May 05, 2017
Massimo Cavalletti as Rodrigo di Posa in Don Carlo at the Maggio Musicale
On May 5, 8, 11 and 14, 2017 Massimo Cavalletti will sing the role of Rodrigo di Posa in a Giancarlo Del Monaco production of Giuseppe Verdi’s Don Carlo conducted by Zubin Mehta, one of the highlights of the 80th Maggio Musicale Fiorentino. He will be joined by Roberto Aronica / Sergio Escobar in the title role, Julianna DiGiacomo as Elisabetta di Valois, Dmitry Beloselskiy as Filippo II, Ekaterina Gubanova as Eboli, Eric Halfvarson as The Great Inquisitor and Oleg Tsybulko as a friar. The performance will be broadcast by many international cinemas, telecast live on RAI 5 and radio broadcast on RAI RADIO TRE.
“I am elated to return to the Opera di Firenze, and in particular to the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Festival, in this most beautiful Verdi opera, playing a cherished character who is the quintessential symbol of humankind’s freedom of thought”, says the Tuscan baritone. “Maestro Mehta, like always, knows how to paint and shape music and emotions with his gesture and enormous experience. I made my debut in this role with him at the Zurich Opera in 2011 and now I have a chance to return to it bringing my experience and maturity. Giancarlo Del Monaco’s lavish production, here revived by Sarah Schinasi, with its imposing sets by Carlo Centolavigna and Jesus Ruiz’s rich costumes gives a magnificent portrayal of the late 16th century Spanish court”.
Engagements after this Don Carlo in Florence will lead Massimo Cavalletti to the Edinburgh Festival as Marcello in La bohème, the Savonlinna Festival as Riccardo in I puritani, the Dutch National Opera of Amsterdam in his debut in the title role of Gianni Schicchi, the Paris Opera for his house debut as Figaro in Il barbiere di Siviglia and to the Metropolitan Opera as Enrico in Lucia di Lammermoor.
Information about Don Carlo at the Opera di Firenze / 80th Maggio Musicale Fiorentino:
Roberto Aronica / Sergio Escobar (Don Carlo), Julianna DiGiacomo (Elisabetta di Valois), Dmitry Beloselkiy (Filippo II), Ekaterina Gubanova (Principessa Eboli), Massimo Cavalletti (Rodrigo di Posa), Eric Halfvarson (Il Grande Inquisitore), Oleg Tsybulko (Un frate), Laura Giordano (Voce dal cielo), Simona di Capua (Tebaldo), Enrico Cossutta (Il Conte di Lerma), Saverio Fiore (Un araldo).
Giancarlo Del Monaco (stage director), Zubin Mehta (conductor)
Performances: May 5, 8, 11, 14, 2017