The information and material on this website is general in nature and is intended for your touristic use and information. We try our best to constantly update our contents. The Taormina Friends Club accepts no responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of any information contained herein and recommends that users exercise their own skill and care with respect to its uses. You must not assume that this website and its contents are error-free, as events dates might be changed without notice, or that the contents will be suitable for the particular purpose that you had in mind when using them. This website contains references and links to other internet sites which contain information collated and presented by other parties, events websites government agencies, third-party organisations and individuals. Taormina Friends Club does not warrant or represent that linked sites are complete, current, reliable or free from error. Taormina Friends Club does not accept responsibility or liability for any loss, damage, cost or expense you might incur as a result of the use of or reliance upon materials in the linked sites.
REGULARLY HELD MARKETS
M0nday to Saturday (8.00am – 1.00pm)
Via Don Giovanni Minzoni – Taormina
Small market hall with stands of fruit, meat, fish, cheese and flowers
Every Wednesday (8.00am – 1.00pm)
Via Leonardo Da Vinci and via Wilhelm Von Gloeden – Taormina
eekly market with stands of shoes, clothes, households items, fruit, vegetables and more.
Monday to Saturday (5.00am – 12.00pm)
Behind Piazza Duomo – Catania
Famous fish market located in a pictoresque setting. Fish, meet, cheese and veg presented by enthusiastic market criers. Good restaurants all around.
PERMANENT MUSEUMS
Casa del Cinema
Museum that hosts posters and photographs of the film shot in Taormina. It is open every day from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10.00am to 10.00pm. Free entrance
It hosts the ticket office of the Fondazione Taormina Arte, where it is possible to purchase the tickets for most of the events held at the Ancient Theatre and at the Odeon
Address: Corso Umberto I n. 63 – Mobile: 0039 391 746 2146 – www.facebook.com/casadelcinemataormina
Ancient Theatre, Saturday 23rd September 2023 @ 9.30pm
Umberto Antonio Tozzi (1952) is an Italian pop and rock singer and composer. Over the course of his career, he has sold over 70 million records in different languages internationally, and his biggest international hits are: “Stella Stai”, “Gloria”, “Tu” and “Ti Amo”.
TICKETS on ticketone and boxol
Platea: € 69,00
Gallery: € 59,00
Upper Circle (numbered seats): € 49,00
Upper Circle (non numbered circle): 29,00
Taormina Ancient Theatre, Friday 22nd September 2023 @ 9.00pm
DIRECTION: Salvo Dolce
CHOREOGRAPHY: Stefania Cotroneo
THEATRE DIRECTOR: Alessandra Pipitone
ORCHESTRA: Orchestra Filarmonica Della Sicilia
CHORUS: Coro Lirico Mediterraneo
ORGANIZATION: Associazione Culturale Musicale Siciliarte
Carmen is an opera in four acts by the French composer Georges Bizet. The libretto was written by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on a novella of the same title by Prosper Mérimée.
The opera, written in the genre of opéra comique, tells the story of the downfall of Don José, a naïve soldier who is seduced by the wiles of the fiery Gypsy, Carmen. José abandons his childhood sweetheart and deserts from his military duties, yet loses Carmen’s love to the glamorous toreador Escamillo, after which José kills her in a jealous rage.
The music of Carmen has been widely acclaimed for its brilliance of melody, harmony, atmosphere and orchestration, and for the skill with which Bizet musically represented the emotions and suffering of his characters. After the composer’s death the score was subject to significant amendment, including the introduction of recitative in place of the original dialogue; there is no standard edition of the opera, and different views exist as to what versions best express Bizet’s intentions.
Place: Seville, Spain, and surrounding hills – Time: Around 1820
Act 1 – A square, in Seville. On the right, a door to the tobacco factory. At the back, a bridge. On the left, a guardhouse
A group of soldiers relaxes in the square, waiting for the changing of the guard and commenting on the passers-by (“Sur la place, chacun passe”). Micaëla appears, seeking José. Moralès tells her that “José is not yet on duty” and invites her to wait with them. She declines, saying she will return later. José arrives with the new guard, which is greeted and imitated by a crowd of urchins (“Avec la garde montante”). A lithograph of act 1 in the premiere performance, by Pierre-Auguste Lamy, 1875
As the factory bell rings, the cigarette girls emerge and exchange banter with young men in the crowd (“La cloche a sonné”). Carmen enters and sings her provocative habanera on the untameable nature of love (“L’amour est un oiseau rebelle”). The men plead with her to choose a lover, and after some teasing she throws a flower to Don José, who thus far has been ignoring her but is now annoyed by her insolence.
As the women go back to the factory, Micaëla returns and gives José a letter and a kiss from his mother (“Parle-moi de ma mère!”). He reads that his mother wants him to return home and marry Micaëla, who retreats in shy embarrassment on learning this. Just as José declares that he is ready to heed his mother’s wishes, the women stream from the factory in great agitation. Zuniga, the officer of the guard, learns that Carmen has attacked a woman with a knife. When challenged, Carmen answers with mocking defiance (“Tra la la… Coupe-moi, brûle-moi”); Zuniga orders José to tie her hands while he prepares the prison warrant. Left alone with José, Carmen beguiles him with a seguidilla, in which she sings of a night of dancing and passion with her lover—whoever that may be—in Lillas Pastia’s tavern. Confused yet mesmerised, José agrees to free her hands; as she is led away she pushes her escort to the ground and runs off laughing. José is arrested for dereliction of duty.
Act 2 – Lillas Pastia’s Inn
A month has passed. Carmen and her friends Frasquita and Mercédès are entertaining Zuniga and other officers (“Les tringles des sistres tintaient”) in Pastia’s inn. Carmen is delighted to learn of José’s release from a month’s detention. Outside, a chorus and procession announces the arrival of the toreador Escamillo (“Vivat, vivat le Toréro”). Invited inside, he introduces himself with the “Toreador Song” (“Votre toast, je peux vous le rendre”) and sets his sights on Carmen, who brushes him aside. Lillas Pastia hustles the crowds and the soldiers away.
When only Carmen, Frasquita and Mercédès remain, the smugglers Dancaïre and Remendado arrive and reveal their plans to dispose of some recently acquired contraband (“Nous avons en tête une affaire”). Frasquita and Mercédès are keen to help them, but Carmen refuses, since she wishes to wait for José. After the smugglers leave, José arrives. Carmen treats him to a private exotic dance (“Je vais danser en votre honneur … La la la”), but her song is joined by a distant bugle call from the barracks. When José says he must return to duty, she mocks him, and he answers by showing her the flower that she threw to him in the square (“La fleur que tu m’avais jetée”). Unconvinced, Carmen demands he shows his love by leaving with her. José refuses to desert, but as he prepares to depart, Zuniga enters looking for Carmen. He and José fight, and are separated by the returning smugglers, who restrain Zuniga. Having attacked a superior officer, José now has no choice but to join Carmen and the smugglers (“Suis-nous à travers la campagne”).
Act 3 – A wild spot in the mountains Magdalena Kožená and Jonas Kaufmann at the Salzburg Festival 2012
Carmen and José enter with the smugglers and their booty (“Écoute, écoute, compagnons”); Carmen has now become bored with José and tells him scornfully that he should go back to his mother. Frasquita and Mercédès amuse themselves by reading their fortunes from the cards; Carmen joins them and finds that the cards are foretelling her death, and José’s. The women depart to suborn the customs officers who are watching the locality. José is placed on guard duty.
Micaëla enters with a guide, seeking José and determined to rescue him from Carmen (“Je dis que rien ne m’épouvante”). On hearing a gunshot she hides in fear; it is José, who has fired at an intruder who proves to be Escamillo. José’s pleasure at meeting the bullfighter turns to anger when Escamillo declares his infatuation with Carmen. The pair fight (“Je suis Escamillo, toréro de Grenade”), but are interrupted by the returning smugglers and girls (“Holà, holà José”). As Escamillo leaves he invites everyone to his next bullfight in Seville. Micaëla is discovered; at first, José will not leave with her despite Carmen’s mockery, but he agrees to go when told that his mother is dying. As he departs, vowing he will return, Escamillo is heard in the distance, singing the toreador’s song.
