"Barbatelle ovvero Una di vino commedia" – Buffo entertainment

"Barbatelle ovvero Una di vino commedia" is an opera with prose (Singspiel, buffo entertainmnet), or theater with music, freely taken from the comedy "Barbatelle" by Giancarlo Cignozzi; music by Luis Bacalov, libretto by Giancarlo Cignozzi, with the collaboration of Francesca Verducci for the melodies, and directed by Carlos Branca (lasting 90 minutes approx).

The opera – commission of laVerdi for its season of Expo 2015 – will be premiered and performed on a single date on Saturday, 6th June (4:00 p.m.), at the Auditorium of Milan in Largo Mahler, by the "Giuseppe Verdi" Symphonic Orchestra and Symphonic Choir of Milan, directed respectively by Luis Bacalov and Erina Gambarini.

«It is no coincidence, the choice of the theme of wine for this new original opera by Luis Bacalov – the General Manager of laVerdi Luigi Corbani says –. The connection with the philosophy of the Expo of Milan is clear: in effect, wine is not only a product of the land but is a cultural model, fruit of the work and intelligence of many people, which is rooted in our culture that goes back thousands of years».

As highlighted by the Chairman of the Brunello di Montalcino Wine Consortium, Fabrizio Bindocci, «Wine, especially a great wine like Brunello, is history, tradition and culture linked to a territory. Already ten years ago, on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Consortium, we supported the publication of the book by Carlo Cignozzi. Today, with the opera by Bacalov, premiered by laVerdi of Milan, we have another great opportunity to make people talk about Brunello».



The cast of the singers is composed of Federica Vitali (Malvy), Francesca Pacileo (Syrah), Katerina Kotsou (Dolcetta), Matteo Mezzaro (Pinot Noir), Raffaele Facciolà (Nebbiolo, Gwandar), Marco Calabrese (Burattinaio), Dario Ciotoli (Duka), Matteo d’Apolito (Amarone), Daniele Caputo (Cabernet Franc), Andrea Vincenzo Bonsignore (Petit Verdot).

On stage, also the actors Lorenzo Frediani, Alessandro Grima, Ivano La Rosa and Gabriele Scaprino of the "Paolo Grassi" Civic Theater School of Milan, in the roles of Caberlot, Merlot, Sangiò and Aglianico.



Director’s notes by Carlos Branca

For this original opera, with an innovative and attractive topic, perfectly present, I thought it would be interesting to find a modern, popular, of our time drama code. When we, the directors, are called to work on classical operas, very often we are conditioned by all the material that came before us and often our work of directorial concept can result a little bit "forced".



Moreover, many times, during the direction of opera singers as actors (without forgetting that, in addition to being singers, they are actors), it happens to me to find myself in front of some clichés that I call "silent movie effect", because players express situations, even dramatic, with exaggerated gestures, forcibly descriptive, sometimes with the effect to make a dramatic aria a caricature or false.



In this case, however, I widely and consciously took advantage from these clichés, being a comic opera, having a cast of very good and expressive singers and actors, that I could make move on the stage without inculcating in them the fear of the voice and of singing.



Information on the Show:



"Barbatelle ovvero Una di vino commedia" – buffo entertainment



Music by Luis Bacalov, libretto by Giancarlo Cignozzi, melodies by Franca Verducci



Giuseppe Verdi Symphonic Orchestra of Milan

Giuseppe Verdi Symphonic Choir of Milan

Chorus Master: Erina Gambarini

Director: Luis Bacalov



Tickets

Euro 35/15



Time: 4:00 p.m.



Info and reservations:

Cariplo Foundation Milan Auditorium, Largo Mahler,

opening hours: Tue – Sun hours 2:30 to 7:00 p.m.,

tel. 02.83389401/2/3;

Ticket office: Via Clerici 3 (Cordusio)

opening hours: Mon – Fri 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., Sat 2:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.,

tel. 02.83389.334 www.laverdi.org