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National premiere: Danilo Rea duets virtually at the piano with the stars of opera of the twentieth century for a reinterpretation of opera in a jazz key

The selection includes famous engravings by Maria Callas, Enrico Caruso, Mario Del Monaco, Amelita Galli-Curci, Benianimo Gigli, Alma Gluck, Giacomo Lauri Volpi, in arias by Bellini, Donizetti, Mascagni, Rossini, Puccini

TAORMINA – A very special version of “Casta diva”, in which the wonderful voice of Maria Callas resounds without orchestra, but rather accompanied in a jazz key. It is the idea of Danilo Rea and, it goes without saying, the famous, award-winning pianist will be inspired by the inspiration of improvisation in which he is a master. It starts with the Divine and the same treatment will be reserved to follow the recording of Enrico Caruso in “Una furtiva lagrima”. These are just a few examples to get into the spirit of “The Great Opera in Jazz. Danilo Rea and the Singing Stars”, project conceived to pay homage to legendary opera singers of the twentieth century Italian.

This is the evening event that constitutes the preview of the Bellini International Context, promoted by the Sicilian Region in the sign of the supreme opera of Catania. The appointment for the national premiere is for Saturday, July 16 at 21:30, in the picturesque scenery of the Ancient Theatre of Taormina. An extraordinary experience thanks to the technology that will revive the voices of the great opera singers of the ‘900, extracted from historical recordings.

The BIC is realized by the Region in collaboration with important institutions:  Comune di Catania e Catania Summer Fest, Comune di Taormina, Teatro Massimo Bellini, Teatro Massimo di Palermo e Teatro Vittorio Emanuele di Messina, Fondazione Orchestra Sinfonica Siciliana, Taormina Art Sicily Foundation with Archaeological Park of Naxos Taormina, Archdiocese and University of Catania, Istituto Superiore di Studi Musicali  “Vincenzo Bellini” of Catania,  Conservatory “Arcangelo Corelli” of Messina. The preview with Danilo Rea is in particular realized in partnership with the Taormina Arte Sicilia Foundation, which is celebrating its fortieth anniversary.

Vincenzo Bellini, standard bearer of romantic melodrama, becomes so soul and propeller of cultural tourism. This is the mission of the prestigious festival, strongly wanted by the President of the Regione Nello Musumeci and the Councillor for Tourism, Sport and Entertainment Manlio Messina.

Danilo Rea, among the protagonists of the world jazz scene, will pay his homage to opera duet virtually with unforgettable and unforgettable singers of the ‘900, as Maria Callas, Enrico Caruso, Mario Del Monaco, Beniamino Gigli, Amelita Galli-Curci, Alma Gluck, Giacomo Lauri-Volpi, in pages by Bellini, Donizetti, Mascagni. Rossini, Verdi.

A world premiere of great attraction anticipates the calendar of the festival that will take place in Catania from 1 September to 2 October, and already assimilated to the events that from Salzburg to Pesaro, from Parma to Torre del Lago, from Bayreuth to Bergamo celebrate, in their respective homelands, Mozart and Rossini, Verdi and Puccini, Donizetti and Wagner.

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