Act 4 – A square in Seville. At the back, the walls of an ancient amphitheatre
Zuniga, Frasquita and Mercédès are among the crowd awaiting the arrival of the bullfighters (“Les voici ! Voici la quadrille!”). Escamillo enters with Carmen, and they express their mutual love (“Si tu m’aimes, Carmen”). As Escamillo goes into the arena, Frasquita warns Carmen that José is nearby, but Carmen is unafraid and willing to speak to him. Alone, she is confronted by the desperate José (“C’est toi ! C’est moi !”). While he pleads vainly for her to return to him, cheers are heard from the arena. As José makes his last entreaty, Carmen contemptuously throws down the ring he gave her and attempts to enter the arena. He then stabs her, and as Escamillo is acclaimed by the crowds, Carmen dies. José kneels and sings “Ah! Carmen! ma Carmen adorée!”; as the crowd exits the arena, José confesses to killing the woman he loved.
Taormina Ancient Theatre, Wednesday 20th September 2023 @ 9.00pm
DIRECTION: Salvo Dolce
CHOREOGRAPHY: Stefania Cotroneo
ORCHESTRA: Orchestra Filarmonica Della Sicilia
CHORUS: Coro Lirico Mediterraneo
ORGANIZATION: Associazione Culturale Musicale Siciliarte
PLACE: Calabria, south Italy, near Montalto, on the Feast of the Assumption – Time: between 1865 and 1870.
Prologue
During the overture, the curtain rises. From behind a second curtain, Tonio, dressed as his commedia character Taddeo, addresses the audience (Si può?… Si può?… Signore! Signori! … Un nido di memorie). He reminds the audience that actors have feelings too, and that the show is about real people.
Act 1
At three o’clock in the afternoon, the commedia troupe enters the village to the cheering of the villagers. Canio describes the night’s performance: the troubles of Pagliaccio. He says the play will begin at “ventitré ore”, an agricultural method of time-keeping that means the play will begin an hour before sunset. As Nedda steps down from the cart, Tonio offers his hand, but Canio pushes him aside and helps her down himself. The villagers suggest drinking at the tavern. Canio and Beppe accept, but Tonio stays behind. The villagers tease Canio that Tonio is planning an affair with Nedda. Canio warns everyone that while he may act the foolish husband in the play, in real life he will not tolerate other men making advances to Nedda. Shocked, a villager asks if Canio really suspects her. He says no, and sweetly kisses her on the forehead. As the church bells ring vespers, he and Beppe leave for the tavern, leaving Nedda alone.
Nedda is frightened by Canio’s vehemence (Qual fiamma avea nel guardo), but the birdsong comforts her (Stridono lassù). Tonio returns and confesses his love for her, but she laughs. Enraged, Tonio grabs Nedda, but she takes a whip, strikes him and drives him off. Silvio, who is Nedda’s lover, comes from the tavern, where he has left Canio and Beppe drinking. He asks Nedda to elope with him after the performance and, though she is afraid, she agrees. Tonio, who has been eavesdropping, leaves to inform Canio so that he might catch Silvio and Nedda together. Canio and Tonio return and, as Silvio escapes, Nedda calls after him, “I will always be yours!”
Canio chases Silvio, but does not catch him and does not see his face. He demands that Nedda tell him the name of her lover, but she refuses. He threatens her with a knife, but Beppe disarms him. Beppe insists that they prepare for the performance. Tonio tells Canio that her lover will give himself away at the play. Canio is left alone to put on his costume and prepares to laugh (the famous Vesti la giubba – “Put on the costume”).
Act 2
As the crowd arrives, Nedda, costumed as Colombina, collects their money. She whispers a warning to Silvio, and the crowd cheers as the play begins.
Colombina’s husband Pagliaccio has gone away until morning, and Taddeo is at the market. She anxiously awaits her lover Arlecchino, who comes to serenade her from beneath her window. Taddeo returns and confesses his love, but she mocks him. She lets Arlecchino in through the window. He boxes Taddeo’s ears and kicks him out of the room, and the audience laughs.
Arlecchino and Colombina dine, and he gives her a sleeping potion to use later. When Pagliaccio returns, Colombina will drug him and elope with Arlecchino. Taddeo bursts in, warning that Pagliaccio is suspicious of his wife and is about to return. As Arlecchino escapes through the window, Colombina tells him, “I will always be yours!”
As Canio enters, he hears Nedda and exclaims “Name of God! Those same words!” He tries to continue the play, but loses control and demands to know her lover’s name. Nedda, hoping to keep to the performance, calls Canio by his stage name “Pagliaccio,” to remind him of the audience’s presence. He answers with his arietta: No! Pagliaccio non son! He sings that if his face is pale, it is not from the stage makeup but from the shame she has brought him. The crowd, impressed by his emotional performance, which they do not realize is real, cheers him.
Nedda, trying to continue the play, admits that she has been visited by the innocent Arlecchino. Canio, furious and forgetting the play, demands the name of her lover. Nedda swears she will never tell him, and the crowd realizes they are not acting. Silvio begins to fight his way toward the stage. Canio, grabbing a knife from the table, stabs Nedda. As she dies she calls: “Help! Silvio!”. Silvio attacks Canio, but Canio ends up killing him as well. After completing the murders, Canio turns to the horrified audience and proclaims the play’s now famous finishing line:
La Commedia è finita! – “The comedy is finished!”
CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA – Synopsis
Place: A 19th-century Sicilian village Time: Easter morning
Before the action takes place, the young villager Turiddu had returned from military service to find that his fiancée Lola had married the carter Alfio while Turiddu was away.[9] In revenge, Turiddu had seduced Santuzza, a young woman in the village. As the opera begins, Lola, overcome by her jealousy of Santuzza, has begun an adulterous affair with Turiddu.
The main square of the village
Offstage, Turiddu is heard singing The Siciliana – “O Lola, lovely as the spring’s bright blooms”. To one side is the church; to the other is Lucia’s wine shop and the house where she lives with her son, Turiddu. The villagers move about the square, singing of the beautiful spring day (Gli aranci olezzano sui verdi margini – “The air is sweet with orange blossoms”) and a hymn to the Blessed Virgin. Some villagers enter the church, and others wander off still singing.
Santuzza, having slept with Turiddu and suspecting that he has betrayed her for Lola, is distraught and approaches Lucia as she comes out of her house. Santuzza asks for Turiddu, but Lucia replies that he has gone to another town to fetch some wine. Santuzza tells her that he was seen during the night in the village. Lucia asks her inside to talk, but just at that moment Alfio arrives on his wagon, accompanied by the villagers. He praises the joys of a teamster’s life and the beauty of his bride. Alfio asks Lucia for some of her fine old wine. She tells him it has run out and Turiddu has gone away to buy more. Alfio replies that he had seen Turiddu early that morning near his cottage. Lucia starts to express surprise, but Santuzza stops her.
Alfio leaves. The choir inside the church is heard singing the Regina Coeli. Outside, the villagers sing an Easter Hymn, joined by Santuzza. The villagers enter the church, while Santuzza and Lucia remain outside. Lucia asks Santuzza why she signalled her to remain silent when Alfio said that he had seen Turiddu that morning. Santuzza exclaims, Voi lo sapete – “Now you shall know”, and tells Lucia the story of her seduction by Turiddu and his affair with Lola. Lucia pities Santuzza, who the villagers are considering excommunicating for her seduction. Santuzza cannot enter the church, but begs Lucia to go inside and pray for her.
Turiddu arrives. Santuzza upbraids him for pretending to have gone away, when he was actually seeing Lola. Lola enters the square singing. She mocks Santuzza and goes inside the church. Turiddu turns to follow Lola, but Santuzza begs him to stay. Turiddu pushes her away. She clings to him. He loosens her hands, throws her to the ground, and enters the church. Alfio arrives looking for Lola. Santuzza tells him that his wife has betrayed him with Turiddu. Alfio swears to take vendetta (revenge) which causes Santuzza to repent for having disclosed the affair and begs Alfio to stop to no avail.
