The Autumn session of the Rossini Opera Festival, originally planned to take place from the 1st to the 29th November 2020, has been re-planned in the light of the new ministerial decree that does not authorize the presence of an audience inside theatres during performances.

The programme, for the most part confirmed, will be inaugurated on Saturday the 14th November at 8.30 p.m. at the Teatro Rossini with the performance of a selection from the Péchés de vieillesseby the pianist Alessandro Marangoni; then on Sunday 15th November at 8.30 p.m. at the Teatro Rossini two authentic rarities, never before performed at the ROF: the Messa di Milano [Milan Mass] and the  Miserere.  In conformity with the Covid regulations, the concerts will be performed without any audience and will be transmitted free of charge in streaming.

We can also confirm the two operatic productions.  As for the Barbiere di Siviglia, staged by Pier Luigi Pizzi for the ROF 2018, this will be performed as planned at the Teatro Rossini on Wednesday 25th, Friday 27th and Sunday 29th November.  The classic Viaggio a Reims, devised and staged by Emilio Sagi, and rehearsed by Matteo Anselmi, with the pupils of the Accademia Rossiniana 2020, will be offered on Thursday 26th and Saturday 28th November at the Teatro Rossini.  If it should happen that new decrees permit it, the performances will be open to the public, according to the foreseen security measures.

Il barbiere di Siviglia will be conducted by Michele Spotti at the head of the Orchestra Sinfonica G. Rossini and the Chorus of the Teatro Ventidio Basso (Chorus Master Giovanni Farina) with a cast comprising Juan Francisco Gatell (Count Almaviva), Carlo Lepore (Bartolo), Aya Wakizono (Rosina), Iurii Samoilov (Figaro), Michele Pertusi (Basilio), Elena Zilio (Berta) and William Corrò (Fiorello / Officer).  Il viaggio a Reims will be conducted by Alessandro Cadario with the Orchestra Sinfonica G. Rossini.  The Miserere and the Milan Mass will be conducted by Ferdinando Sulla, with the Filarmonica Gioachino Rossini and the Chorus of the Teatro della Fortuna (Chorus Master Mirca Rosciani); the Miserere will be sung by Manuel Amati, Antonio Garés and Grigory Shkarupa, who will be joined, in the Messa di Milano, by Svetlina Stoyanova.

“We have decided to offer everyone the two concerts on the programme for mid.November in free streaming” – observes the President of the Festival Daniele Vimini.  “At this time it is important that such institutions as ours keep the flame of culture burning and that we offer a solid vision of the future to the workers in our category.  If we are not able to invite audiences into the theatre, then Il barbiere di Siviglia and Il viaggio a Reims will also be offered to the world in streaming; our duty is to do our part towards the maintenance and re-birth of culture and work in our country.”

The Intendent of the Rossini Opera Festival, Ernesto Palacio, explains the decision as follows:  “Everything will be carried out with the most rigorous observance of the security regulations, in strict agreement with the State authorities.  Rehearsal will be held maintaining all the necessary precautions regarding the observance of the health of artists and backstage artisans, on behalf of whom we feel the responsibility of also guaranteeing them the possibility of continuing to work, clearly under conditions of maximum security.  Our firm hope is that on the 25th November theaters may open again, and we would wish to find ourselves ready to offer the fruits of all our work to whoever would like to be present”.