«I wanted to emphasize the surreal aspect of Betrothal in a Monastery. It’s a comic opera that tells of the protagonist’s journey into a fantasy world; and we try to make it all the more effective by changing the spatial dimensions, playing with transforming costumes and identities, and by creating visions that bring the story to an imaginative level». This is how Damiano Michieletto describes his new production of Sergej Prokofiev’s Betrothal in a Monastery, running at the MusikTheater an der Wien, in the capital of Austria, from Wednesday 26 March until 9 April.
«The sense of belonging is a fire that burns inside. Given my origins, I can’t ignore the moral obligation of rediscovering the Neapolitan eighteenth century repertoire». With these words, Italian soprano Rosa Feola, who was born in Caserta, near Naples, and has always been keen on promoting her territory’s musical heritage, describes the artistic journey that she made with Antonio Florio and the Cappella Neapolitana and that have brought to her new album “Son Regina e Sono Amante”, released by Pentatone today, Friday 14 March, and available on all major streaming and download platforms (https://lnk.to/SonReginaeSonoAmante) and music stores.
Two new opera productions, a world premiere, concerts, discussions, and open lessons, totaling over 30 scheduled events: the city that gave birth to Claudio Monteverdi honors the father of opera by hosting great international stars, including Cecilia Bartoli, Davide Livermore, Jordi Savall, Christophe Rousset, Ottavio Dantone, The Tallis Scholars, and Maayan Licht.
Argentinian of Italian origins, he studied Belcanto in Buenos Aires and is today considered one of the greatest countertenors worldwide: Franco Fagioli, awarded the Premio “Abbiati” in 2011, tells of his unusual musical journey by celebrating the renowned last castrato in his album “The last castrato. Arias for Velluti”, to be released on Friday 28th of February 2025 by Château de Versailles Spectacles, recorded with the Chorus and Orchestra of the Opéra Royal conducted by Stefan Plewniak.
The one that on 13 and 14 February 1945 razed to the ground the greater part of the city of Dresden was one of the most destructive bombings of World War II. 1,500 tons of explosive bombs and 1,200 tons of firebombs were dropped by more than 800 British airplanes, later joined by America’s aircrafts B-17, spreading death and terror with the precise intent to completely destroy the city.
Filippo Gorini, the twenty-nine-year-old pianist, is revolutionizing concert market conventions by bringing music to everyone in seven cities around the world through seven month-long artistic residencies, commissioning works from seven contemporary composers. “Sonata for 7 Cities” is the visionary project awarded the Franco Buitoni Award in 2023, which aims to promote philanthropic and educational initiatives through classical and contemporary music.
In his double role as countertenor and musical director, over the coming months Raffaele Pe will be touring with the baroque ensemble he created, La Lira di Orfeo, and performing in some of the most important European concert halls, like the Wigmore Hall in London, the MusikTheater an der Wien, and Santa Cecilia in Rome.
«A tragedy linked to man’s immaturity, to Don José’s inability to accept his own reality, eventually leading him to a tragic act, emblematic of his persistent infantilism». This is how stage director Damiano Michieletto describes his new production of Georges Bizet’s Carmen, on stage at the Royal Opera House in London from 5 April 2024.
The countertenor will be interpreting the title role in a concert version of Haendel’s opera, next to Cecilia Bartoli and with Gianluca Capuano conducting Les Musiciens du Prince Monaco, from 19 October to 1 November 2023
During the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the Sydney Opera House, Damiano Michieletto will be directing a new production of Jacques Offenbach’s Les Contes d’Hoffmann (The Tales of Hoffmann). After staging Cavalleria Rusticanaand Pagliacci in
