by In Trieste
Amorosa Presenza, the first opera written by an Oscar – winning composer Nicola Piovani, will go on Teatro Verdi’s stage this Friday, 21 January at 8:30 pm.
Maestro Piovani is internationally known as the winner of the 1999 Best Original Dramatic Score Oscar for the film La vita è bella (Life is beautiful) by Roberto Benigni.
The opera “Amorosa Presenza” (amorous presence) is in two acts and has distant origins. The first idea dates back to 1977, when it was then stored in a drawer for a long time.
The opera was presented at Verdi theater last weekend, with many local politicians, writers and artists attending.
“It’s time to get back to normality” said the mayor of Trieste, Roberto Dipiazza “We are excited to be here today.”
“I thank Nicola for having given me an opportunity to work alongside a composer, which has always been my dream” said the director Chiara Muti. “Many times directors want to make sure the music corresponds to the plot and I think in this opera we made it happen.”
“An idea to come out with a new opera, which will hopefully take off, is a huge opportunity for Verdi’s theater. Nicola’s music is classic in its own way and it has recalls of the famous composers of the past with his own style, through melancholy to joy” added deputy mayor Serena Tonel.
“We have to restart. And I think we’re on the right path. We know it’s a difficult moment but I believe we can get back to euphoria of packed full theaters soon” said superintendent Giuliano Polo.
“When I work with the director I put all of my strength to enter into his or her poetics. We need to be flexible, to be able to write something peculiar. When I work on an opera like this, I would never write anything because its in vogue, I need to be completely true to myself to be able to create something worthwhile,” added maestro Piovani.
“The story takes place in the 70s where the magic of intense longing still existed, as opposed to nowadays where everything is instant and online” said director Chiara Muti when describing the plot of the opera. “This opera discovers the masculine and feminine inside us, the many sides of every person that can be brought out. Disguised as a woman, the main character finds out the feminine side in himself. All this was written in the 70s but it’s still important today.”
This opera will be a milestone in the long and rich history of the Verdi Theater in Trieste.
The opening night of the opera is on Friday, 21 January 8:30 pm.
Tickets can be purchased at Verdi’s box office every day until 4 pm or online.
