
These are the details for the 94th Arena di Verona Opera Festival. The cast features renowned names led by Directors and Conductors of International fame.
The 2016 Opera Festival will be inaugurated on 24th June with Carmen; one of the most loved and applauded titles ever. The French Composer George Bizets opera shall be presented on 13 evenings with cinematografic sets by Franco Zeffirelli and costumes by Anna Anni. The following Conductors will alternate; Principal Conductor of the Fondazione Arena di Verona Xu Zhong (24/6 - 1, 6, 29/7 - 5, 11/8) and Julian Kovatchev (9, 13, 16/7 - 17, 20, 23, 27/8). The Childrens Chorus A.LI.VE shall be led by Maestro Paolo Facincani.
In the protagonists role, Carmen, we shall see Luciana DIntino (24/6 - 1, 6/7), Carmen Topciu (9, 13, 16/7), Anastasia Boldyreva (29/7 - 5, 11, 17/8), Sanja Anastasia (20/8) and Agunda Kulaeva (23, 27/8) ; Micaela shall be recited by Ekaterina Bakanova (24/6 - 1, 6/7), Irina Lungu (9, 13, 16, 29/7), Alida Berti (5, 11/8), Valeria Sepe (17, 20, 23/8) and Francesca Sassu (27/8). Don Jos shall be interpreted by Jorge De Len (24/6 - 1, 6, 9, 13/7), Dario Di Vietri (16, 29/7), Carlo Ventre (5, 11/8), Stefano Secco (17, 20, 23/8) and Mikheil Sheshaberidze (27/8) ; the toreador Escamillo by Erwin Schrott (24/6 - 1, 6, 9/7), Gabriele Viviani (13, 16, 29/7 - 5/8), Dalibor Jenis (11, 17, 20/8) and Alexander Vinogradov (23, 27/8). As Frasquita we find Madina Karbeli (24/6 - 1, 6, 9, 13, 16, 29/7) and Teona Dvali (5, 11, 17, 20, 23, 27/8), whilst Mercedes shall be interpreted by Clarissa Leonardi (24/6 - 1, 6/7 - 20, 23, 27/8) and Alice Marini (9, 13, 16, 29/7 - 5, 11, 17/8). To complete the cast: Gianfranco Montresor (24/6 - 1, 6, 9, 13, 16, 29/7) and Nicol Ceriani (5, 11, 17, 20, 23, 27/8) as Dancairo, Paolo Antognetti (24/6 - 1, 6, 9, 13, 16/7) and Francesco Pittari (29/7 - 5, 11, 17, 20, 23, 27/8) as Remendado, as Zuniga Gianluca Breda (24/6 - 1, 6, 9, 13, 16/7) and Paolo Battaglia (29/7 - 5, 11, 17, 20, 23, 27/8) and finally as Morales, Marcello Rosiello (24/6 - 1, 6, 9, 13/7), Alessio Verna (16, 29/7 - 5/8) and Federico Longhi (11, 17, 20, 23, 27/8).
Further Performances: 1, 6, 9, 13, 16, 29 July 2016 (at 9pm) - 5, 11, 17, 20, 23, 27 August 2016 (at 8.45pm)
Giuseppe Verdis Aida, the Arenas quintessential title, with over 600 performances, is the second opera of the 2016 Festival: the premire is on 25th June with sets by Gianfranco de Bosio, inspired by the original 1913 stage design by Ettore Fagiuoli, and coreography by Susanna Egri. Three supreme Conductors alternate: Julian Kovatchev (25, 30/6 - 3, 7, 14, 17, 24/7), the veronese Andrea Battistoni (28, 31/7 - 7, 9, 28/8) and finally Daniel Oren (14, 18, 21, 24/8).
In the role of Aida, following their success of last season, Hui He (25, 30/6 - 3, 7, 24/7), Monica Zanettin (14, 17/7), Susanna Branchini (28, 31/7 - 7/8), Amarilli Nizza (9, 14, 18/8) and Maria José Siri (21, 24, 28/8) return. The rival Amneris shall be interpreted by Ildik Komlsi (25, 30/6 - 3/7), Sanja Anastasia (7, 24, 28/7 - 14/8), Luciana DIntino (14, 17/7), Ekaterina Gubanova (31/7 - 7, 9/8), Andrea Ulbrich (18, 24/8) and Anastasia Boldyreva (21, 28/8). In the role of the courageous Radames we will see Yusif Eyvazov (25, 30/6), Walter Fraccaro (3, 7/7), Stefano La Colla (14, 17/7), Carlo Ventre (24, 28, 31/7), Dario Di Vietri (7, 21, 24, 28/8) and Fabio Sartori (9, 14, 18/8). Amonasro shall be interpreted by Ambrogio Maestri (25, 30/6 - 3, 7/7), Alberto Mastromarino (14, 17, 24, 28, 31/7), Dalibor Jenis (7, 9/8) and Sebastian Catana (14, 18, 21, 24, 28/8). As Ramfis we shall see Rafal Siwek (25, 30/6 - 3/7), Sergey Artamonov (7, 14, 17/7 - 7, 9, 14, 18, 21, 24, 28/8) and Insung Sim (24, 28, 31/7) ; in that of The King Carlo Cigni (25, 30/6 - 3, 7, 14, 17/7), Roberto Tagliavini (24, 28, 31/7), Romano Dal Zovo (7, 9, 14/8) and Gianluca Breda (18, 21, 24, 28/8). A messenger shall be recited by Antonello Ceron (25/6 - 7, 9, 14/8), Francesco Pittari (30/6 - 3, 7, 14, 17, 24/7) and Paolo Antognetti (28, 31/7 - 18, 21, 24, 28/8), whilst the Voice of the High Priestess by Alice Marini (25, 30/6 - 3, 7, 14/7), Elena Serra (17, 24, 28, 31/7 - 7, 9, 14, 28/8) and Elena Borin (18, 21, 24/8).
