On May 22, Annalisa Stroppa will sing the title role of Carmen in a reduced version at the Maifestspiele in Wiesbaden. The prestigious Mai-Festspiele has announced a special edition of the yearly festival, adapted to the Covid-19 security and hygiene guidelines with the Italian mezzo-soprano starring in the title part of Bizet’s opera on May 22.

Annalisa Stroppa will be the first Italian opera singer to appear in front of an audience after the closure of international theatres in March due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The performance in Wiesbaden will be in concert, without orchestra but accompanied by piano and without choir, featuring excerpts from the opera. There will be a security distance in between the singers and the audience according to the social distancing regulations. Three seats will be empty in between single attendees of the show or people from the same household and only every second row will be occupied at all. People attending the performance have to wear a mask covering their faces and noses, and the theatre’s restaurant service in the intermission will be moved from inside to outside of the theatre. There is a maximum of one person allowed in the bathrooms and disinfectant will be available on several spots in the theatre.

The Staatstheater Wiesbaden is the first opera house to re-open following the global health emergency that began in March and is also presenting highlights from Tristan und Isolde as well as several concerts and recitals during the festival.

Annalisa Stroppa made her festival debut in 2015 as Adalgisa in Norma alongside Edita Gruberova in the title role. Recent performances as Carmen led the Brescia born mezzo-soprano in a new production to the Bregenz Festival and to the opera house in Palma de Mallorca.

[Photo by Victor Santiago]