George Gagnidze to debut at Naples’ Teatro San Carlo in ‘Cavalleria Rusticana’

A bill of Cavalleria Rusticana will see Georgian baritone George Gagnidze have his debut at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples starting this Saturday, within the San Carlo Opera Festival.

Cast in the role of Alfio, Gagnidze will be joined on stage by the likes of mezzo-sopranos Violeta Urmana and Leyla Martinucci and tenor Marcelo Álvarez in five shows of the programme.

In the 2012-premiered production by director Pippo Delbono, the roster of performers will reinterpret Pietro Mascagni’s 1890 work set in Sicily.

The Georgian singer shared his excitement at his first show at the Naples theatre with social media followers last weekend:

Skilfully cleaned up from the exasperated stereotypes of Sicilians and from folkloristic tones, this is a solemn Cavalleria hit by the surprising lighting of Alessandro Carletti,” a preview for the show said.

The Naples theatre also prefaced the bill by calling it a “human poem” based on a “sombre affair” by playwright Giovanni Verga.

The one-hour, 10-minute production will feature costume design by Giusi Giustino and sets by Sergio Tramonti, while the Teatro San Carlo orchestra is set to be led by Juraj Valčuha, and the venue’s choir by Gea Garatti.

Gagnidze has performed the Mascagni show at internationally renowned theatres including a 2017 appearance at the Staatsoper Hamburg and last year’s bill at the Metropolitan Opera.

The Naples bill of Cavalleria Rusticana will run between July 6-14.