Further Performances: 30 June 2016 (at 9pm) - 3, 7, 14, 17, 24, 28, 31 July 2016 (at 9pm) - 7, 9, 14, 18, 21, 24, 28 August 2016 (at 8.45pm)
On 2nd July at 9pm the third title on the bill debuts: Giuseppe Verdis La Traviata, presented with Hugo de Anas elegant staging which inaugurated the 2011 Festival with coreography by Leda Lojodice. Conduction of the Orchestra shall be led by Jader Bignamini (2, 5, 8, 12/7) and Fabio Mastrangelo (15, 22, 26, 30/7).
Violetta Valéry shall be interpreted by Nino Machaidze (2, 5, 8, 12/7) and Ekaterina Bakanova (15, 22, 26, 30/7) ; in the role of Alfredo Germont we shall find Francesco Demuro (2, 5, 8/7), Cristian Ricci (12, 15/07) and Saimir Pirgu (22, 26, 30/7). As Giorgio Germont, Alfredos father, we shall see Gabriele Viviani (2, 5, 8/7), Dalibor Jenis (12, 15, 22/7) and Artur Rucinsky (26, 30/7).
Flora Bervoix will be recited by Clarissa Leonardi and Annina by Teona Dvali (2, 5, 8, 12, 15/7) and Madina Karbeli (22, 26, 30/7). As Gastone di Letorires we shall see Paolo Antognetti and Alessio Verna as the Barone Douphol, Romano Dal Zovo as Marchese dObigny, Paolo Battaglia as il Dottore Grenvil, Cristiano Olivieri as Giuseppe and as both the Servant and the Commissioner, Victor Garcia Sierra.
Further Performances: 5, 8, 12, 15, 22, 26, 30 July 2016 (at 9pm)
On 18th July at 10pm the highly awaited Dance Production Roberto Bolle and Friends is presented. The performance re-ignites the spotlight on Ballet in the Arena in a magical evening in which the lead dancer, accompanied by his exceptional fellow dancers from the greatest International Ballet Schools, bestows great emotion upon the audience.
On 23rd July Giacomo Puccinis Turandot returns with the Director and Set Designer Franco Zeffirellis spectacular staging. Costumes are by Oscar winner Emi Wada, lighting by Paolo Mazzon, coreography by Maria Grazia Garofoli. The Childrens Chorus A.dA.MUS. is directed by Marco Tonini. As Conductor for all 5 evenings is the Veronese Andrea Battistoni.
In the role of Princess Turandot we shall see Oksana Dyka (23, 27/7 - 19, 25/8) and Tiziana Caruso (12/8), as the daring Calaf Dario Di Vietri (23, 27/7 - 12/8) and Carlo Ventre (19, 25/8) alternate. The King of Tartary Timur shall be interpreted by Carlo Cigni, whilst the sweet and unfortunate Li shall be recited by Elena Rossi (23, 27/7 - 12/8) and Donata DAnnunzio Lombardi (19, 25/8). The three Ministers shall be interpreted by Federico Longhi (23, 27/7 - 12/8) and Marcello Rosiello (19, 25/8) as Ping, Francesco Pittari as Pong and Giorgio Trucco as Pang. LEmperor Altoum shall be Cristiano Olivieri, A Mandarin Paolo Battaglia and The Prince of Persia Michele Salaorni.
Repeat Performances: 27 July 2016 (9pm) - 12, 19, 25 August 2016 (8.45pm)
The 94th Opera Festivals bill concludes on 6th August, with Giuseppe Verdis Il Trovatore. The monumental staging carries the distinctive signature of Franco Zeffirelli as Director and Set Designer with costumes by Raimonda Gaetani. The Orchestra is conducted for all 4 appointments by Maestro Daniel Oren.
In the role of the Count di Luna we shall see Simone Piazzola (6, 10, 13/8) and Artur Rucinsky (26/8) ; Leonora shall be interpreted by Hui He (6, 10, 13/8) and Monica Zanettin (26/8) ; for all performances the gypsy Azucena shall be recited by Violeta Urmana, whilst as Manrico we shall see Marco Berti (6, 10, 13/8) and Murat Karahan (26/8).
Dmitry Beloselskiy (6, 10, 13/8) and Sergey Artamonov (26/8) alternate as Lunas Officer Ferrando. Elena Borin as Ines, Antonello Ceron as Ruiz, Victor Garcia Sierra as An old Gypsy and Cristiano Olivieri as A messenger complete the cast.
Further Performances: 10, 13, 26 August 2016 (8.45pm)
The Fondazione Arena di Veronas Orchestra, Chorus, Dance Company and Technicians are all engaged, together with numerous mimes and extras.
Maestro Vito Lombardi, already engaged for the 2015-2016 Artistic Season at the Teatro Filarmonico and the Teatro Ristori, leads the Chorus.
For the 2016 edition of the Opera Festival performance start times remain unchanged: 9pm in the months of June and July, 8.45pm in August and the performance of Roberto Bolle and Friends on 18th July shall begin at 10pm. |