The Opening Concert
The fiery drama of Italian operatic and choral treasures launches the Edinburgh International Festival’s 2016 Usher Hall concerts, in the first of a two-concert residency from Rome’s world-renowned Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia under Music Director Sir Antonio Pappano.
Praised for the brilliance and finesse of their hugely characterful performances, Pappano and his Orchestra are joined by four fine international opera soloists and the mighty Edinburgh Festival Chorus in Rossini’s dazzling Stabat Mater, a moving choral work blending the sacred and the operatic depicting Christ’s agony on the cross, conveyed in luminous arias and powerful choruses.
To open the concert, the Orchestra and Pappano contrast instrumental music from three Shakespeare-themed Italian operas: the rousing Sinfonia from Rossini’s Otello; the dramatic introduction to Bellini’s take on the Romeo and Juliet story; and stirring ballet music from Verdi’s Macbeth.
This concert will be broadcast on BBC Radio 3 on Monday 12 September at 7.30pm
The pairing of Pappano and Santa Cecilia has proven itself as a major artistic brand of our time.
ResMusica
Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia
Sir Antonio Pappano Conductor
Edinburgh Festival Chorus
Christopher Bell Chorus Master
Carmen Giannattasio Soprano
Marianna Pizzolato Mezzo soprano
Yijie Shi Tenor
Roberto Tagliavini Bass
Rossini Sinfonia from Otello
Bellini Sinfonia from I Capuleti e i Montecchi
Verdi Ballabile from Macbeth
Rossini Stabat Mater
More information about some of the artists
Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia
Website
Sir Antonio Pappano
Website
Edinburgh Festival Chorus
Website