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The
Marches in song
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We
take a trip to the Marches for two of the summer's
most important opera festivals
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 Opera
enthusiasts will undoubtedly have two dates written
in their diaries: the Rossini Opera Festival
in Pesaro
and the Macerata Opera Festival in Macerata.
Two important festivals which make the Marches
a sure choice for those of you who opt for a more
cultural holiday.
The Macerata
Opera Festival opened on July 11th
with Kurt Weill's
Il volo di Lindbergh (The Lindberg
Flight) based on Charles Lindbergh's solo flight
across the Atlantic in 1927. In August the
Festival moves outdoors to the magnificent Arena
dello Sferisterio in Piazza Sauro with performances
of Norma, in homage to the bicentenary
of Vincenzo
Bellini's birth, Verdi's Aida
and Tosca, one of Giacomo
Puccini's best-loved works. Ruggiero
Raimondi plays the part of Scarpia, the
role which has earned him international acclaim
as one of the most sensitive performers of Puccini's
work.
Shortly before he died Gioacchino
Rossini willed his belongings to the city
of Pesaro. Both the School of Music and the Rossini
Foundation, which, since 1940 has released
recordings and critical editions of the master's
work, were born from this heritage.
The Rossini
Opera Festival first opened in 1980 with
the aim of performing the works the Foundation has
co-released with the Italian record company Casa
Ricordi. Now in its 22nd edition the
Festival has become the centre of a wide variety
of Rossini-related activities including the Rossini
Academy, the youth orchestra, costume and set design
workshops and the restoration of Pesaro's theatres.
This
year's Festival runs from August 10th
to 24th and includes La donna
del lago (The Lady on the Lake) sung by Mariella
Devia and Daniela Barcellona with Daniele Gatti
conducting and Luca Ronconi at the helm and La
gazzetta directed by Nobel prize winner, Dario
Fo.
Fringe events include shows, talks, debates, conferences
and exhibitions which portray a full picture of
Rossini's life and interests. We recommend Renata
Penta's version of The Barber of Seville, performed
by puppets in the magical surrounds of Novilara
Castle.
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FABIO
BONVICINI |
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July
2001
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THE SURVIVOR'S 