The square is empty as the orchestra plays the famous Intermezzo.
The villagers come out of the church. Turiddu is in high spirits because he is with Lola and Santuzza appears to have gone. He invites his friends to his mother’s wine shop where he sings a drinking song, Viva, il vino spumeggiante – “Hail to the bubbling wine!”. Alfio joins them. Turiddu offers him wine, but he refuses it. All understand that trouble is in the air. The women leave, taking Lola with them. In a brief exchange of words, Alfio challenges Turiddu to a duel. Following Sicilian custom, the two men embrace, and Turiddu, in a token of acceptance, bites Alfio’s ear, drawing blood which signifies a fight to the death. Alfio leaves and Turiddu calls Lucia back. He tells her that he is going outside to get some air and asks that she be a kindly mother to Santuzza if he should not return: Un bacio, mamma! Un altro bacio!—Addio! – “One kiss, mother! One more kiss! – Farewell!”.
Turiddu rushes out. Lucia, weeping, wanders aimlessly around outside her house. Santuzza approaches and throws her arms around her. The villagers start to crowd around. Voices are heard in the distance and a woman cries, “They have murdered Turiddu!” Santuzza faints and Lucia collapses in the arms of the women villagers.
Ancient Theatre, Saturday 2nd September 2023 @ 9.30 pm
Andrea Bocelli (1958) is an Italian tenor and multi-instrumentalist. He was born visually impaired, with congenital glaucoma, and at the age of 12, Bocelli became completely blind, following a brain hemorrhage resulting from a football accident. After performing evenings in piano bars and competing in local singing contests, Bocelli signed his first recording contract with the Sugar Music label. He rose to fame in 1994, winning the newcomer’s section of the 44th Sanremo Music Festival performing “Il mare calmo della sera”.
Since 1994, Bocelli has recorded 15 solo studio albums of both pop and classical music, three greatest hits albums, and nine complete operas, selling over 75 million records worldwide. He has had success as a crossover performer, bringing classical music to the top of international pop charts.
TICKETS on vivaticket and ticketone
Platea : € 460,00
Gallery: € 322,00
Upper Circle Gold (numbered seats): from € 207,00
Upper Circle (numbered seats): from € 167,00
Upper Circle (non numbered circle): from € 98,00
tAORMINA Ancient Theatre, Friday 1st September 2023 @ 9.30 pm
Andrea Bocelli (1958) is an Italian tenor and multi-instrumentalist. He was born visually impaired, with congenital glaucoma, and at the age of 12, Bocelli became completely blind, following a brain hemorrhage resulting from a football accident. After performing evenings in piano bars and competing in local singing contests, Bocelli signed his first recording contract with the Sugar Music label. He rose to fame in 1994, winning the newcomer’s section of the 44th Sanremo Music Festival performing “Il mare calmo della sera”.
Since 1994, Bocelli has recorded 15 solo studio albums of both pop and classical music, three greatest hits albums, and nine complete operas, selling over 75 million records worldwide. He has had success as a crossover performer, bringing classical music to the top of international pop charts.
TICKETS on ticketone
Platea: € 322,00
Gallery: € 207,00
Upper Circle (numbered seats): € 167,00
Upper Circle (non numbered circle): 98,00
Ancient Theatre, Wednesday 30th August 2023 @ 9.00pm
Robert Anthony Plant (born 1948) is an English singer and songwriter, best known as the lead singer and lyricist of the rock band Led Zeppelin for all of its existence from 1968 until 1980. Regarded by many as one of the greatest singers in rock music, he is known for his flamboyant persona and raw stage performances.
https://www.taormina.it/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/TAORMINA-2-Custom.png00taormina-friendshttps://www.taormina.it/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/TAORMINA-2-Custom.pngtaormina-friends2022-08-28 00:04:442023-03-23 12:30:30Venditti and De Gregori
Madame (born 2002) is an Italian rapper and singer-songwriter.
Among her influences, Madame cites singer-songwriter Fabrizio De André, trap music and, despite not having southern Italian origins, Sicilian neomelodic music. Instrumental music also played an important role in her artistic development, with artists such as Ludovico Einaudi and Van Halen. In 2019, her musical style was described as “urban, a very wide container in which trap and rap can merge, together with several other contemporary sounds”.
TICKETS on ticketone and boxol
Platea: € 69,00
Gallery: € 59,00
Upper Circle (numbered seats): € 49,00
Upper Circle (non numbered circle): 39,00
Taormina Events 2023
DISCLAIMER
The information and material on this website is general in nature and is intended for your touristic use and information. We try our best to constantly update our contents. The Taormina Friends Club accepts no responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of any information contained herein and recommends that users exercise their own skill and care with respect to its uses. You must not assume that this website and its contents are error-free, as events dates might be changed without notice, or that the contents will be suitable for the particular purpose that you had in mind when using them. This website contains references and links to other internet sites which contain information collated and presented by other parties, events websites government agencies, third-party organisations and individuals. Taormina Friends Club does not warrant or represent that linked sites are complete, current, reliable or free from error. Taormina Friends Club does not accept responsibility or liability for any loss, damage, cost or expense you might incur as a result of the use of or reliance upon materials in the linked sites.
REGULARLY HELD MARKETS
M0nday to Saturday (8.00am – 1.00pm)
Via Don Giovanni Minzoni – Taormina
Small market hall with stands of fruit, meat, fish, cheese and flowers
Every Wednesday (8.00am – 1.00pm)
Via Leonardo Da Vinci and via Wilhelm Von Gloeden – Taormina
eekly market with stands of shoes, clothes, households items, fruit, vegetables and more.
Monday to Saturday (5.00am – 12.00pm)
Behind Piazza Duomo – Catania
Famous fish market located in a pictoresque setting. Fish, meet, cheese and veg presented by enthusiastic market criers. Good restaurants all around.
PERMANENT MUSEUMS
Casa del Cinema
Museum that hosts posters and photographs of the film shot in Taormina. It is open every day from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10.00am to 10.00pm. Free entrance
It hosts the ticket office of the Fondazione Taormina Arte, where it is possible to purchase the tickets for most of the events held at the Ancient Theatre and at the Odeon
Address: Corso Umberto I n. 63 – Mobile: 0039 391 746 2146 – www.facebook.com/casadelcinemataormina
JANUARY
January 1/6 – TAO CHRISTMAS FEST
January 1/8 – Living Nativity Scene – Trappitello
January 1/15 – Art Exhibition “4around”
January 1 – New Year’s Concert Town of Taormina – Congress Hall
January 5 – Jazz Concert by the Taormina Jazz Association – Congress Hall
January 20 / March 19 – Paint Exhibition “Teatròs” by Pedro Cano – Palazzo Ciampoli
FEBRUARY
February 1 / March 19 – Paint Exhibition “Teatròs” by Pedro Cano – Palazzo Ciampoli
MARCH
March 1-19 – Paint Exhibition “Teatròs” by Pedro Cano – Palazzo Ciampoli
APRIL
April 5 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
April 7 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
April 12 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
April 14 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
April 19 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
April 21 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
April 22/July 30 – Miss Mabel Hill, Exhibition – Hall Giovanni di Giovanni, piazza IX aprile
April 26 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
April 27 – Photo Exhibition “Taormina I Love you” – Palazzo Duchi di Santo Stefano
April 28 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
April 30 – Sicilia in Festa a Taormina – Sicilian horse carts parade
April 30 – International Jazz Day > Mimmo Cafiero Open Band – Excelsior Palace Hotel
MAY
May – Photo Exhibition “Taormina I Love you” – Palazzo Duchi di Santo Stefano
May 1/July 30 – Miss Mabel Hill, Exhibition – Hall Giovanni di Giovanni, piazza IX aprile
May 1 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
May 2 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
May 3 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
May 4 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
May 5 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
May 8 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
May 9 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
May 10 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
May 11 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
May 12 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
May 15 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
May 16 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
May 17 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
May 18 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
May 19 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
May 22 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
May 23 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
May 24 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
May 25 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
May 26 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
May 29 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
May 30 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
May 31 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
JUNE
June 1/July 30 – Miss Mabel Hill, Exhibition – Hall Giovanni di Giovanni, piazza IX aprile
June 1 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
June 2 – Free entrance to the Ancient Theatre (National Holiday)
June 2 – Modà – Ancient Theatre
June 2 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
June 3 – Guided tour of the Victoria Natural Gardens
June 3 – International Music Festival 5th ed. – Classical and Opera – Teatro Nazarena > Music by Ceyan, Debussy, Kodaly – Nazarena Theatre
June 4 – Free entrance at the Ancient Theatre (first Sunday of June) till 11.00pm
June 4 – Guided tour of the Victoria Natural Gardens
June 5 – Night opening of the Ancient Theatre
June 5 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
June 6 – Night opening of the Ancient Theatre
June 6 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
June 7 – Night opening of the Ancient Theatre
June 7 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
June 8 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
June 9 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
June 10 – International Music Festival 5th ed. – Classical and Opera – Teatro Nazarena > Music by Puccini, Rossini, Strauss, Bizet – Nazarena Theatre
June 11 – Night opening of the Ancient Theatre
June 12 – Night opening of the Ancient Theatre
June 12 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
June 13 – Night opening of the Ancient Theatre
June 13 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
June 14 – Giorgia – Ancient Theatre (to be confirmed)
June 14 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
June 15/19 – Taormina Book Festival – 13th ed.
