The Rossini Opera Festival has announced its 2018 season featuring some of opera’s biggest stars.

The 2018 season will commemorate the 150th anniversary of the composer and will open with “Ricciasro e Zoraide.” The new production, directed by Marshall Pynkoski, is set to star Juan Diego Flórez and Pretty Yende in the leads. Giacomo Sagripanti conducts a new critical edition from the Fondazione Rossini. The work opens August 11, 2018, inaugurating the season.

The second opera of the season will be “Adina.” Opening on August 12, the new version of the work will be directed by Rosetta Cucchi in a co-production with the Wexford Opera Festival and will star Lisette Oropesa in her Pesaro debut. Recent Operalia winner Levyu Sekgapne will also star with Diego Matheuz conducting.

Then on August 13, 2018, Yves Abel leads a new production of “Il Barbiere di Siviglia” with Pier Luigi Pizzi directing. Maxim Mironov stars alongside Pietro Spagnoli, Aya Wakizono, David Luciano, and Michele Pertusi.

The final showcase of the season will be “Il Viaggio a Reims,” directed by Emilio Sagi. Hugo Carrio conducts an ensemble cast of members of the Academia Rossiniana “Alberto Zedda.” “Il Viaggio” will open on August 15, 2018.

The season will include a number of concerts and recitals by Oropesa, Nicola Alaimo, Remo Girone, Eleonora Buratto, Pertusi, and a cabaret Rossini performance.

The Petite Messe Solennelle will also be showcases with Carmela Remigio, Daniela Barcellona, Celso Albelo, and Roberto Tagliavini. Sagripanti conducts.