Ficarra and Picone

Ancient Theatre, Sunday 2nd August 2020 @9.00pm

(EVENT IN ITALIAN)

Salvatore Ficarra (Palermo, 27 May 1971) and Valentino Picone (Palermo, 23 March 1971) are an Italian comedy duo who work on stage, films, television and books as Ficarra e Picone.

TICKETS on ticketone.it >> CLICK HERE

Subject to availability, groups of four people can buy four tickets at special price (“For you” package)

Stalls (Parterre)
Full price: € 69,00
Package “For you”: € 51,75

Gallery
Full price: € 59,00
Package “For you”: € 44,25

Upper circle (numbered seats)
Full price: € 49,00
Package “For you”: € 36,75

Upper circle (non-numbered seats): € 28,75

MORE INFO

FB  www.facebook.com/FicarraePicone

WHERE TO STAY

Hotel La Pensione Svizzera – Hotel Villa Schuler – Hotel Villa Ducale – Hotel Villa Carlotta

FESTIVAL DEI TEATRI DI PIETRA

Cavalleria Rusticana

Rustican Chivalry

Opera by Pietro Mascagni

Ancient Theatre, Saturday 1st August 2020

A production by Festival dei Teatri della Pietra in co-production with the Fondazione Orchestra Sinfonica Siciliana.

Cavalleria Rusticana is an opera in one act by Pietro Mascagni (1863-1945) to an Italian libretto by Giovanni Targioni-Tozzetti and Guido Menasci, adapted from a play written by Giovanni Verga based on his short story. It is the first and best known Mascagni’s works. Its success has been phenomenal from its first performance in the Teatro Costanzi in Rome on May 17, 1890 until the present day. At the time of Mascagni’s death in 1945, the opera had been performed more than 14,000 times in Italy alone.

——

The Ancient Theater of Taormina is preparing, after all the difficulties and uncertainties of the past months, to host great music. And there was no better way to return the monument to the great opera events than to represent Mascagni’s CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA which will open, on August 1st, the summer program of the “Opera Festival of Stone Theaters” promoted by the SICILIAN OPERA CHOIR.

Although it may seem a paradox, it is important to underline that, due to the Covid protocol and therefore the limitation of seats, for the first time it will be possible to see the theater much freer from the scaffolding that usually covers the archaeological monument every year and that through a wide distribution of seats (all numbered) you can watch the show without the crowds and confusion that usually characterize the Taormina summers. All the safety rules will be guaranteed with an imposing organizational machine, which will allow you to enjoy in the most complete tranquility of a unique show in the world.

Returning to Cavalleria Rusticana, the title that will open The Stone Theaters Opera Festival, Elena Lo Fortewas chosen for the role of Santuzza, which, we like to remember, was Santuzza in the legendary film “The Godfather Part III” by Francis Ford Coppola; to interpret the role of Turiddu Angelo Villari, a tenor on the rise who recently played this role in the major Italian theaters, including the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino and the Teatro Comunale di Bologna. While to give voice and body to the jealous and passionate Alfio, the star of the Metropolitan of New York Alberto Mastromarino. To complete the cast, Lucia di Maria Motta and Leonora Sofia, Lola.

Finally, the masterpiece of Mascagni’s musical genius will be among the very few complete stage performances at an international level, thanks to the contribution of the innovative direction of Salvo Dolce, a young and promising Sicilian director, who is setting up a staging – specially designed for the distance on the stage – based on plastic movements with a strong emotional impact; to enrich the setting, the artistic creations and the stage jewels of David Brancato S. and the lights of Gabriele Circo.

The orchestra, an essential and fundamental element of every lyrical representation, is among the best that the panorama can offer and among the most prestigious in the world: the Sicilian Symphony Orchestra, conducted by LORENZO TAZZIERI.

The Sicilian orchestral complex, in its seventy-year career, has been directed by some of the most prestigious conductors: suffice it to say that for 25 years it was led by Sergiu Celibidache and that it was directed – among others – by Igor Stravinski, Riccardo Chailly, Vittorio Gui, Yuri Temirkanov, Daniel Oren, John Barbirolli, Riccardo Muti, Georges Pretre, Hubert Soudant, Ennio Morricone, Donato Renzetti, Gianandrea Noseda, Anton Guadagno, Nello Santi, Muhai Tang, Günter Neuhold.

Another fundamental element for the excellent success of an opera production is certainly the choir, and also in this case we will have a complex of international importance such as the Sicilian Lyric Choir, already Oscar of Lirica 2017, instructed and guided by Francesco Costa .

