On August 2, 2019 Annalisa Stroppa will make her debut at the Chorégies d’Orange Festival, while simultaneously adding to her repertoire the role of Zerlina in Don Giovanni, in a new production by Davide Livermore and under the musical direction of Frédéric Chaslin. She will share the stage with Erwin Schrott in the title role, Adrian Sâmpetrean as Leporello, Mariangela Sicilia as Donna Anna, Karine Deshayes as Donna Elvira, Stanislav de Barbeyrac as Don Ottavio, Igor Bakan as Masetto and AlexeÏ Tikhomirov as Il Commendatore.

“I am elated and honored to make my debut at this prestigious festival, Les Chorégies d’Orange, the oldest operatic festival in France, which this year celebrates its 150th birthday.”, states the Brescia-born mezzo-soprano. “The Roman amphitheater is entrancing, magic, and it is hard to believe how so vast a space has such perfect acoustics that need no amplification. This is a double debut for me, as with Zerlina I am completing the Da Ponte/Mozart trilogy after Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro and Dorabella in Così fan tutte. In this contemporary reading of Don Giovanni, Zerlina is a young, sparkling and uninhibited young peasant who lives love like a game until she decides to take shelter in Masetto’s real and sincere affection. I couldn’t ask for more wonderful colleagues, and I am collaborating with such an extraordinary conductor, Maestro Chaslin and an exceptional director, Davide Livermore.”

After this Orange Don Giovanni, upcoming engagements for Annalisa Stroppa include Fenena in Nabucco at the Teatro Regio Parma, the title role of La cenerentola at the Hamburg State Opera, Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia at the Teatro Carlo Felice Genoa and the Bavarian State Opera Munich, and Adalgisa in Norma at the Teatro San Carlo Naples.

Information about Don Giovanni at Les Chorégies d’Orange:

Don Giovanni: Erwin Schrott; Leporello: Adrian Sâmpetrean; Donna Anna: Mariangela Sicilia; Donna Elvira: Karine Deshayes; Don Ottavio: Stanislav de Barbeyrac; Zerlina: Annalisa Stroppa; Masetto: Igor Bakan; Il Commendatore: AlexeÏ Tikhomirov
Frédéric Chaslin, conductor; Davide Livermore, stage director
Performances: August 2, 6, 2019

[Photo by Silvia Lelli]