June 15 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
June 16 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
June 17 – International Music Festival 5th ed. – Classical and Opera – Teatro Nazarena > Music by Carcassi, Tarrega, Procaccini – Nazarena Theatre
June 18 – David Garrett – Ancient Theatre
June 19 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
June 20 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
June 21 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
June 22 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
——
June 23/ July 1 – TAORMINA FILM FEST, 69th ed. and Nastri D’Argento Award
——
June 23 – Taormina FilmFest > The Wizard Of Oz (1939) – Congress Hall, 10:00am
June 23 – Taormina FilmFest > The Awful Truth (1937) – Casa del Cinema, 11:00
June 23 – Taormina FilmFest > 4:44 Last Day On Earth (2011) – Congress Hall, 12:15pm
June 23 – Taormina FilmFest > Trading Places (1983) – Congress Hall, 2:15pm
June 23 – Taormina FilmFest > City Lights (1931) – Casa del Cinema, 3:30pm
June 23 – Taormina FilmFest > 300 (2006) – Congress Hall, 5:45pm
June 23 – Taormina FilmFest > Pavarotti Forever – Ancient Theatre, 9.30pm
June 23 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
June 24 – Taormina FilmFest > The Shining (1980) – Congress Hall, 09:30am
June 24 – Taormina FilmFest > Monty Python’s Life Of Brian (1979) – Casa del Cinema, 11:00am
June 24 – Taormina FilmFest > The Blues Brothers (1980) – Congress Hall, 12:30pm
June 24 – Taormina FilmFest > The Fugitive (1993) – Congress Hall, 3:15pm
June 24 – Taormina FilmFest > Vulcanoidi – Casa del Cinema, 3:30pm
June 24 – Taormina FilmFest > Go Go Tales (2007) – Congress Hall, 6:00pm
June 24 – Taormina FilmFest > The Undecided Groom, Who Couldn’t Or Wouldn’t Leave The Bathroom – Ancient Theatre, 9:00pm
June 24 – International Music Festival 5th ed. – Classical and Opera – Teatro Nazarena > Music by Piazzolla, Puccini, Di Capua – Nazarena Theatre
June 25 – Taormina FilmFest > An American Werewolf In London (1981) – Congress Hall, 09:00am
June 25 – Taormina FilmFest > Way Out West (1939) – Casa del Cinema, 11:00
June 25 – Taormina FilmFest > New Rose Hotel (1998) – Congress Hall, 11:15am
June 25 – Taormina FilmFest > Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone (2001) – Congress Hall, 1:15pm
June 25 – Taormina FilmFest > Dr. Strangelove (1964) – Casa del Cinema, 15:30
June 25 – Taormina FilmFest > Ben-Hur (1959) – Congress Hall, 16:15
June 25 – Taormina FilmFest > Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny – Ancient Theatre, 9.00pm
June 26 – Taormina FilmFest > Pasolini (2014) – Congress hall, 10:00am
June 26 – Taormina FilmFest > His Girl Friday (1940) – Casa del Cinema, 11:00am
June 26 – Taormina FilmFest > National Lampoon’s Animal House (1979) – Congress Hall, 12:00
June 26 – Taormina FilmFest > An American In Paris (1951) – Congress Hall, 2:15
June 26 – Taormina FilmFest > Maestrale – Casa del Cinema, 3:30
June 26 – Taormina FilmFest > Amadeus (1984) – Congress Hall, 5:15pm
June 26 – Taormina FilmFest > Masterclass – John Landis > “Comedy in film” – Casa Cuseni, 6.00pm
June 26 – Taormina FilmFest > A Thousand And One – Ancient Theatre, 9:00pm
June 26 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
June 27 – Taormina FilmFest > Sportin’ Life (2021) – Congress Hall, 10:00am
June 27 – Taormina FilmFest > Duck Soup (1933) – Casa del Cinema, 11:00am
June 27 – Taormina FilmFest > 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) – Congress Hall, 12:00
June 27 – Taormina FilmFest > Coming To America (1988) – Congress Hall, 3:00pm
June 27 – Taormina FilmFest > Jason Brown – Casa del Cinema, 3:30pm
June 27 – Taormina FilmFest > A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) – Congress Hall, 5:30pm
June 27 – Taormina FilmFest > Influential Shorts – Ancient Teatre, 9:00pm
June 27 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
June 28 – Taormina FilmFest > Three Amigos (1986) – Congress Hall, 09:00am
June 28 – Taormina FilmFest > Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory (1971) – Congress Hall, 11:15am
June 28 – Taormina FilmFest > Masterclass – Bella Thorne & Friends > The New Generation: Film And The Role Of Social Media – Congress Hall @ 12:00
June 28 – Taormina FilmFest > Troy (2004) – Congress Hall 1:30pm
June 28 – Taormina FilmFest > Siberia (2020) – Congress Hall, 5:15pm
June 28 – Taormina FilmFest > Billie’s Magic World – Ancient Theatre, 9:00pm
June 28 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
June 29 – Taormina FilmFest > Tommaso (2019 ) – Congress Hall, 10:00am
June 29 – Taormina FilmFest > Masterclass > Deborah Nadoolman Landis in “The Transformation of Film through Costume Design” – Casa Cuseni, 10:30am
June 29 – Taormina FilmFest > Spies Like Us (1985) – Congress Hall, 12:30pm
June 29 – Taormina FilmFest > Inception (2010) – Congress Hall, 2:45pm
June 29 – Taormina FilmFest > Little Richard: I Am Everything – Casa del Cinema, 3.00pm
June 29 – Taormina FilmFest > SHTTL – Congress Hall, 5.45pm
June 29 – Taormina FilmFest > The Worst Days – Ancient Theatre, 9.00pm
June 29 – Taormina FilmFest > The Vandal – Ancient Theatre, 10.45pm
June 29 – Taormina FilmFest > Divinity – Ancient Theatre, 11.00pm
June 29 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
June 30 – Taormina FilmFest > North By Northwest (1959) – Congress Hall, 10:00am
June 30 – Taormina FilmFest > The Bodyguard (1992) – Congress Hall 12:45pm
June 30 – Taormina FilmFest > Into The Night (1985) – Congress Hall, 3:30pm
June 30 – Taormina FilmFest > Kind Hearts And Coronets (1949) – Casa del Cinema, 3:30pm
June 30 – Taormina FilmFest > Casablanca (1942) – Congress Hall, 6:00pm
June 30 – Taormina FilmFest > Jeanne Du Barry – Ancient Theatre, 9:00pm
June 30 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
JULY
July 1 – Taormina FilmFest > The Dark Knight (2008) – Congress Hall, 10:00am
July 1 – Taormina FilmFest > Bridesmaids (2011) – Casa del Cinema, 11:00am
July 1 – Taormina FilmFest > Masterclass – Willem Dafoe & Abel Ferrara in “A Life of Collaboration” – Grand Hotel Timeo
July 1 – Taormina FilmFest > Lethal Weapon (1987) – Congress Hall, 1:00pm
July 1 – Taormina FilmFest > Oscar (1991) – Congress Hall, 15:15
July 1 – Taormina FilmFest > Singin’ In The Rain (1952) – Casa del Cinema, 3:30
July 1 – Taormina FilmFest > The Matrix (1999) – Congress Hall, 5:30pm
July 1 – Taormina FilmFest > Nastri D’argento Awards. La Stranezza – Ancient Theatre, 9:00pm
July 1/30 – Miss Mabel Hill, Exhibition – Hall Giovanni di Giovanni, piazza IX aprile
July 1 – International Music Festival 5th ed. – Classical and Opera – Teatro Nazarena > Music by Mozart, Bach, Puccini, Chopin, Brahms
July 2 – Homage to Maria Callas – Ancient Theatre con with Anna Netrebko and Yusif Eyvazov (to be confirmed)
July 3 – Night opening of the Ancient Theatre
July 3 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
July 4 – Night opening of the Ancient Theatre
July 4 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
July 5 – Night opening of the Ancient Theatre
July 5 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
July 6 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
July 7 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
July 8 – Il Trittico by G. Puccini – Ancient Theatre
July 8 – Art Exhibition “Finestra a Sud” by Alessandro Florio – Casa del Cinema
July 8 – International Music Festival 5th ed. – Classical and Opera – Teatro Nazarena > Music by Puccini, Verdi, Donizetti
July 9 – 16th ed. of the “Nations Awards” – Gala evening – Ancient Theatre (to be confirmed)
July 10 – Checco Zalone in “Amore + Iva”- Ancient Theatre
July 10 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
July 11- Checco Zalone in “Amore + Iva” – Ancient Theatre
July 11 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
July 12 – Pinchas Zukerman – Ancient Theatre
July 12 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
July 13 – Il Trittico by G. Puccini – Ancient Theatre
July 13 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
July 14 – Festival del Film Archeologico – Ancient Theatre (to be confirmed)
July 14 – “Across the river and among the trees” Prose and multivision show (to be confirmed)
July 14 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
July 15 – Taomoda – Gala Awards (to be confirmed)
July 15 – International Music Festival 5th ed. – Classical and Opera – Teatro Nazarena > Music by Verdi, Puccini, Rossini, Bellini
July 16 – Festival of the Archaeological Film (to be confirmed)
July 17 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
July 18 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
July 19-22 – Cavalleria Rusticana, Pagliacci, Carmen – Ancient Theatre (to be confirmed)
July 19 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
July 20 – “Radici” Dance show – Taormina Public Gardens (to be confirmed)
July 20 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
July 21 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
