Macerata Opera Festival #rossodesiderio: the cast

Full cast announced for the 2019 programme of the #rossodesiderio Festival, planned by General Manager Luciano Messi, Artistic Director Barbara Minghetti, and Music Director Francesco Lanzillotta. Some of the young artists who are already familiar with the stage of the Sferisterio Arena will be returning to Macerata, which now represents a landmark in their career diaries. The tenor Giovanni Sala and the soprano Valentina Mastrangelo, who both performed in Il flauto magico in 2018, will play Macduff in Macbeth and Micaëla in Carmen, respectively, while Alex Esposito will be returning to the Sferisterio in the role of Banco in Macbeth, after his successful performance in L’Elisir d’Amore. Completing the cast, some very talented newcomers: the US mezzo-soprano Irene Roberts in the title role of Georges Bizet’s Carmen; the soprano Saioa Hernandez who, after performing in Attila, the opening opera at La Scala, will play Lady Macbeth; the tenor Enea Scala as the Duke of Mantova in Rigoletto; Migran Agadzhanyan as Don José in Carmen; and Amartuvshin Enkhbat as Rigoletto.

The Sferisterio Arena will open its opera season with a new production of Georges Bizet’s masterpiece Carmen, which will be performed on 19 and 28 July, 3 and 10 August; on the podium, Francesco Lanzillotta, the Sferisterio Music Director. The production is designed by forty-year-old director Jacopo Spirei, one of today’s most appreciated Italian directors of his generation. The set design and costumes are by Mauro Tinti, the lighting by Giuseppe Di Iorio. Joining previously mentioned Irene Roberts (Carmen) are Migran Agadzhanyan (Don José), David Bizic (Escamillo), and Valentina Mastrangelo (Micaëla). The 2019 programme will also showcase two highly acclaimed productions of two Verdi’s masterpieces. The first one is Macbeth (2017 Angel Herald Award Winner in Edinburgh) directed by Emma Dante, a co-production of Macerata Opera Festival, Teatro Massimo in Palermo, and Teatro Regio in Turin, with Francesco Ivan Ciampa on the podium (20 and 26 July; 4 August). Following the success of 2015, Rigoletto will be returning to the Sferisterio: a wonderfully sparking production designed by director Federico Grazzini with Giampaolo Bisanti on the podium (21 and 27 July; 2 and 9 August).  Macbeth will have set design by Carmine Maringola, costume design by Vanessa Sannino, and light design by Cristian Zucaro. Among the talented voices appearing in the production are Roberto Frontali (Macbeth), Saioa Hernandez (Lady Macbeth), Giovanni Sala (Macduff) and Alex Esposito (Banco). Rigoletto features set design by Andrea Belli, costume design by Valeria Donata Bettella, and light design by Alessandro Verazzi. Playing the central role of Rigoletto will be Amartuvshin Enkhbat joined by Claudia Pavone (Gilda), Enea Scala (Il duca di Mantova), Simon Orfila (Sparafucile), and Martina Belli (Maddalena).

The Regional Orchestra of the Marche Region will play for all performances together with the Opera Choir of the Marche Region “Vincenzo Bellini” conducted by Martino Faggiani.

The Macerata Opera Festival is holding an online contest inspired by the main theme of the Festival, #rossodesiderio, running now through 31 December. The “#ilmiodesiderio” contest invites Web users to submit their dreams for the new year – no matter how big or small they are – for a chance to win two tickets to the 2019 Macerata Opera Festival. The six best dreams will be also voted by the festival audience and the one with the highest score on the closing date of the contest will be declared the winner.

The 2019 programme will also include a premiere of the winning opera of the international competition Macerata Opera 4.0 / #rossodesiderio. The competition, which was launched some weeks ago and will run until 31 January, is dedicated to projects of contemporary musical theatre (opera, musical theatre show, installation, performance, audiovisual projects, dance, videoart…) inspired by the 2019 Macerata Opera Festival theme, #rossodesiderio. Both Italian and foreign artistic teams and associations participate and team members will be 35 years of age or under on 11 August 2019.

Prices remain stable, ranging from 25 (Yellow seating area) to 150 euros (Platinum seating area). Moreover, you can enjoy a 20% discount on the purchase of season tickets for three operas (Green or Yellow seating area) or a 15% discount on the purchase of season tickets for two operas (Platinum or Green or Yellow seating area). In addition, over-65s and under-30s can buy a 25 Euro ticket with no seat assigned and, on the performance night, they will be assigned the best available seat. Finally, thanks to the partnership with TreValli, children accompanied by an adult buying a full price ticket are admitted for 1 Euro.

From now until 23^rd December, Macerata residents can use the “Macerata Card” for the festival shows: they will benefit from a 20% discount on the purchase of two tickets by showing their ID card. What’s more, they could also become ambassador to the city and give a non-resident friend the opportunity to enjoy a 10% discount on the purchase of two tickets.

The last show of Carmen (10 August) will be dedicated to the #rossodesiderio charity partner (which is expected to be announced by the end of the year). 2 Euros from the ticket purchase will go directly to the 2019 charity partner.

Tickets are currently on sale online and at the ticket office in Piazza Mazzini 10, Macerata. Opening times: from Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 1pm and from 5pm to 8pm. Tel. +39.0733.230735. Email boxoffice@sferisterio.it.