Carmen, the 'kolossal' at the Arena staged with a cast of over 500
From 5 July, no less than 9 performances and great debuts
The premiere features Aigul Akhmetshina with Francesco Meli, Erwin Schrott and Kristina Mkhitaryan. It is also the first time on the Arena podium for young conductor Leonardo Sini The cast counts stars Yende, Alagna, Kurzak, Tézier, Margaine
The evening will open with the Music Band of the Guardia di Finanza, a financial police corps celebrating its 250th anniversary this year. At the gong, athletes of this corps, also know as Fiamme Gialle (Yellow Flames), will perform on stage for one evening
Carmen is a 'kolossal' at the Arena di Verona, with stage design by Franco Zeffirelli. From 5 July, a movie studio Seville will come to life on the Arena's stage, truer than life and studied to the last detail, with hundreds of soloists, chorus artists, treble voices, minor roles and mimes of all ages, as well as the Arena Ballet, besides the authentic Spanish dance of the Compañia Gades enhanced by the original choreography by El Camborio and costumes created to Anna Anni's designs.
The staging, which marked Zeffirelli's debut at the Arena, was faithfully reconstructed by Fondazione Arena in 2022, including improvements made over time by the stage director himself with scenes that were initially only designed, which have now been produced for the first time.
For the first two performances, the protagonist of Bizet's masterpiece is Aigul Akhmetshina, the mezzo-soprano aged 27 who makes her debut at the Arena after having performed Carmen in the world's leading theatres, from New York to London. She told “Musica” magazine: «Carmen is not an opera you can rehearse and perform. You have to literally step into the shoes of the character. I have already done several productions, and I find new aspects each time. To date, I have never experienced a traditional staging like Zeffirelli's in the Arena, a production charged with beauty. I shall rely on the space of the Arena and its history. I’m looking forward to it!»
Her independent gypsy attitude seduces the soldier Josè, played by tenor Francesco Meli, but she has another fatal encounter with the toreador Escamillo, a role in which bass-baritone Erwin Schrott returns to Verona. However, Josè has a fiancée, Micaela, his link to his distant homeland. She is played by Kristina Mkhitaryan, the acclaimed soprano who is making her Arena debut. The cast is completed by Jan Antem and Vincent Ordonneau (the smugglers Dancairo and Remendado), Daniela Cappiello and Alessia Nadin (Frasquita and Mercedes, Carmen's friends), Gabriele Sagona and Fabio Previati (Zuniga and Morales). In addition to the Fondazione Arena Chorus prepared by Roberto Gabbiani, the brats, performed by the very young treble voices of A.Li.Ve. trained by Paolo Facincani, also sing in the Seville square. The young Leonardo Sini also makes his debut, conducting the Foundation’s Orchestra for all performances in July and August. Sini, originally from Sassari, studied in Italy and perfected his studies in London, winning prizes such as the prestigious Solti Award in Budapest, also accepting brilliant collaborations both in Italy and Europe.
A double surprise awaits the audience on 5 July. At 8.50 pm, with the customary march, the Band of the Guardia di Finanza counting 60 musicians conducted by Colonel Leonardo Laserra Ingrosso will make its entrance on the Arena’s stage. An event within an event to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Fiamme Gialle. Italian athletes Giacomo Bertagnolli, Simone Deromedis, Alex Vinatzer and Nicol Delago, together with champions Antonio Rossi and Roberto Di Donna will ring the renowned gong, announcing the start of the show.
After the premiere on Friday, 5 July at 9.15 pm, Carmen will be repeated on 13, 20, 25 July (also at 9.15 pm); 3, 8, 17, 23 August and 7 September (at 9.00 pm). At the Arena di Verona, every evening is a premiere featuring a succession of highly talented international artists, some of them making their Arena debut. Regulars are Clémentine Margaine (20, 25/7 and 3, 17, 23/8) and Alisa Kolosova (8/8), in addition to Francesco Meli (who returns on 20/7, 3, 8, 17/8 and 7/9), tenors Freddie De Tommaso (13/7) and Roberto Alagna (25/7 and 23/8), sopranos Daria Rybak (13 and 20/7), Aleksandra Kurzak (25/7 and 23/8), Pretty Yende (3 and 8/8), Mariangela Sicilia (17/8 and 7/9), Chiara Maria Fiorani (Frasquita on 13, 20 and 25/7), baritones Luca Micheletti (20, 25/7), Dalibor Jenis (8/8 to 7/9) and Ludovic Tézier (on 3/8 in his first Arenian Escamillo). Only the last performance on 7/9 will witness an alternation on the podium with the return of Daniel Oren.
Carmen, based on the namesake novella by Prosper Mérimée, is the last opera by French composer Georges Bizet (1840-1875). He did not live long enough to see its success, which came soon after its initial fiasco, the same year as his untimely death. After bewitching audiences, illustrious peers such as Brahms and Tchaikovsky, and scholars like Nietzsche, Carmen arrived in Italy. In 1914, it was the first title to be performed in the Arena after the success of the first Aida. To this day, it is the second most repeated opera in the Arena. Next year, for the 2025 Festival, it will reach 300 performances and Fondazione Arena will celebrate its “double” 150th anniversary, both of the author and the first performance.
«Every time we perform Carmen,» says Cecilia Gasdia, Superintendent of Fondazione Arena, «especially this Carmen, the emotion and wonder reach remarkable heights. I had the honour of playing Micaela in 1995, at the premiere in the Arena of the maestro and friend, Franco Zeffirelli, whom we remembered on his centenary last year. I can assure you that the sense of wonder is still alive and captivates both audience and performers on stage, who are magnificent singers, including renowned artists and talented young people».
The 101st Arena di Verona Opera Festival 2024 is supported by numerous sponsors, headed by UniCredit, which boasts a long-standing partnership of more than 25 years, followed by Calzedonia, Pastificio Rana, Volkswagen Group Italia, DB Bahn, Forno Bonomi, RTL 102.5, Genny, which once again, this year, signs the uniforms of the event’s reception staff, and Müller which, this year too, supports the accessibility projects for people with disabilities. Official partners include historic brands such as Veronafiere, Air Dolomiti, A4 Holding, Metinvest, SABA Italia, SDG Group, Sartori di Verona, Palazzo Maffei and Mantova Village. New supporters include Poste Italiane, ManPower Group and Consorzio di Tutela dell'Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena DOP. In addition to companies, private individuals, and professional associations that make up the ranks of the Membership 67 Columns for the Arena di Verona, founded by Gianluca Rana from the namesake pasta factory, and Sandro Veronesi, patron of the Oniverse Group, with Gruppo Editoriale Athesis as media partner.