July 21 – Turandot by Giacomo Puccini – Ancient Theatre
July 22 – Planet Funk – Ancient Theatre (to be confirmed)
July 22 – International Music Festival 5th ed. – Classical and Opera – Teatro Nazarena > Music by Beethoven, Debussy, Schubert
July 23 – Turandot by Giacomo Puccini – Ancient Theatre
July 24 – University graduation ceremony, City of Messina – Ancient Theatre (to be confirmed)
July 24 – “Francesco, the jester who invented the crib” Prose show (to be confirmed)
July 24 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
July 25 – “The music of Burt Bacharach” – The Brass Group & Orchestra Teatro Massimo di Palermo – Ancient Theatre (to be confirmed)
July 25 – The Four Seasons Multimedia show with I Solisti Aquilani (to be confirmed)
July 25 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
July 26 – “Giulietta” dance show with Eleonora Abbagnato – Ancient Theatre
July 26 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
July 27 – Steward Copeland – Ancient Theatre
July 27 – “I will watch over you. I will protect you”, tribute to Gabriele D’Annunzio (to be confirmed)
July 28 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
July 29 – Roberto Bolle and friends – Ancient Theatre
July 29 – International Music Festival 5th ed. – Classical and Opera – Teatro Nazarena > Music by Frank Sinatra
July 30 – Gala with Nadine Serra e il Teatro Massimo Vincenzo Bellini di Catania- Ancient Theatre (to be confirmed)
July 31 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
AUGUST
August 1/31 – Art Exhibition “Finestra a Sud” by Alessandro Florio – Casa del Cinema
August 1 – Gigi D’Alessio – Ancient Theatre
August 1 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
August 2 – Max Gazzè and the Sicilian Jazz Orchestra – Ancient Theatre (to be confirmed)
August 2 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
August 3 – Eros Ramazzotti – Ancient Theatre
August 3 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
August 4 – Jimmy Sax and the Symphonic dance Orchestra
August 4 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
August 5 – Eros Ramazzotti – Ancient Theatre
August 6 – Eros Ramazzotti – Ancient Theatre
August 7 – Angelo Duro – Ancient Theatre
August 7 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
August 8 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
August 9 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
August 10 – Gianni Morandi – Ancient Theatre
August 10 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
August 11 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
August 12 – Night opening of the Ancient Theatre
August 13 – Night opening of the Ancient Theatre
August 14 – Night opening of the Ancient Theatre
August 14 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
August 15 – Night opening of the Ancient Theatre
August 15 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
August 16 – “Cavalleria Rusticana” and “I Pagliacci”, two operas by Pietro Mascagni – Ancient Theatre
August 16 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
August 17 – Past/Forward, a ballet with Jacopo Tissi – Ancient Theatre
August 17 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
August 18 – “Cavalleria Rusticana” and “I Pagliacci”, two operas by Pietro Mascagni – Ancient Theatre
August 18 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
August 19 – Tosca – Ancient Theatre
August 20 – Tosca – Ancient Theatre (to be confirmed)
August 21/24 – Festival dei Teatri di Pietra – Ancient Theatre (to be confirmed)
August 21 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
August 22 – Pink Floyd Tribute – Ancient >Theatre
August 22 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
August 23 – Ennio Morricone Tribute – Ancient Theatre
August 23 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
August 24 – La Traviata – Ancient Theatre
August 24 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
August 25 – Madame – Ancient Theatre
August 25 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
August 26 – Renga Nek – Ancient Theatre
August 27 – Biagio Antonacci – Ancient Theatre (to be confirmed)
August 27 – Levante – Ancient Theatre (to be confirmed)
August 28 – Venditti & De Gregori – Ancient Theatre
August 29 – Night opening of the Ancient Theatre
August 30 – Robert Plant – Ancient Theatre
SEPTEMBER
September 1 – Andrea Bocelli – Ancient Theatre
September 1 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
September 2 – Andrea Bocelli – Ancient Theatre
September 3 – Achille Lauro – Ancient Theatre (to be confirmed)
September 4 – Brunori Sas – Ancient Theatre (to be confirmed)
September 4 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
September 5 – Kim Hyun Joong – Ancient Theatre (to be confirmed)
September 5 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
September 6 – “Eroina, Donne alla Guerra di Troia” – Ancient Theatre (to be confirmed)
September 6 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
September 7 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
September 8 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
September 10 – Una ragazza per il Cinema – Ancient Theatre (to be confirmed)
September 11 – Sicilian Symphonic Orchestra – Ancient Theatre (to be confirmed)
September 11 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
September 12 – Sicilian Symphonic Orchestra – Ancient Theatre (to be confirmed)
September 12 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
September 13 – Ars Antiqua Music Academy – Ancient Theatre (to be confirmed)
September 13 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
September 13 – Concerto per violino e orchestra “Ludvig Van Beethoven op.61” e Sinfonia “Dal Nuovo Mondo” di A. Dvofak (to be confirmed)
September 14 – Elodie – Ancient Theatre (to be confirmed)
September 14 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
September 15 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
September 16 – GdS Show – Ancient Theatre (to be confirmed)
September 18 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
September 19 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
September 20 – I Pagliacci / Cavalleria Rusticana – Ancient Theatre
September 20 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
September 21 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
September 22 – Carmen – Ancient Theatre
September 22 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
September 23 – Umberto Tozzi – Ancient Theatre
September 24 – “Balletto di Sicilia” – Ancient Theatre (to be confirmed)
September 25 – “Balletto di Sicilia” – Ancient Theatre (to be confirmed)
September 25 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
September 26 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
September 27 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
September 28 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
September 29 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
OCTOBER
October 2 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
October 3 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
October 4 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
October 5 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
October 6 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
October 9 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
October 10 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
October 11 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
October 12 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
October 13 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
October 16 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
October 17 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
October 18 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
October 19 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
October 20 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
October 23 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
October 24 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
October 25 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
October 26 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
October 27 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
October 30 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
October 31 – Italian Opera Taormina – Nazarena Theatre
NOVEMBER
November 4 – Free entrance to the Taormina Ancient Theatre (National Holiday)
WHERE TO STAY
Hotel La Pensione Svizzera – Hotel Villa Schuler – Hotel Villa Ducale – Hotel Villa Carlotta
September 23, 2023 – Umberto Tozzi
Umberto Tozzi
GLORIA forever – Il Tour
Ancient Theatre, Saturday 23rd September 2023 @ 9.30pm
Umberto Antonio Tozzi (1952) is an Italian pop and rock singer and composer. Over the course of his career, he has sold over 70 million records in different languages internationally, and his biggest international hits are: “Stella Stai”, “Gloria”, “Tu” and “Ti Amo”.
