Fabio Luisi will step down as Music Director of the Festival della Valle d’Itria and will assume the position of Music Director Emeritus. The conductor announced the news following the end of the of the 52nd season. In a statement he said, “I participated in the Festival for the first time in 1981 and I consider it like a family. {…}
The Festival della Valle d’Itria presented its 2026 “Lorenzo and Pasquale D’Arcangelo” Journalism Award to music critic Alessandro Cammarano on July 29, 202 at the Park Hotel San Michele in Martina Franca. The award was presented by Michele Punzi, president of the Paolo Grassi Foundation, and Silvia Colasanti, artistic director of the Festival. Presented annually since 1995, the prize recognizes {…}
Silvia Colasanti, Artistic Director of Festival della Valle d’Itria, announced that the Festival’s theme for 2026 is “Mediterranean.” Concluding her first edition of the Festival, Colasanti gave audiences a preview of next year’s Festival by saying, “Seen as the cradle of myth, a crossroads of cultures, a welcoming sea, this theme will provide food for thought on our history and {…}
The 51st Festival della Valle d’Itria in Martina Franca has announced its 2025 season with the theme “Guerre e pace.” The festival will be held between July 18 and August 3, 2025. Here is a look at the opera highlights: Operas Rossini’s “Tancredi” will be presened with Sesto Quatrini conducitng the Orchestra dell’Accademia del Teatro alla Scala. The opera will star {…}
(Credit: Fabrizio Sansoni) The Festival della Valle d’Itria in Martina Franca has announced that Silvia Colasanti will be the new Artistic Director and the director of the Accademia del Belcanto “Rodolfo Celletti.” Colasanti, a well-known composer, said, “I take on the artistic direction of the Martina Franca Valle d’Itria Festival and the ‘Rodolfo Celletti’ Belcanto Academy with the awareness of {…}
The Festival della Valle d’Itria is set to present its third opera ” Aladino e la lampada magica” by Nino Rota. The opera, which will be presented at the Palazzo Ducale di Martina Franca, will be presented on July 30, August 1, and 4, 2024. The work, which will has been absent from theaters and festivals for many years, is {…}
This week the Festival Valle d’Itria in Martina Franca is set to open a new production of Bellini’s “Norma” which will be performed in Roger Parker’s Ricordi edition. The version will see two sopranos in the opera, which is close to what Bellini originally intended. Among the artists enlisted for this production is Jacquelyn Wagner. Wagner will make her house {…}
The Festival della Valle d’Itria in Martina Franca has announced the titles for the 2024 season which will celebrate its 50th anniversary. Operas The season will open on July 17, 2024, with Bellini’s “Norma” in an 1831 version. The opera will be presented as an homage to the festival’s past and will be presented with two sopranos singing the roles {…}
The Festival della Valle d’Itria has announced its 49th edition. The season opens with “Il Turco in Italia” conducted by Michele Spotti and directed by Silvia Paoli. Performance Dates: July 18 – August 6, 2023 Francisco Soriano will conduct Massenet’s “L’Adorable Bel-Boul” with Davide Garattini Raimondi directing. Performance Dates: July 19 & 20, 2023 Also on offer is Pietro Auletta’s {…}
The Festival della Valle D’Itria in Martina Franca has announced a conductor change for “Beatrice di Tenda” The company noted that Fabio Luisi has tested positive for COVID-19 and will therefore not be able to conduct the Bellini work. As a result, Michele Spotti will conduct the opera on July 23 and 25, 2022 at the Palazzo Ducale. Spotti is {…}
The 48th edition of the Festival della Valle d’Itria in Martina Franca has announced its 2022 season. The season, which will be held between July 19th and August 6, 2022 in Martina Franca, will be the first program under new artistic director, Sebastian F. Schwarz. The opening night of the season will be on July 19 in Martina Franca’s Palazzo {…}