The Opera Festival of Stone Theaters, recognized as an initiative of high cultural and artistic importance, takes place under the High Patronage of the European Parliament and the most important Italian institutional offices, the Patronage of the Pontificium Consilium de Cultura, of the Sicilian Region, Regional Department Tourism, Sport and Entertainment and the Department of Cultural Heritage and Sicilian Identity, Rai Sicilia, the Pietro Mascagni Committee, the Verona Foundation for the Arena and the Italian Archaeologists Confederation.

Director: Francesco Di Mauro

Orchestra leader: Lorenzo Tazzieri

Choir Leader: Francesco Costa

Sets, scenes and costumes: Salvo Dolce

Cast
Santuzza: Elena Lo Forte
Turiddu: Angelo Villari
Alfio: Alberto Mastromarino
Lola: Leonora Sofia
Lucia: Maria Motta

Orchestra: Sicilian Simphony Orchestra
Chorus: Sicilian Lyric Choir
Stage Jewelry: Davide Brancato S.
Lights: Gabriele Circo

TICKETS on boxol.it and ticketone.it (prices slightly change)
Cavea central (upper circle) – Gold: € 71,50 – Reduced (under 25/over 65) € 57,50
Cavea medium (upper circle): € 51,50 – Reduced (under 25/over 65) € 41,50
Cavea lateral (upper circle): € 31,50 – Reduced (under 25/over 65) € 26,50

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
Coro Lirico Siciliano > www.facebook.com/coroliricosiciliano – grancoro@hotmail.it – T. 0039 347 515 5833

Festival dei Teatri della Pietra > T. and Whatsapp: 0039 351 546 0236

WHERE TO STAY

Hotel La Pensione Svizzera (reopening in 2021) – Hotel Villa Schuler – Hotel Villa Ducale – Hotel Villa Carlotta

La Traviata

an Opera by Giuseppe Verdi

Ancient Theatre, Thursday 30th July @ 9.30 pm

La Traviata (The Fallen Woman) is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi set to an Italian libretto by Francesco Maria Piave. It is based on La Dame aux Camélias (1852), a play adapted from the novel by Alexandre Dumas, fils.
It is considered the most famous opera of Verdi

Tonight the Fondazione Taormina Arte and the Symphonic Orchestra of the Teatro Massimo Bellini of Catania present a special arrangement of the opera that will be performed in the form of a concert in two acts.

Direction: Fabrizio Maria Carminati
Chorus Direction: Luigi Petrozziello

Violetta Valéry > Irina Lungu
Alfredo Germont > Stefan Pop
Giorgio Germont > Franco Vassallo
Flora Bervoix > Sabrina Messina
Barone Douphol > Filippo Lunetta
Marquis d’Obigny > Salvatore Grigoli
Gastone and Giuseppe > Riccardo Palazzo
Annina > Alexandra Oikonomou

Orchestra, Chorus and technical staff > Teatro Massimo Bellini of Catania

TICKETS on boxol.it

Cavea – sector 1, central > € 33,00
Cavea – sector 2, intermediate > € 22,00
Cavea – sector 3, lateral > € 16,50

SYNOPSIS

Synopsis Place: Paris and its vicinity. Time: Beginning of the 19th century

Act 1 The salon in Violetta’s house

Scene 1: Party (attrib. Carl d’Unker) Violetta Valéry, a famed courtesan, throws a lavish party at her Paris salon to celebrate her recovery from an illness. Gastone, a viscount, has brought with him a friend, Alfredo Germont, a young bourgeois from a provincial family who has long adored Violetta from afar. While walking to the salon, Gastone tells Violetta that Alfredo loves her, and that while she was ill, he came to her house every day. Alfredo joins them, admitting the truth of Gastone’s remarks.
Baron Douphol, Violetta’s current lover, waits nearby to escort her to the salon; once there, the Baron is asked to give a toast, but refuses, and the crowd turns to Alfredo, who agrees to sing a brindisi – a drinking song (Alfredo, Violetta, chorus: Libiamo ne’ lieti calici – “Drink from the joyful cup”).
From the next room, the sound of the orchestra is heard and the guests move there to dance. After a series of severe coughs and almost fainting, Violetta begins to feel dizzy and asks her guests to go ahead and to leave her to rest until she recovers. While the guests dance in the next room, Violetta looks at her pale face in her mirror. Alfredo enters and expresses his concern for her fragile health, later declaring his love for her (Alfredo, Violetta: Un dì, felice, eterea – “One day, happy and ethereal”). At first, she rejects him because his love means nothing to her, but there is something about Alfredo that touches her heart. He is about to leave when she gives him a flower, telling him to return it when it has wilted, which will be the very next day.
“È strano! … Ah, fors’è lui” MENU0:00 Act 1 finale, sung by Lucrezia Bori in 1910 for Edison Records Problems playing this file? See media help. After the guests leave, Violetta wonders if Alfredo could actually be the one in her life (Violetta: È strano! … Ah, fors’è lui – “Ah, perhaps he is the one”). But she concludes that she needs freedom to live her life (Violetta, Alfredo: Sempre libera – “Always free”). From off stage, Alfredo’s voice is heard singing about love as he walks down the street.