TICKETS on ticketone and boxol
Platea: € 69,00
Gallery: € 59,00
Upper Circle (numbered seats): € 49,00
Upper Circle (non numbered circle): 29,00
MORE INFO
www.umbertotozzi.com
WHERE TO STAY
Hotel La Pensione Svizzera – Hotel Villa Schuler – Hotel Villa Ducale – Hotel Villa Carlotta
September 22, 2023 – Carmen
S I C I L I A C L A S S I C A F E S T I V A L
Carmen
Taormina Ancient Theatre, Friday 22nd September 2023 @ 9.00pm
DIRECTION: Salvo Dolce
CHOREOGRAPHY: Stefania Cotroneo
THEATRE DIRECTOR: Alessandra Pipitone
ORCHESTRA: Orchestra Filarmonica Della Sicilia
CHORUS: Coro Lirico Mediterraneo
ORGANIZATION: Associazione Culturale Musicale Siciliarte
Carmen is an opera in four acts by the French composer Georges Bizet. The libretto was written by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on a novella of the same title by Prosper Mérimée.
The opera, written in the genre of opéra comique, tells the story of the downfall of Don José, a naïve soldier who is seduced by the wiles of the fiery Gypsy, Carmen. José abandons his childhood sweetheart and deserts from his military duties, yet loses Carmen’s love to the glamorous toreador Escamillo, after which José kills her in a jealous rage.
The music of Carmen has been widely acclaimed for its brilliance of melody, harmony, atmosphere and orchestration, and for the skill with which Bizet musically represented the emotions and suffering of his characters. After the composer’s death the score was subject to significant amendment, including the introduction of recitative in place of the original dialogue; there is no standard edition of the opera, and different views exist as to what versions best express Bizet’s intentions.
TICKETS on Vivaticket
Gallery (most lateral): € 78,54
Gallery (inner lateral): € 89,76
Gallery (central): 100,98
Cavea (Upper Circle), lateral: € 67,32
Cavea (Upper Circle), central: € 78,54
Cavea (Upper Circle, non-numbered seats): 39,27
SYNOPSIS
Place: Seville, Spain, and surrounding hills – Time: Around 1820
Act 1 – A square, in Seville. On the right, a door to the tobacco factory. At the back, a bridge. On the left, a guardhouse
A group of soldiers relaxes in the square, waiting for the changing of the guard and commenting on the passers-by (“Sur la place, chacun passe”). Micaëla appears, seeking José. Moralès tells her that “José is not yet on duty” and invites her to wait with them. She declines, saying she will return later. José arrives with the new guard, which is greeted and imitated by a crowd of urchins (“Avec la garde montante”). A lithograph of act 1 in the premiere performance, by Pierre-Auguste Lamy, 1875
As the factory bell rings, the cigarette girls emerge and exchange banter with young men in the crowd (“La cloche a sonné”). Carmen enters and sings her provocative habanera on the untameable nature of love (“L’amour est un oiseau rebelle”). The men plead with her to choose a lover, and after some teasing she throws a flower to Don José, who thus far has been ignoring her but is now annoyed by her insolence.
As the women go back to the factory, Micaëla returns and gives José a letter and a kiss from his mother (“Parle-moi de ma mère!”). He reads that his mother wants him to return home and marry Micaëla, who retreats in shy embarrassment on learning this. Just as José declares that he is ready to heed his mother’s wishes, the women stream from the factory in great agitation. Zuniga, the officer of the guard, learns that Carmen has attacked a woman with a knife. When challenged, Carmen answers with mocking defiance (“Tra la la… Coupe-moi, brûle-moi”); Zuniga orders José to tie her hands while he prepares the prison warrant. Left alone with José, Carmen beguiles him with a seguidilla, in which she sings of a night of dancing and passion with her lover—whoever that may be—in Lillas Pastia’s tavern. Confused yet mesmerised, José agrees to free her hands; as she is led away she pushes her escort to the ground and runs off laughing. José is arrested for dereliction of duty.
Act 2 – Lillas Pastia’s Inn
A month has passed. Carmen and her friends Frasquita and Mercédès are entertaining Zuniga and other officers (“Les tringles des sistres tintaient”) in Pastia’s inn. Carmen is delighted to learn of José’s release from a month’s detention. Outside, a chorus and procession announces the arrival of the toreador Escamillo (“Vivat, vivat le Toréro”). Invited inside, he introduces himself with the “Toreador Song” (“Votre toast, je peux vous le rendre”) and sets his sights on Carmen, who brushes him aside. Lillas Pastia hustles the crowds and the soldiers away.
When only Carmen, Frasquita and Mercédès remain, the smugglers Dancaïre and Remendado arrive and reveal their plans to dispose of some recently acquired contraband (“Nous avons en tête une affaire”). Frasquita and Mercédès are keen to help them, but Carmen refuses, since she wishes to wait for José. After the smugglers leave, José arrives. Carmen treats him to a private exotic dance (“Je vais danser en votre honneur … La la la”), but her song is joined by a distant bugle call from the barracks. When José says he must return to duty, she mocks him, and he answers by showing her the flower that she threw to him in the square (“La fleur que tu m’avais jetée”). Unconvinced, Carmen demands he shows his love by leaving with her. José refuses to desert, but as he prepares to depart, Zuniga enters looking for Carmen. He and José fight, and are separated by the returning smugglers, who restrain Zuniga. Having attacked a superior officer, José now has no choice but to join Carmen and the smugglers (“Suis-nous à travers la campagne”).
Act 3 – A wild spot in the mountains Magdalena Kožená and Jonas Kaufmann at the Salzburg Festival 2012
Carmen and José enter with the smugglers and their booty (“Écoute, écoute, compagnons”); Carmen has now become bored with José and tells him scornfully that he should go back to his mother. Frasquita and Mercédès amuse themselves by reading their fortunes from the cards; Carmen joins them and finds that the cards are foretelling her death, and José’s. The women depart to suborn the customs officers who are watching the locality. José is placed on guard duty.
Micaëla enters with a guide, seeking José and determined to rescue him from Carmen (“Je dis que rien ne m’épouvante”). On hearing a gunshot she hides in fear; it is José, who has fired at an intruder who proves to be Escamillo. José’s pleasure at meeting the bullfighter turns to anger when Escamillo declares his infatuation with Carmen. The pair fight (“Je suis Escamillo, toréro de Grenade”), but are interrupted by the returning smugglers and girls (“Holà, holà José”). As Escamillo leaves he invites everyone to his next bullfight in Seville. Micaëla is discovered; at first, José will not leave with her despite Carmen’s mockery, but he agrees to go when told that his mother is dying. As he departs, vowing he will return, Escamillo is heard in the distance, singing the toreador’s song.
