GREAT PERFORMERS FOR THE 2014 ARENA DI VERONA OPERA FESTIVAL

From 20^th June to 7^th September, 54 evenings with 6 opera titles and 3 special evenings present the Arena di Verona’s 2014 edition of the Opera Festival.

The choice of acclaimed names from the international opera scene, many of them loved by the Arena’s audience, is reaffirmed for the productions programmed for the largest open air theatre in the world, as well as that of celebrated and world renowned conductors and directors. 

The 2014 Festival will be inaugurated by the new stage design of the Verdi opera  Un ballo in maschera on 20^th June at 21.00.  This title, missing from the Arena’s program since 1998, is presented with the direction of Pier Luigi Pizzi.  For the 7 evenings planned, the young Veronese Andrea Battistoni, returns to conduct the Arena’s orchestra.

To give life on stage to the main performers of Verdi’s drama, in the role of Amelia, we shall see

Hui He (20/6 – 11/7), Virginia Tola (27/6 – 8/8) and Tatiana Serjan (19, 24, 31/7), in the role of the much loved Riccardo Francesco Meli (20, 27/6 – 11, 19/7) and Stefano Secco (24, 31/7 – 8/8), as Renato Luca Salsi (20, 27/6 – 11/7 – 8/8) and Dalibor Jenis (19, 24, 31/7), the fortune teller Ulrica will be Elisabetta Fiorillo (20, 27/6 – 11/7) alternating with Sanja Anastasia (19, 24/7) and Elena Gabouri (31/7 – 8/8) and Riccardo’s young page, Oscar, shall be interpreted by Serena Gamberoni (20, 27/6 – 11, 19/7) and Ekaterina Bakanova (24, 31/7 – 8/8).

Further performances of this title: 27th June at 21.00 – 11, 19, 24, 31 July at 21.00 – 8 August at 20.45.

From 21st June at 21.00 Georges Bizet’s Carmen will be staged, for which 2014 marks 100 years since it was first performed at the Arena di Verona. It will be presented with direction and staging by Franco Zeffirelli and costumes by Anna Anni. On the podium of its 11 performances, we will see the Hungarian conductor Henrik Nánási in his dèbut at the Scaliger Amphitheatre (21/06 – 4, 18, 25/7 – 1, 7, 14/8), alternating with Julian Kovatchev (26/6 – 10/7 – 29/8 – 3/9).

Ekaterina Semenchuk will be the voice of Carmen (21, 26/6 – 4, 10/7 – 7, 14/8) alternating with Anita Rachvelishvili (18, 25/7 – 1/8) and Ildikó Komlósi (29/8 – 3/9). The enamoured Don José  will be interpreted by Carlo Ventre (21, 26/6 – 14, 29/8 – 3/9), Mario Malagnini (4, 10/7 – 7/8) and Jorge de León (18, 25/7 – 1/8), the torero Escamillo by Carlos Álvarez (21, 26/6 – 4, 10/7), Raymond Aceto (18, 25/7 – 1/8) and Dalibor Jenis (7, 14, 29/8 – 3/9), whilst Micaela shall be interpreted by Irina Lungu (21, 26/6 – 4/7), Tatyana Ryaguzova (10, 18, 25/7), Rocio Ignacio (1, 7, 14/8) and Natalia Roman (29/8 – 3/9).

Further performances of this title: 26 June at 21.00 – 4, 10, 18, 25 July at 21.00 – 1, 7, 14, 29 August at 20.45 – 3 September at 20.45.

Giuseppe Verdi’s Aida, the Arena’s supreme title, will again be presented in 2014 in its two versions:  the new production from the Catalan team, La Fura dels Baus, which last year inaugurated the Centennial Festival, and the historical edition revived by Gianfranco de Bosio and inspired by the original 1913 staging by Architect Ettore Fagiuoli.

From 28th June at 21.00, for 10 evenings, the futuristic Aida will be staged, produced by La Fura dels Baus.  The directors will be Carlus Padrissa and Álex Ollé, production assistant and choreographer, Valentina Carrasco, scenographer Roland Olbeter and costume designer, Chu Uroz. The conductor will be Julian Kovatchev.

Giving life to the main protagonists of the Verdi drama, the following return to the role of the Ethiopian princess Aida:  Hui He (28/6 – 3, 6, 8, 15/7), Amarilli Nizza (20/7) and Maria José Siri (23, 27, 29/7 – 3/8), the warrior Radamès shall be interpreted by Fabio Sartori (28/6 – 3, 6/7), Walter Fraccaro (8, 23/7), Carlo Ventre (15, 20/7 – 3/8) and Marco Berti (27, 29/7). The rival Amneris will be Violeta Urmana (28/6 – 3, 6/7), alternating with Sanja Anastasia (8/7), Lucrecia Garcia (15, 20, 23/7), Ildikó Komlósi (27, 29/7) and Giovanna Casolla (3/8), as the King Amonasro we shall see Gennadii Vashchenko (28/6 – 3, 6/7), Ambrogio Maestri (8, 15, 20/7), Davit Babayants (23, 27/7) and Luca Salsi (29/7 – 3/8). The high Priest Ramfis will be Raymond Aceto (28/6 – 3, 6, 8/7) alternating with Marco Spotti (15, 20, 23, 27/7) and Vitalij Kowaljow (29/7 – 3/8), whilst as The King we shall see Sergej Artamonov (28/6 – 3, 6, 8/7), Giorgio Giuseppini (15, 20/7) and Roberto Tagliavini (23, 27, 29/7 – 3/8).