Act 2
Scene 1: Violetta’s country house outside Paris

Three months later, Alfredo and Violetta are living together in a peaceful country house outside Paris. Violetta has fallen in love with Alfredo and she has completely abandoned her former life. Alfredo sings of their happy life together (Alfredo: De’ miei bollenti spiriti / Il giovanile ardore – “The youthful ardor of my ebullient spirits”). Annina, the maid, arrives from Paris, and, when questioned by Alfredo, tells him that she went there to sell the horses, carriages and everything owned by Violetta to support their country lifestyle.
Alfredo is shocked to learn this and leaves for Paris immediately to settle matters himself. Violetta returns home and receives an invitation from her friend, Flora, to a party in Paris that evening. Alfredo’s father, Giorgio Germont, is announced and demands that she break off her relationship with his son for the sake of his family, since he reveals that Violetta’s relationship with Alfredo has threatened his daughter’s engagement (Giorgio: Pura siccome un angelo, Iddio mi diè una figlia – “Pure as an angel, God gave me a daughter”) because of Violetta’s reputation. Meanwhile, he reluctantly becomes impressed by Violetta’s nobility, something which he did not expect from a courtesan. She responds that she cannot end the relationship because she loves him so much, but Giorgio pleads with her for the sake of his family. With growing remorse, she finally agrees (Violetta, Giorgio: Dite alla giovine, sì bella e pura, – “Tell the young girl, so beautiful and pure,”) and says goodbye to Giorgio. In a gesture of gratitude for her kindness and sacrifice, Giorgio kisses her forehead before leaving her weeping alone.
Violetta gives a note to Annina to send to Flora accepting the party invitation and, as she is writing a farewell letter to Alfredo, he enters. She can barely control her sadness and tears; she tells him repeatedly of her unconditional love (Violetta: Amami, Alfredo, amami quant’io t’amo – “Love me, Alfredo, love me as I love you”). Before rushing out and setting off for Paris, she hands the farewell letter to her servant to give to Alfredo.
Soon, the servant brings the letter to Alfredo and, as soon as he has read it, Giorgio returns and attempts to comfort his son, reminding him of his family in Provence (Giorgio: Di Provenza il mar, il suol chi dal cor ti cancellò? – “Who erased the sea, the land of Provence from your heart?”). Alfredo suspects that the Baron is behind his separation with Violetta, and the party invitation, which he finds on the desk, strengthens his suspicions. He decides to confront Violetta at the party. Giorgio tries to stop Alfredo, but he rushes out.