Act 4 – A square in Seville. At the back, the walls of an ancient amphitheatre
Zuniga, Frasquita and Mercédès are among the crowd awaiting the arrival of the bullfighters (“Les voici ! Voici la quadrille!”). Escamillo enters with Carmen, and they express their mutual love (“Si tu m’aimes, Carmen”). As Escamillo goes into the arena, Frasquita warns Carmen that José is nearby, but Carmen is unafraid and willing to speak to him. Alone, she is confronted by the desperate José (“C’est toi ! C’est moi !”). While he pleads vainly for her to return to him, cheers are heard from the arena. As José makes his last entreaty, Carmen contemptuously throws down the ring he gave her and attempts to enter the arena. He then stabs her, and as Escamillo is acclaimed by the crowds, Carmen dies. José kneels and sings “Ah! Carmen! ma Carmen adorée!”; as the crowd exits the arena, José confesses to killing the woman he loved.
MORE INFO
Sicilia Classica Festival – info@siciliaclassicafestival.it
WHERE TO STAY
Hotel La Pensione Svizzera – Hotel Villa Schuler – Hotel Villa Ducale – Hotel Villa Carlotta
September 20, 2023 – Pagliacci and Cavalleria Rusticana
S I C I L I A C L A S S I C A F E S T I V A L
PAGLIACCI
An Opera by Ruggero Leoncavallo
a n d
CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA
An Opera by Pietro Mascagni
Taormina Ancient Theatre, Wednesday 20th September 2023 @ 9.00pm
DIRECTION: Salvo Dolce
CHOREOGRAPHY: Stefania Cotroneo
ORCHESTRA: Orchestra Filarmonica Della Sicilia
CHORUS: Coro Lirico Mediterraneo
ORGANIZATION: Associazione Culturale Musicale Siciliarte
TICKETS on Vivaticket
Gallery (most lateral): € 78,54
Gallery (inner lateral): € 89,76
Gallery (central): 100,98
Cavea (Upper Circle), lateral: € 67,32
Cavea (Upper Circle), central: € 78,54
Cavea (Upper Circle, non-numbered seats): 39,27
PAGLIACCI – Synopsis
PLACE: Calabria, south Italy, near Montalto, on the Feast of the Assumption – Time: between 1865 and 1870.
Prologue
During the overture, the curtain rises. From behind a second curtain, Tonio, dressed as his commedia character Taddeo, addresses the audience (Si può?… Si può?… Signore! Signori! … Un nido di memorie). He reminds the audience that actors have feelings too, and that the show is about real people.
Act 1
At three o’clock in the afternoon, the commedia troupe enters the village to the cheering of the villagers. Canio describes the night’s performance: the troubles of Pagliaccio. He says the play will begin at “ventitré ore”, an agricultural method of time-keeping that means the play will begin an hour before sunset. As Nedda steps down from the cart, Tonio offers his hand, but Canio pushes him aside and helps her down himself. The villagers suggest drinking at the tavern. Canio and Beppe accept, but Tonio stays behind. The villagers tease Canio that Tonio is planning an affair with Nedda. Canio warns everyone that while he may act the foolish husband in the play, in real life he will not tolerate other men making advances to Nedda. Shocked, a villager asks if Canio really suspects her. He says no, and sweetly kisses her on the forehead. As the church bells ring vespers, he and Beppe leave for the tavern, leaving Nedda alone.
Nedda is frightened by Canio’s vehemence (Qual fiamma avea nel guardo), but the birdsong comforts her (Stridono lassù). Tonio returns and confesses his love for her, but she laughs. Enraged, Tonio grabs Nedda, but she takes a whip, strikes him and drives him off. Silvio, who is Nedda’s lover, comes from the tavern, where he has left Canio and Beppe drinking. He asks Nedda to elope with him after the performance and, though she is afraid, she agrees. Tonio, who has been eavesdropping, leaves to inform Canio so that he might catch Silvio and Nedda together. Canio and Tonio return and, as Silvio escapes, Nedda calls after him, “I will always be yours!”
Canio chases Silvio, but does not catch him and does not see his face. He demands that Nedda tell him the name of her lover, but she refuses. He threatens her with a knife, but Beppe disarms him. Beppe insists that they prepare for the performance. Tonio tells Canio that her lover will give himself away at the play. Canio is left alone to put on his costume and prepares to laugh (the famous Vesti la giubba – “Put on the costume”).
Act 2
As the crowd arrives, Nedda, costumed as Colombina, collects their money. She whispers a warning to Silvio, and the crowd cheers as the play begins.
Colombina’s husband Pagliaccio has gone away until morning, and Taddeo is at the market. She anxiously awaits her lover Arlecchino, who comes to serenade her from beneath her window. Taddeo returns and confesses his love, but she mocks him. She lets Arlecchino in through the window. He boxes Taddeo’s ears and kicks him out of the room, and the audience laughs.
Arlecchino and Colombina dine, and he gives her a sleeping potion to use later. When Pagliaccio returns, Colombina will drug him and elope with Arlecchino. Taddeo bursts in, warning that Pagliaccio is suspicious of his wife and is about to return. As Arlecchino escapes through the window, Colombina tells him, “I will always be yours!”
As Canio enters, he hears Nedda and exclaims “Name of God! Those same words!” He tries to continue the play, but loses control and demands to know her lover’s name. Nedda, hoping to keep to the performance, calls Canio by his stage name “Pagliaccio,” to remind him of the audience’s presence. He answers with his arietta: No! Pagliaccio non son! He sings that if his face is pale, it is not from the stage makeup but from the shame she has brought him. The crowd, impressed by his emotional performance, which they do not realize is real, cheers him.
Nedda, trying to continue the play, admits that she has been visited by the innocent Arlecchino. Canio, furious and forgetting the play, demands the name of her lover. Nedda swears she will never tell him, and the crowd realizes they are not acting. Silvio begins to fight his way toward the stage. Canio, grabbing a knife from the table, stabs Nedda. As she dies she calls: “Help! Silvio!”. Silvio attacks Canio, but Canio ends up killing him as well. After completing the murders, Canio turns to the horrified audience and proclaims the play’s now famous finishing line:
La Commedia è finita! – “The comedy is finished!”
CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA – Synopsis
Place: A 19th-century Sicilian village Time: Easter morning
Before the action takes place, the young villager Turiddu had returned from military service to find that his fiancée Lola had married the carter Alfio while Turiddu was away.[9] In revenge, Turiddu had seduced Santuzza, a young woman in the village. As the opera begins, Lola, overcome by her jealousy of Santuzza, has begun an adulterous affair with Turiddu.
The main square of the village
Offstage, Turiddu is heard singing The Siciliana – “O Lola, lovely as the spring’s bright blooms”. To one side is the church; to the other is Lucia’s wine shop and the house where she lives with her son, Turiddu. The villagers move about the square, singing of the beautiful spring day (Gli aranci olezzano sui verdi margini – “The air is sweet with orange blossoms”) and a hymn to the Blessed Virgin. Some villagers enter the church, and others wander off still singing.
Santuzza, having slept with Turiddu and suspecting that he has betrayed her for Lola, is distraught and approaches Lucia as she comes out of her house. Santuzza asks for Turiddu, but Lucia replies that he has gone to another town to fetch some wine. Santuzza tells her that he was seen during the night in the village. Lucia asks her inside to talk, but just at that moment Alfio arrives on his wagon, accompanied by the villagers. He praises the joys of a teamster’s life and the beauty of his bride. Alfio asks Lucia for some of her fine old wine. She tells him it has run out and Turiddu has gone away to buy more. Alfio replies that he had seen Turiddu early that morning near his cottage. Lucia starts to express surprise, but Santuzza stops her.
