In the early hours of the morning, the bars and cafès are still open and the streets are still full of people; the days in Martin Franca have a different rhythm to them from my normal routine. Everything starts early, but at midday the streets start to empty and following lunch, it is siesta time. Nothing moves and little happens until around 5:00 p.m. It is, therefore, completely normal for the operas to begin late, and end late too. Last evening Handel’s “Rinaldo” finished just before 1 a.m. This morning I woke up tired!

After a morning coffee and a brioche I eventually made it the Picasso exhibition in the Palazzo Ducale. Focusing mainly on his work in ceramics, it is only a small display, but quite interesting. The titles of his works are very imaginative – such as “Hand with a Fish” which is a design on a plate of a hand with a fish.

I completed the third interview of the week in the afternoon, this time with the talented Carmela Remigio. I thought it would be a good idea to interview her as I shall be reviewing at least six operas in which she will be starring, over the coming months, starting with Donizetti’s “Il Castello di Kenilworth,” at the Donizetti Festival in Bergamo, where she will sing the role of Amelia.

In the evening there was a splendidly sung concert, “Concerto per lo Spirito,” in the Basilica di San Martino. Ferdinando Sulla conducted the Orchestra ICO della Magna Grecia in Rossini’s “Messa” and Testoni’s “Trè prezzo sacri.” The soloists included the countertenor Raffaele Pè, who performed so well in Scarlatti’s “Il trionfo dell’onore,” two nights ago, and reaffirmed the impression that he is a singer with substantial talent.