Soprano Tsisana Giorgadze to debut at La Scala in Woody Allen-directed ‘Gianni Schicchi’
The ‘Gianni Schicchi’ staging comes as part of a new production of the Milan theatre. Photo: Teatro alla Scala.
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Georgian soprano Tsisana Giorgadze will debut on the world-famous stage of Teatro alla Scala in Milan next week when she steps into one of the principal roles of a Gianni Schicchi production staged by director Woody Allen.
The 25-year-old graduate of the Italian theatre’s equally famed academy will be part of the new production of the Milan venue and cast as Lauretta in the opera by Giacomo Puccini.
The July 15 performance featuring Giorgadze is part of a double bill of Prima la musica e poi le parole by Antonio Salieri and Gianni Schicchi in the ongoing 2018-2019 season at La Scala.
Staged by Allen and conducted by Ádám Fischer, the Puccini work has been revived by the Metropolitan Opera stage director Kathleen Smith Belcher, with costume and set design by Santo Loquasto. The production team also involves York Kennedy, who created lighting design for the show.
Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi, coming to La Scala from Los Angeles in Woody Allen’s classic production, will see students of the Accademia sharing the stage with Ambrogio Maestri,” a preview from the theatre said.
The Georgian soprano will be partnered on stage by a cast that includes Ambrogio Maestri as Gianni Schicchi, Valeria Girardello in the role of Zita and Hun Kim as Rinuccio.
Premiering at the Metropolitan Opera in 1918, Puccini’s comic production is based on a fragment from Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri.
The work follows Gianni Schicchi, a Medieval Italian knight condemned to hell for impersonating Buoso Donati, another historical character, to gain benefits from the latter’s will. The setting for the script is the late 13th century Florence.
Giorgadze will be cast in the show following her performances at La Scala in La Cenerentola earlier this year, with shows at the Milan venue and the celebrated Teatro Regio di Parma among her appearances during the last season.
The double bill of Prima la musica e poi le parole and Gianni Schicchi has been running since July 6 and will conclude on July 19.
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