Alfio leaves. The choir inside the church is heard singing the Regina Coeli. Outside, the villagers sing an Easter Hymn, joined by Santuzza. The villagers enter the church, while Santuzza and Lucia remain outside. Lucia asks Santuzza why she signalled her to remain silent when Alfio said that he had seen Turiddu that morning. Santuzza exclaims, Voi lo sapete – “Now you shall know”, and tells Lucia the story of her seduction by Turiddu and his affair with Lola. Lucia pities Santuzza, who the villagers are considering excommunicating for her seduction. Santuzza cannot enter the church, but begs Lucia to go inside and pray for her.
Turiddu arrives. Santuzza upbraids him for pretending to have gone away, when he was actually seeing Lola. Lola enters the square singing. She mocks Santuzza and goes inside the church. Turiddu turns to follow Lola, but Santuzza begs him to stay. Turiddu pushes her away. She clings to him. He loosens her hands, throws her to the ground, and enters the church. Alfio arrives looking for Lola. Santuzza tells him that his wife has betrayed him with Turiddu. Alfio swears to take vendetta (revenge) which causes Santuzza to repent for having disclosed the affair and begs Alfio to stop to no avail.
The square is empty as the orchestra plays the famous Intermezzo.
The villagers come out of the church. Turiddu is in high spirits because he is with Lola and Santuzza appears to have gone. He invites his friends to his mother’s wine shop where he sings a drinking song, Viva, il vino spumeggiante – “Hail to the bubbling wine!”. Alfio joins them. Turiddu offers him wine, but he refuses it. All understand that trouble is in the air. The women leave, taking Lola with them. In a brief exchange of words, Alfio challenges Turiddu to a duel. Following Sicilian custom, the two men embrace, and Turiddu, in a token of acceptance, bites Alfio’s ear, drawing blood which signifies a fight to the death. Alfio leaves and Turiddu calls Lucia back. He tells her that he is going outside to get some air and asks that she be a kindly mother to Santuzza if he should not return: Un bacio, mamma! Un altro bacio!—Addio! – “One kiss, mother! One more kiss! – Farewell!”.
Turiddu rushes out. Lucia, weeping, wanders aimlessly around outside her house. Santuzza approaches and throws her arms around her. The villagers start to crowd around. Voices are heard in the distance and a woman cries, “They have murdered Turiddu!” Santuzza faints and Lucia collapses in the arms of the women villagers.
MORE INFO
Sicilia Classica Festival – info@siciliaclassicafestival.it
WHERE TO STAY
Hotel La Pensione Svizzera – Hotel Villa Schuler – Hotel Villa Ducale – Hotel Villa Carlotta
September 2, 2023 – Andrea Bocelli
Andrea Bocelli
Ancient Theatre, Saturday 2nd September 2023 @ 9.30 pm
Andrea Bocelli (1958) is an Italian tenor and multi-instrumentalist. He was born visually impaired, with congenital glaucoma, and at the age of 12, Bocelli became completely blind, following a brain hemorrhage resulting from a football accident. After performing evenings in piano bars and competing in local singing contests, Bocelli signed his first recording contract with the Sugar Music label. He rose to fame in 1994, winning the newcomer’s section of the 44th Sanremo Music Festival performing “Il mare calmo della sera”.
Since 1994, Bocelli has recorded 15 solo studio albums of both pop and classical music, three greatest hits albums, and nine complete operas, selling over 75 million records worldwide. He has had success as a crossover performer, bringing classical music to the top of international pop charts.
TICKETS on vivaticket and ticketone
Platea : € 460,00
Gallery: € 322,00
Upper Circle Gold (numbered seats): from € 207,00
Upper Circle (numbered seats): from € 167,00
Upper Circle (non numbered circle): from € 98,00
MORE INFO
www.andreabocelli.com
WHERE TO STAY
Hotel La Pensione Svizzera – Hotel Villa Schuler – Hotel Villa Ducale – Hotel Villa Carlotta
September 1, 2023 – Andrea Bocelli
Andrea Bocelli
tAORMINA Ancient Theatre, Friday 1st September 2023 @ 9.30 pm
Andrea Bocelli (1958) is an Italian tenor and multi-instrumentalist. He was born visually impaired, with congenital glaucoma, and at the age of 12, Bocelli became completely blind, following a brain hemorrhage resulting from a football accident. After performing evenings in piano bars and competing in local singing contests, Bocelli signed his first recording contract with the Sugar Music label. He rose to fame in 1994, winning the newcomer’s section of the 44th Sanremo Music Festival performing “Il mare calmo della sera”.
Since 1994, Bocelli has recorded 15 solo studio albums of both pop and classical music, three greatest hits albums, and nine complete operas, selling over 75 million records worldwide. He has had success as a crossover performer, bringing classical music to the top of international pop charts.
TICKETS on ticketone
Platea: € 322,00
Gallery: € 207,00
Upper Circle (numbered seats): € 167,00
Upper Circle (non numbered circle): 98,00
MORE INFO
www.andreabocelli.com
WHERE TO STAY
Hotel La Pensione Svizzera – Hotel Villa Schuler – Hotel Villa Ducale – Hotel Villa Carlotta
August 30, 2023 – Robert Plant and Saving Grace feat Suzi Dian
Robert Plant
and Saving Grace feat Suzi Dian
Ancient Theatre, Wednesday 30th August 2023 @ 9.00pm
Robert Anthony Plant (born 1948) is an English singer and songwriter, best known as the lead singer and lyricist of the rock band Led Zeppelin for all of its existence from 1968 until 1980. Regarded by many as one of the greatest singers in rock music, he is known for his flamboyant persona and raw stage performances.
TICKETS on ticketone
Platea (parterre): € 95,00
Gallery: € 80,00
Upper Circle (numbered seats): € 60,00
Upper Circle (non numbered circle): 46,00
MORE INFO
www.facebook.com/robertplant
WHERE TO STAY
Hotel La Pensione Svizzera – Hotel Villa Schuler – Hotel Villa Ducale – Hotel Villa Carlotta
Venditti and De Gregori
Venditti and De Gregori
Il Tour
Taormina Ancient Theatre, Monday 28th August 2023 @ 9.00pm
Antonello Venditti and Francesco De Gregori are two of the most loved Italian song-writers.
TICKETS on ticketone and boxol
Stalls (Parterre): € 95,00
Gallery: € 89,00
Cavea (numbered seats): € 79,00
Cavea (non-numbered seats): 49,00
MORE INFO
www.facebook.com/AntonelloVendittiUfficiale
WHERE TO STAY
Hotel La Pensione Svizzera – Hotel Villa Schuler – Hotel Villa Ducale – Hotel Villa Carlotta
August 26, 2023 – Renga Nek
Renga Nek
Ancient Theatre, Saturday 26th August 2023 @ 9.30pm
TICKETS on ticketone
Platea (parterre): € 80,50
Gallery: € 69,00
Upper Circle (numbered seats): € 57,50
Upper Circle (non numbered circle): 39,00
MORE INFO
www.facebook.com/RengaOfficial
www.facebook.com/NekOfficial
WHERE TO STAY
Hotel La Pensione Svizzera – Hotel Villa Schuler – Hotel Villa Ducale – Hotel Villa Carlotta
August 25, 2023 – Madame
Madame
Ancient Theatre, Friday 25th August 2023 @ 9.30pm
Madame (born 2002) is an Italian rapper and singer-songwriter.
Among her influences, Madame cites singer-songwriter Fabrizio De André, trap music and, despite not having southern Italian origins, Sicilian neomelodic music. Instrumental music also played an important role in her artistic development, with artists such as Ludovico Einaudi and Van Halen. In 2019, her musical style was described as “urban, a very wide container in which trap and rap can merge, together with several other contemporary sounds”.
TICKETS on ticketone and boxol
Platea: € 69,00
Gallery: € 59,00
Upper Circle (numbered seats): € 49,00
Upper Circle (non numbered circle): 39,00
MORE INFO
WHERE TO STAY
Hotel La Pensione Svizzera – Hotel Villa Schuler – Hotel Villa Ducale – Hotel Villa Carlotta