Starting in December 2007 Emerging Pictures,
in an exclusive American collaboration with RAI Trade, will bring the
Operas recorded live in HDTV format from La Scala and two other prestigious
Italian opera houses to digital cinemas across the United States.
In 1872 Giuseppe Verdi himself presented his masterpiece L’Aida
for the first time in Europe at La Scala.
135 years later, the splendor of La Scala‘s production
of L’Aida, directed by the legendary Franco Zeffirelli, can be
experienced in Emerging digital cinemas Nationwide
On the stage of the Teatro alla Scala as the première of the
2006-2007 season, Aida delighted the audience that paid homage to Riccardo
Chailly and the whole cast, with a 12 minute applause. Verdi’s
opera is illustrated by the superb set design though up by Franco Zeffirelli’s,
who is also the author of the staging. The costumes of this new production
are designed by Maurizio Millenotti. Aida’s story takes root in
the debut which took place in Milan, after the Cairo premiere in February
1872, in which the staging was entrusted to the composer himself, Giuseppe
Verdi.
Conductor Riccardo Chailly
Staging and Sets Franco Zeffirelli
Costumes Maurizio Millenotti
Choreography Vladimir Vassiliev
Cast Marco Spotti (The King), Ildiko Komlosi (Amneris), Violeta Urmana
(Aida), Roberto Alagna (Radames), Giorgio Giuseppini (Ramfis), Carlo
Guelfi (Amonasro), Antonello Ceron (Messenger), Sae Kyung Rim (Priestess),
Luciana Svignano, Roberto Bolle, Myrna Kamara (Dancers).
January, 22, 2008
January, 29, 2008 matinee
TRISTAN UND ISOLDE (La Scala)
From the first show on, under Daniel
Barenboim’s baton and with Patrice Chéreau’s direction,
the 2007-2008 season embarks on an international path, which yet does
not neglect the Theatre’s Italian identity and roots. On the contrary,
it exalts them, but with an eye on Europe. Tristan too, especially Tristan,
is a project that has been conceived as the inseparable union of the
title with the conductor, the director and the singers. Tristan is the
project that Daniel Barenboim, one of the greatest Wagnerian maestros,
had been dreaming of staging with Patrice Chéreau for 25 years,
soon after the director left one of the most memorable marks in the
story of staging on the Ring. A quarter of a century has gone by since
the Wagner of Bayreuth (1976-1980), a period of time that Chéreau
has judged long enough to put distance between him and that Tetralogy
(conducted by Boulez) and to dispel doubts: the dream of two excellent
Wagnerians is coming true today at La Scala. Particularly worth noting
in the cast are Ian Storey, Waltraud Meier, Michelle De Young, Gerd
Grokowski, Matti Salminen and Will Hartmann.
February 19, 2008
February 26, 2008 matinee
LA TRAVIATA (La Scala)
RT 131 min
Particularly worth noting in the cast
is the debut at La Scala of Angela Gheorghiu in the role of Violetta,
a debut anticipated by her 2006 recital. Elena Mosuc and Irina Lungu
take turns in the remaining performances. Ramón Vargas, Jonas
Kaufmann and Massimo Giordano are the tree Alfredos. Roberto Frontali,
Leo Nucci (for two dates) and George Gagnidze sing the role of Germont.
March
18, 2008
March 25, 2008 matinee MARIA
STUARDA (La Scala)
Maria Stuarda (Mary Stuart) is a tragic opera, tragedia lirica, in two
acts by Gaetano Donizetti to a libretto by Giuseppe Bardari based on
Friedrich von Schiller’s 1800 play MARIA STUART. It received its
premiere on December 30, 1835 at La Scala and is based on the lives
of Mary, Queen of Scots and her cousin Queen Elizabeth I. During the
negotiations of a marriage proposal between Queen Elizabeth and the
King of France, Lord Talbot, intercedes on behalf of the royal prisoner
Maria Stuart, imprisoned in Fotheringay Castle since fleeing from Scotland.
The Queen is torn between sympathy for Maria and fear that she is plotting
against her, but her wrath comes from Leicester, the man she loves,
who argues her rivals’ case with a passion that makes her feel
betrayed. As the queens confront one another, each is already convinced
that the other is haughty, yet the final triumph proves elusive to either
one.
Approximate running time: 2 hours 45 minutes
April
8, 2008
April 15, 2008 matinee LA
FORZA DEL DESTINO RT 160 min
Performed at Teatro del Maggio Musicale, Florence
This production of Giuseppe Verdi’s tragedy La Forza del Destino
is conducted by Zubin Mehta and designed by Ezio Frigerio. Violeta Urmana
and Marcello Giordani give stunning performances in the roles of Donna
Leonora and Don Alvaro, portraying the tragic love story between the
two characters with the utmost vehemence.
May 6, 2008
May 13, 2008 matinee IL
TRITTICO (La Scala)
In honor of Puccini’s 150th birthday, La Scala brings his incomparable
Il Trittico to the stage. Luca Ronconi is the talented director able
to unite and at the same time give a different character to Il tabarro,
Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi.
RT 161-188 min average
May-June
2008 LA
RONDINE (La Scala)
Performed at Teatro La Fenice, Venice
Puccini’s opera La Rondine is conducted by Carlo Rizzi and designed
by Peter J. Davison. Fiorenza Cedolins as Magda and Massimo Giordano
as Ruggero portray the couple who fall into a forbidden love ending
in heartbreak.
RT 107 mon
Advance Ticket sales at
the theater box office for all shows.
March
18, 2008
April
8, 2008
May-June
2008