Rossini Mania: an overview

Apart from a brief appearance in a concert, the exceptional artist Cecilia Bartoli has never actually sung at the Vienna State Opera. Her long-awaited house debut with two operas and a gala is now being made up for in a special way.

Unlike usual, the current season will not end on June 30th, but will be extended into July with a week organised by Cecilia Bartoli herself in honour of Gioachino Rossini, the composer whom Bartoli affectionately and reverently calls her "mentor" - Rossini Mania. Bartoli herself appears before her audience as the central singer in this guest performance of the Opéra Monte-Carlo.
It is no coincidence that this tribute to the great composer is taking place in the summer of 2022. After all, exactly 200 years ago, a unique, much-acclaimed cultural event took place that went down in music history as the »Viennese Rossini Fever« and also ensured the lasting popularity of the Italian composer in this country.

Under the musical direction of Gianluca Capuano, the programme includes

• three performances of Il turco in Italia (staging: Jean-Louis Grinda) with Cecilia Bartoli as Donna Fiorilla, Ildebrando D'Arcangelo as Selim, Nicola Alaimo as Don Gernoio and Barry Banks as Don Narciso;
• a semi-staged performance of La cenerentola with Cecilia Bartoli as Angelina, Edgardo Rocha as Don Ramiro, Nicola Alaimo as Dandini and Pietro Spagnoli as Don Magnifico, among others; and finally
• a Rossini Gala, which, in addition to Cecilia Bartoli, brings together numerous renowned artists such as Plácido Domingo, Rolando Villazón and Varduhi Abrahamyan on the State Opera stage.

The orchestra Les Musiciens du Prince-Monaco, founded by Bartoli, will play and the Choeur de l'Opéra de Monte-Carlo will sing.

Rossini Mania will be rounded off by a symposium dealing with Rossini fever and its consequences.

Cecilia Bartoli on her upcoming performances at the Haus am Ring:
»When Bogdan Roščić asked me if I would be interested in accepting a kind of carte blanche at the State Opera in 2022, I immediately connected this honourable invitation with the "Rossini fever" that overtook Vienna in 1822 - and the idea was born to commemorate a little of this musical landslide that swept Vienna when Rossini arrived in this city and presented his best works. I am all the more delighted to be able to recall this musical event again together with my wonderful colleagues. I can't wait to come to Vienna with Rossini!«

The guest performance of the Monte-Carlo Opera takes place under the patronage of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco. The Rossini Gala is a benefit evening in aid of AMADE (Association Mondiale des Amis de l'Enfance) under the patronage and presidency of HRH Princess Caroline of Hanover.

Rossini Mania: an overview

La cenerentola
June 28th, 2022, 7.00 p.m.

Semi-staged performance

Musical direction Gianluca Capuano
Scenic arrangement Claudia Blersch

With Cecilia Bartoli (Angelina), Edgardo Rocha (Don Ramiro), Nicola Alaimo (Dandini), Pietro Spagnoli (Don Magnifico), José Coca Loza (Alidoro), Rosa Bove (Tisbe), Rebeca Olvera (Clorinda)
Les Musiciens du Prince-Monaco, Choeur de l'Opéra de Monte-Carlo

Il turco in Italia
July 3rd, 5th, 7th, 2022, 7 p.m.

Musical direction Gianluca Capuano
Production Jean-Louis Grinda
Stage Rudy Sabounghi
Costumes Jorge Jara
Lighting Laurent Castaingt

With Ildebrando D'Arcangelo (Selim), Cecilia Bartoli (Donna Fiorilla), Nicola Alaimo (Don Geronio), Barry Banks (Don Narciso), Giovanni Romeo (Prosdocimo), Josè Maria Lo Monaco (Zaida), David Astorga (Albazar)
Les Musiciens du Prince-Monaco, Choeur de l'Opéra de Monte-Carlo

Rossini Gala
July 8th 2022, 7.00 p.m.

Musical direction Gianluca Capuano

With Cecilia Bartoli, Varduhi Abrahamyan, Plácido Domingo, Rolando Villazón, Ildebrando D'Arcangelo, Levy Sekgapane, Alessandro Corbelli, Nicola Alaimo, Edgardo Rocha
Les Musiciens du Prince-Monaco

ROSSINI SYMPOSIUM
June 27th, 2022, from 11.00 a.m., Gustav Mahler Hall of the Vienna State Opera

To mark the Rossini focus, a one-day symposium will be held at the Vienna State Opera to explore the composer and his influence on Vienna. How violent was the famous Rossini fever really? What did Rossini know about the Viennese composer scene? Did he really prevent Franz Schubert's breakthrough as an opera composer? And what influence did Rossini have on Viennese music? Researchers will explore all these questions. Admission is free, counting tickets are available here and at the box office (while stocks last).