Maria Rita Combattelli

From the Teatro Verdi in Trieste, the world premiere of ‘Amorosa presenza’, loosely based on the novel of the same name by Vincenzo Cerami, and the opera debut of Oscar-winning composer Nicola Piovani. Conducted by Maestro Piovani, with stage direction by Chiara Muti.

When a passionate poet falls for a young woman, she is stirred by his ardent declaration of love. Yet she is promised to another and ends up rejecting him, prompting him to make a fatal gesture.

The Orchestra and Chorus of the Petruzzelli Theater in Bari perform “The Labyrinth of Crete,” an opera for children written and directed by Nicola Piovani. Two clowns, Don Cosimo and Papèla, tell the story—loosely based on the exploits of Theseus—who, chosen to be sacrificed to the Minotaur, faces the monster with the help of Ariadne.