Scene 2: Party at Flora’s house

Act 2, scene 2 from Fife Opera’s 2004 production At the party, the Marquis tells Flora that Violetta and Alfredo have separated, much to the amazement of everyone who had previously seen the happy couple. She calls for the entertainers to perform for the guests (Chorus: Noi siamo zingarelle venute da lontano – “We are gypsy girls who have come from afar”; Di Madride noi siam mattadori – “We are matadors from Madrid”). Gastone and his friends join the matadors and sing (Gastone, chorus, dancers: È Piquillo un bel gagliardo Biscaglino mattador – “Piquillo is a bold and handsome matador from Biscay”).
Violetta arrives with Baron Douphol. They see Alfredo at the gambling table. When he sees them, Alfredo loudly proclaims that he will take Violetta home with him. Feeling annoyed, the Baron goes to the gambling table and joins him in a game. As they bet, Alfredo wins some large sums until Flora announces that supper is ready. Alfredo leaves with handfuls of money.
As everyone is leaving the room, Violetta has asked Alfredo to see her. Fearing that the Baron’s anger will lead him to challenge Alfredo to a duel, she gently asks Alfredo to leave. Alfredo misunderstands her apprehension and demands that she admit that she loves the Baron. In grief, she makes that admission and, furiously, Alfredo calls the guests to witness what he has to say (Questa donna conoscete? – “You know this woman?”). He humiliates and denounces Violetta in front of the guests and then throws his winnings at her feet in payment for her services. She faints onto the floor. The guests reprimand Alfredo: Di donne ignobile insultatore, di qua allontanati, ne desti orror! (“Ignoble insulter of women, go away from here, you fill us with horror!”).
In search of his son, Giorgio enters the hall and, knowing the real significance of the scene, denounces his son’s behavior (Giorgio, Alfredo, Violetta, chorus: Di sprezzo degno sè stesso rende chi pur nell’ira la donna offende. – “A man, who even in anger, offends a woman renders himself deserving of contempt.”).
Flora and the ladies attempt to persuade Violetta to leave the dining room, but Violetta turns to Alfredo: Alfredo, Alfredo, di questo core non puoi comprendere tutto l’amore… – “Alfredo, Alfredo, you can’t understand all the love in this heart…”.

Act 3 Violetta’s bedroom

Cover of a circa 1855 vocal score with an engraving by Leopoldo Ratti Dr. Grenvil tells Annina that Violetta will not live long since her tuberculosis has worsened. Alone in her room, Violetta reads a letter from Alfredo’s father telling her that the Baron was only wounded in his duel with Alfredo; that he has informed Alfredo of the sacrifice she has made for him and his sister; and that he is sending his son to see her as quickly as possible to ask for her forgiveness. But Violetta senses it is too late (Violetta: Addio, del passato bei sogni ridenti – “Farewell, lovely, happy dreams of the past”).
Annina rushes in the room to tell Violetta of Alfredo’s arrival. The lovers are reunited and Alfredo suggests that they leave Paris (Alfredo, Violetta: Parigi, o cara, noi lasceremo – “We will leave Paris, O beloved”).
But it is too late: she knows her time is up (Alfredo, Violetta: Gran Dio!…morir sì giovane – “Great God!…to die so young”). Alfredo’s father enters with the doctor, regretting what he has done. After singing a duet with Alfredo, Violetta suddenly revives, exclaiming that the pain and discomfort have left her. A moment later, she dies in Alfredo’s arms.

MORE INFO
Fondazione Taormina Arte > www.taoarte.it – info@taormina-arte.com – T. 0039 391 746 2146

WHERE TO STAY

Hotel La Pensione Svizzera (reopening in 2021) – Hotel Villa Schuler – Hotel Villa Ducale – Hotel Villa Carlotta

AMERICAN MOVIES TRIBUTE

Ancient Theatre, Saturday 25th July 2020 @ 9.30pm

Fondazione Taormina Arte and the Symphonic Orchestra of the Teatro Massimo Bellini of Catania present 15 famous American soundtracks by Morricone, Williams, Barry, Badelt and Horner.
A splendid concert entirely dedicated to the States

Director: Carmen Failla

Programme

F. Loewe My fair Lady (arr.J.Whitney)

J. Barry Theme from 007 (arr. C.Custer )

H. Mancini Breakfast at Tiffany’s (arr.J.Moss) – Moon river

K. Badelt Pirates of the Caribbean (arr. T.Ricketts)

E. Morricone The Mission (arr. R. Longfield) – Gabriel’s oboe

A. Silvestri The Polar Exspress – Concert Suite

and

Back to the future III – MainTheme

 TRIBUTE TO JOHN WILLIAMS

Superman March

Harry Potter and the Phylosopher’s stone – Hedvig’sTheme

E.T. The Extra-terrestrial – Flying theme

Schindler’s List

Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark – Raiders’ March

Star Wars – Symphonic Suite
Imperial March – Princess’Leia Theme – Main Title

Orchestra e technical Staff of the Teatro Massimo Vincenzo Bellini of Catania

TICKETS on boxol.it

Cavea – sector 1, central > € 22,00
Cavea – sector 2, intermediate > € 16,50
Cavea – sector 3, lateral > € 11,50

MORE INFO
Fondazione Taormina Arte > www.taoarte.it – info@taormina-arte.com – T. 0039 391 746 2146

WHERE TO STAY

Hotel La Pensione Svizzera (reopening in 2021) – Hotel Villa Schuler (reopening in 2021) – Hotel Villa Ducale – Hotel Villa Carlotta