The Teatro Nuovo has announced its 2020 Festival, which will feature two rarely performed Rossini works. One is a virtuosic and rarely-attempted drama, and the other, a U.S. premiere.

The first opera of the festival will be “Maometto Secondo,” which was written by della Valle. The rarely performed work contains futuristic musical architecture, high drama, impetuous virtuosity, and a hair-raising tragic finale.

The second opera is the U.S. premiere of “Il Vero Omaggio,” an hour-long mini-opera commissioned by Metternich to entertain the diplomats of the Holy Alliance in 1822.

This is the third season for Teatro Nuovo. Last season the company showed “La Gazza Ladra (another Rossini gem)” and “La Straniera,” which OperaWire raved about. Dates and casting will be announced later.