Further performances of this title: 3, 6, 8, 15, 20, 23, 27, 29 July at 20.00 – 3 August at 20.45

From 10^th August Aida returns for 7 performances in the not-to-be-missed edition inspired by the original 1913 staging directed by Gianfranco de Bosio. For the first three performances, the conductor will be Daniele Rustioni making his début in the Arena (10, 16, 24/8) then Fabio Mastrangelo (26, 31/8 – 4, 7/9).

Returning to interpret Aida Amarilli Nizza (10, 24, 26/8), Monica Zanettin (16, 31/8) and Susanna Branchini (4, 7/9), Radamès shall be interpreted by Marco Berti (10, 16/8), Stuart Neill (24, 26/8) and Fabio Sartori (31/8 – 4, 7/9). Amneris will be Anita Rachvelishvili (10, 16, 24/8), Giovanna Casolla (26, 31/8) and Lucrecia Garcia (4, 7/9), as Amonasro we will see Marco Vratogna (10, 16, 24/8) and Alberto Mastromarino (26, 31/8 – 4, 7/9). As Ramfis we will see Dmitry Beloselsky (10, 16, 24, 26/8) and Andrea Mastroni (31/8 – 4, 7/9), who will also interpret  The King (10, 16, 24/8) alternating with Roberto Tagliavini (26, 31/8) and Giorgio Giuseppini (4, 7/9).

Further performances of this title: 16, 24, 26, 31 August at 20.45 – 4, 7 September at 20.45

On 5^th July at 21.00 Giacomo Puccini’s Turandot returns to the stage under the masterful direction and splendid stage design of Franco Zeffirelli with costumes by Oscar winner, Emi Wada. All 7 performances will see Daniel Oren on the podium.

The ice princess Turandot will be interpreted by Evelyn Herlitzius (5, 9, 12/7) alternating with Tiziana Caruso (16/7) and Martina Serafin (26, 30/7 – 2/8), as the beloved Calaf  we shall see Carlo Ventre (5, 9, 26, 30/7 – 2/8) and Marco Berti (12, 16/7).  The father Timur shall be interpreted by Marco Vinco (5, 9, 12/7), Giorgio Giuseppini (16, 26/7) and Andrea Mastroni (30/7 – 2/8) and the sweet Liu by Maria Agresta (5, 12, 26/7), Rachele Stanisci (9, 16/7) and Carmen Giannattasio (30/7 – 2/8). One of the three ministers, Ping, shall be Mattia Olivieri (5, 9, 12/7) followed by Vincenzo Taormina (16, 26, 30/7 – 2/8).

Further performances of this title: 9, 12, 16, 26, 30 July at 21.00 – 2 August at 20.45.

At 22.00 on 17^th July an exceptional gala evening, with Plácido Domingo as protagonist conducted by Daniel Oren, singing the most celebrated pieces from the Verdi repertoire in Plácido Domingo sings Verdi.

At 22.00 on 22^nd July an eagerly anticipated evening dedicated to classical dance: ballet returns to the Arena with the show Roberto Bolle and friends. The protagonist of the evening will be leading dancer Roberto Bolle, star from La Scala in Milan and principal dancer for the American Ballet in NY, joined by international stars of classical dance. For this new evening, we shall see both the American and European “artistic homelands” of the great dancer: besides some of the most splendid stars of the ABT, among whom the renowned principal dancers Julie Kent and Daniil Simkin, Bolle will dance with artists from the best European dance companies for a performance dedicated to diversity and internationalism.  Julian Kovatchev conducts the Arena di Verona Orchestra.

At 22.00 on 9^th August the evening is dedicated to Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana performed by the Arena’s own chorus directed by Armando Tasso.  On the podium, conductor Andrea Battistoni.

At 20.45 on 15^th August a new opera première with Puccini’s Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly),  presented on 6 evenings with Franco Zeffirelli’s successful set design.  The orchestra will be conducted by Marco Armiliato.  The role of Cio-Cio-San shall be interpreted by  Oksana Dyka (15, 22, 27/8) and Amarilli Nizza (30/8 – 2, 5/9), whilst the American official F. B. Pinkerton shall be Roberto Aronica (15, 22, 27/8) alternating with Giorgio Berrugi (30/8 – 2, 5/9); as the maid Suzuki we shall see Veronica Simeoni (15, 22, 27/8) and Anna Malavasi (30/8 – 2, 5/9), whilst the consul Sharpless is Gabriele Viviani (15, 22, 27/8) followed by Davit Babayants (30/8 – 2, 5/9).

Further performances of this title: 22, 27, 30 August at 20.45 – 2, 5 September at 20.45

On 23^rd August at 20.45 Charles Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette (Romeo and Juliet) concludes the playbill with Francesco Micheli’s staging, presented for the fourth time, and scenography by Edoardo Sanchi, costumes by Silvia Aymonino and choreography by Nikos Lagousakos. Making his début in the Arena Carlo Montanaro will conduct all three performances.

The two celebrated Veronese lovers will be interpreted by Lana Kos and Vittorio Grigolo, whilst Roméo’s page Stéphano shall be Annalisa Stroppa, Mercutio shall be Michael Bachtadze, in the role of the rival Tybalt Cristian Ricci, Juliette’s nurse Getrude shall be Sanja Anastasia, Frère Laurent Giorgio Giuseppini and Le Duc de Vérone Deyan Vatchkov.

Further performances of this title: 28 August at 20.45 – 6 September at 20.45

The Festival will engage the Orchestra, Chorus, dance company and technical team of the Fondazione Arena di Verona, as well as numerous extras and mime actors.

There is a change this year to the starting time of the performances which will be brought forward by 15 minutes. For the months of June and July the performances will begin at 21.00, and in August and September at 20.45. The three special performances on 17 and 22 July and 9 August will start at 20.00.