It will be the “wonder” that will distinguish the new and very rich edition of the Stone Theater Opera Festival directed by Francesco Costa and promoted by the Sicilian Opera Choir presided over by Alberto Munafò Siragusa. Myth, history, enchantment, breaths of art, eternal melodies for the Theaters of Greek Roman antiquity in Sicily which will host the new productions for the sixth edition of the internationally prestigious summer event which has established itself among the reference seasons of Sicily and of the Mediterranean.
The monumental operatic title of the 2024 edition of the Teatro Antico of Taormina will be the unfinished Puccini opera, «Turandot», on stage on August 9th with an international cast featuring the Italian-French soprano Chrystelle Di Marco, already highly applauded in the last edition of the Festival, who will embody the icy princess; the vocal power of Eduardo Sandoval will be the victorious hymn of Calaf, while the flexibility of Elena Mosuc, who, on this occasion, will make his debut in Taormina, will be the strength of the sweetness of Liù's character. The Theater of the City of the Centaur, thanks to the synergy with the Archaeological Park of Naxos, will be flooded with the strength and emotional charge that the fairy tale in three acts, based on a libretto by Giuseppe Adami and Renato Simoni, always manages to convey an unprecedented enchantment thanks also to the new mise en espace of Except Sweet and to the vocal sumptuousness of the Sicilian Lyric Choir and the Symphony Orchestra in residence.
Puccini's masterpiece will then be replicated in the Greek Theater of Tindari on Sunday 11 August. Also for the 2024 edition, the collaboration with the “Sicilia, Turismo per tutti” association of Syracuse, led by Bernadette Lo Bianco, will be strengthened, continuing and strengthening the experimental project, pioneer of the simultaneous translation of opera into sign language, which marks the beginning of a real cultural and social revolution, with the prestigious partnership of Rai Accessicità and Rai Pubblic Utility.
Also unmissable is the musical tribute to Ennio Morricone, a now traditional event of the festival; on August 2nd at the Greek Theater of Tindari and on August 10th at the Ancient Theater of Taormina it will be a crescendo of emotions in an intimate and dreamy atmosphere, for a fitting tribute to the great Italian musician, composer and arranger. The new concert will also be performed, for the first time, on August 21st, in the heart of Sicilian baroque: the open-air theater of the Noto staircase.
Lots of new features for this edition: exclusively for the Greek Theater of Tindari, with the artistic direction of Anna Ricciardi, the legend of the Sicilian Modugno will be celebrated on 13 August, on the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of the death of the singer, actor and composer. The multifaceted Apulian artist immersed himself in the spirit of Trinacria with total identification, so much so that he was identified by many as an authentic Sicilian. It will be an innovative work in a captivating symphonic guise with an echo of pop, folk and songwriting cultures, thanks also to the participation of some symbolic faces of Sicilian identity such as Mario Incudine.
Also new is the format dedicated to the spirituality of Franco Battiato, «Batti(A)to spiritual», for vocal ensemble, strings, Celtic harp, which will combine the energy of the stone with the mysticism of the song of the well-known Etna singer-songwriter. Also celebrating the centenary of the philosopher of asystematicity, Manlio Sgalambro.
Over 40 shows for a constant and abundant work of cultural decentralization: the magic of the Andromeda Theater of Santo Stefano Quisquina, the Roman Villa of Terme Vigliatore, the Theater of Giardini Naxos, the Roman Mausoleum of Centuripe, the city of Piazza Armerina, the Theater Greco of Monte Jato, Ragusa Ibla, Catania, the Temple of Hera of Selinunte, the Norman Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul of Agrò, in Casalvecchio Siculo, Palazzo Cagnone of Francavilla di Sicilia will be stages of ancient beauty to celebrate the union between art, music, history and myth.
