Taormina Arte 2009

Think about Sicily for your future summer holidays? This August, in the Teatro Greco of Taormina (one of the most fascinating sites in Sicily) , two operatic productions will be performed, the first one being more than decent on paper.

AIDA, G. Verdi on August 7, 9 and 11 with Maria Guleghina, Salvatore Licitra, Juan Pons and Sergio Fontana conduction Fabio Mastrangelo (who is directing the Festival for the 3rd year), stage direction Enrico Castiglione " Nuovo Allestimento in esclusiva " as they say  

CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA, P.Mascagni on August 19 and 21 with Chiara Taigi and Dario Balzanelli conduction James Meena, direction Bernard Uzan (none of those names ring any bell for me) Plus, there is a Vincenzo Bellini gala on Aug.24 (after all Catania and Taormina are not that far away from each other). I loved the experience of opera in an antic theater in Orange this summer, but in Taormina ... waou.

Pasqua 2007 (when Iddu was in the clouds and not visible)

Too bad the aera is unbearably overcrowded with tourists at this time of year.

Massimo 08-09

New season of the Teatro Massimo in Palermo:

Press release here.

Strikes update

Opéra de Paris:

The strikes are over as every technician is back to work; yet, due to unknown causes (something about the scene of Bastille being staged for the Nutcracker and therefore preventing the switch to the Tannhäuser set - I didn't get the point though), the Paris Opera is maintaining the current semi-staged arrangement: no sets, but costumes, and lights.

The huge news though is that the website has posted the update in French and English (yes, talk about a miracle). I guess lights are on in the webmaster's brain too now.

Teatro San Carlo, Napoli, BNF archives

Italy:

Strike was avoided in Milan on Dec.7 for the Scala Prima, thanks to Stephane Lissner being able to convince the Italian government to give the 1250 workers a €3.2 million bonus to be shared amongst them.

Yet, performances in Genova (Teatro Carlo Felice), Palermo (Teatro Massimo) and Florence (Teatro del Maggio Musicale) were once again cancelled and, after weeks of turmoil in the Italian Opera Houses all around the country, the situation stands firmly unresolved.

As Jean-Jacques Bozonnet mentions in Le Monde today, the situation is a bit desperate everywhere: money is nowhere to be found, and the Teatro San Carlo in Napoli and the Teatro del Maggio Fiorentino are on the brink of bankruptcy, as was the House in Cagliari a few years back.

That situation has striking resemblances to the current situation some Opera Houses are facing in France right now (Avignon, Metz and Tours), with the French Government threatening to cut its fundings.

New season in Palermo

2008 stagione di opere e balletti al Teatro Massimo, Palermo

Opera in Palermo

Teatro Massimo Palermo, Sicilia April 4, 2007