June 23, 2017
George Gagnidze to inaugurate the 2017 season of the Arena Opera Festival in Verona
On June 23 & 29 and on July 7, 2017 the Georgian baritone will sing the title role of Nabucco at the Arena di Verona in a new production by Arnaud Bernard and under the musical direction of Daniel Oren.
“I’m delighted to inaugurate the season of a prestigious festival such as that of the Arena of Verona”, states the Georgian baritone. “I am familiar with the acoustics of this huge space and feel extremely well guided by Maestro Daniel Oren and stage director Arnaud Bernard.” Regarding the role he has been invited to perform, George Gagnidze says: “It is a role that fits me very well. Singing it is immensely satisfying, and it is undoubtedly one of my favorite parts.”
George Gagnidze is returning to the Arena of Verona after his highly acclaimed portrayal of Giorgio Germont in La traviata in 2011. He made his role debut as Nabucco at the Nationaltheater of Weimar and later reprised it at the Vienna State Opera and the Chorégies d’Orange Opera Festival in France.
After this Nabucco, the baritone travels to London to make his BBC Proms debut as Šakovlity in Hovanščina, sings Alfio in Cavalleria rusticana and Tonio in Pagliacci at the Hamburg State Opera, Tonio in Pagliacci at the Metropolitan Opera, Amonasro in Aida at the Teatro alla Scala and Teatro Real di Madrid, and debuts the role of Barnaba in La Gioconda at the Deutsche Oper di Berlino.
Information about Nabucco at the Arena di Verona:
Nabucco: George Gagnidze (June 23, 29 – July 7), Leonardo Lòpez Linares (July 12, 15, 18 – August 9), Boris Statsenko (August 9, 12, 18), Sebastian Catana (August 23, 26)
Ismaele: Walter Fraccaro (June 23, 29 – July 7), Mikheil Sheshaberidze (1 July 12, 15, 18 – August 9 ), Rubens Pelizzari (August 12, 18, 23, 26)
Zaccaria: Stanislav Trofimov (June 23, 29 – July 7 – August 23, 26), Rafał Siwek (July 12, 15, 18/), In-Sung Sim (August 4, 9, 12, 18)
Abigaille: Tatiana Melnychenko (June 23, 29 – July 7), Rebeka Lokar (July 12, 15, 18), Anna Pirozzi (August 4, 9, 12), Susanna Branchini (August 18, 23, 26)
Fenena: Carmen Topciu (June 23, 29/6 – July 7, 12 – August 4), Anna Malavasi (July 15, 18), Nino Surguladze (August 9, 12, 18, 23, 26)
Gran Sacerdote di Belo: Romano Dal Zovo (Jun 23, 29/6 – July 7, 12, 15, 18), Nicolò Ceriani (August 4, 9, 12, 18, 23, 26)
Abdallo: Paolo Antognetti (June 23, 29 – July 7, August 18, 23, 26), Cristiano Olivieri (July 12, 15, 18 – August 4, 9, 12)
Anna: Madina Karbeli (June 23, 29 – July 7, 12, 15, 18 – August 4), Elena Borin (August 9, 12, 18, 23, 26)
Stage director: Arnaud Bernard
Conductor: Daniel Oren (23, 29/6 – 7/7 – 4, 12, 18, 23, 26/8), Jordi Bernàcer (12, 15, 18/7 – 9/8)