The Teatro Massimo di Palermo has announced the 2020 season, which will feature a number of new productions, stars, and concert performances.

Opera

The season opens with Wagner’s “Parsifal” conducted by Omer Meir Wellber and directed by Graham Vick. The work stars Daniel Kirch in the title role, Eva Maria Westbroek, Evgeny Nikitin, John Relyea, and Thomas Gazheli.

Performance Dates: Jan. 26-Feb. 2, 2020

Nicola Alaimo sings the title role in Verdi’s “Falstaff” alongside Alessandro Luongo, Giorgio Misseri and Giovanni Sala sharing the role of Fenton, Carlo Bosi, Massimiliano Chiarolla, Alessandro Spina, Roberta Mantegna and Angela Nisi as Alice Ford. Also in the cast are Jessica Nuccio, Adriana Di Paola, and Jurgita Adamonyte. Daniel Oren conducts the production Jacopo Spirei.

Performance Dates: Feb. 21-27, 2020

Andrea Battistoni conducts a new production of Verdi’s “Nabucco” by Andrea Cigni. Amartuvshin Enkhbat and Alberto Gazale share the title role with Francesco Pio Galasso and Rubens Pelizzari alternating as Ismaele.

Simón Orfila and Luca Tittoto alternate the role of Zaccaria, while Saioa Hernández sings the role of Abigaille and Silvia Beltrami sings Fenena.

Performance Dates: March 13-21, 2020

Roberto Abbado conducts Donizetti’ “Roberto Devereux” with Maria Agresta and Davinia Rodríguez sharing the role of Elisabetta and David Astorga in the title role.

The cast is rounded out by Davide Luciano and Federico Longhi sharing the role of Nottingham and Vasilisa Berzhanskaia and Chiara Amarù as Sara. Alessandro Talevi directs the production.

Performance Dates: April 29-May 7, 2020 

Vittorio Prato, Angela Meade, Desirée Rancatore, and Celso Albelo star in Bellini’s “Il Pirata” with Francesco Ivan Ciampa conducting and Luigi Di Gangi and Ugo Giacomazzi directing the production.

Performance Dates: June 3-9, 2020

The Da Ponte Trilogy 

Bogdan Baciu, Sarah Jane Brandon, Laura Giordano, Riccardo Fassi, and Riccardo Novaro star in Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro” with Omer Meir Wellber conducting. The production will be directed by Jean Philippe Clarac and Olivier Deloeuil.

Performance Dates: Sept. 15-26, 2020

Omer Meir Wellber conducts Mozart’s “Così fan tutte” with Aga Mikolaj, Evan Hughes, and Riccardo Novaro. The production is by Jean Philippe Clarac and Olivier Deloeuil.

Performance Dates: Sept. 15-29, 2020

The final Da Ponte opera “Don Giovanni” will star Bogdan Baciu, Sarah Jane Brandon, Aga Mikolaj, Riccardo Fassi, Evan Hughes, and Laura Giordano. Omer Meir Wellber conducts the production is set to be directed by Jean Philippe Clarac and Olivier Deloeuil.

Performance Dates: Sept. 18-30, 2020

Maria José Siri and Maida Hundeling share the title role in Puccini’s “Manon Lescaut” with Yusif Eyvazov and Carlo Ventre as Des Greiux. Alessio Arduini rounds out the cast with Jader Bignamini conducting the production by Pier Francesco Maestrini.

Performance Dates: Oct. 15-24, 2020

Violeta Urmana, Irene Theorin, and Elisabeth Strid star in R. Strauss’ “Elektra” with Gabriele Ferro condcuting Ruth Berghaus’ production.

Performance Dates: Nov. 24-Dec. 2, 2020

Concerts

Omer Meir Wellber conducts Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with soloists Emily Dorn, Chiara Amarù, Maximillian Schmitt, and John Relyea

Performance Date: Jan. 4, 2020

Rinaldo Alessandrini conducts Rameau’s Suite da Les Boréades, Händel’s Concerto Grosso, and Vivaldi’s Gloria. The Coro del Conservatorio A. Scarlatti di Palermo sings in the performance.

Performance Date: Feb. 17, 2020

Nicola Luisotti conducts Rossini’s Stabat Mater with Maria Agresta, René Barbera, Marianna Pizzolato, and Krzysztof Bączyk.

Performance Date: April 11, 2020

Lawrence Brownlee and Levy Sekgapane team up for a recital filled with music by Donizetti and Rossini. The two tenors are accompanied by Giulio Zappa.

Performance Date: Oct. 11, 2020

Anna Caterina Antonacci presents a recital with pianist Donald Sulzen. The program will include music by Tosti, Hahn, Poulenc, and Respighi. 

Performance Date: Nov. 15, 2020