SEC announces the programming of the 2019 Amazon Opera Festival

Event, which runs from April 26 to May 30, celebrates the birth centenary of Amazonian conductor and composer Cláudio Santoro with premiere of the revised version of 'Alma' and recital.

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In 2019, the Amazon Opera Festival (FAO) reaches its 22nd edition celebrating the birth centenary of Claudio Santorothe important Amazonian composer and conductor, with the presentation of the opera "Alma" (Soul) and a recital with songs composed by Santoro. Carried out by the Amazonas Government, through the State Secretariat of Culture (SEC), with master sponsorship from Bradesco, through the Incentive to Culture Law, the Ministry of Citizenship and the Special Secretariat of Culture, the event will take place from April 26 to May 30.

"It is an honor to honor one of the biggest names in Amazonian art at the festival that is already a tradition in our state. We will have over a month of programming with a lot of talent, emotion, and reflection on the paths of culture and the possibilities of the creative economy. The Amazon Opera Festival is a must-see", said the State Secretary of Culture, Marcos Apolo Muniz.

"Ernani", by Giuseppe Verdi, will open the program, in concert form, at Teatro Amazonas, on April 26, at 8pm, with the Amazonas Choir, the Amazonas Chamber Orchestra and the Amazonas Philharmonic Experimental Orchestra, conducted by Luiz Fernando Malheiro. Based on Victor Hugo's work, the story takes place in early 16th century Spain and tells the dramatic love story of Ernani and Elvira, permeated by tribulations, encounters, and missed opportunities.

The second work to be staged at FAO 2019, Gaetano Donizetti's "Maria Stuarda" is based on Friedrich Schiller's play and chronicles the rivalry between cousins Mary, Queen of Scots, and Elizabeth, Queen of England. It is part of a trilogy - "Elisabetta al Castello di Kenilworth," "Maria Stuarda," and "Roberto Devereux" - that has Elizabeth I as the main character. It will be the Brazilian premiere of the critical edition of the work, performed by the Amazonas Choir and the Amazonas Philharmonic, conducted by Marcelo de Jesus.

Tosca", by Giacomo Puccini, is about the tragic story of the famous singer Floria Tosca and her lover, the painter Mario Cavaradossi, who lived in Rome in 1800, at the end of the period under Napoleon's domination. The staging will be performed by the Amazonas Choir, the Children's Choir from the Claudio Santoro Arts and Crafts High School, and the Amazonas Philharmonic, conducted by Luiz Fernando Malheiro.

Following the program is the Baroque Opera Laboratory - which has been part of FAO's attractions for three editions - with "Mater Dolorosa", based on the cantata "Stabat Mater Dolorosa", by Giovanni Pergolesi, which reflects on Mary's suffering during the Passion of Christ. The show will feature the Experimental Ballet of the Amazonas Dance Corps, the Vocal Group of the Artistic Corps, and the Amazonas Chamber Orchestra, with musical direction by Átila de Paula.

A great tribute to Claudio Santoro will be paid with the premiere of a revisited version of "Alma" (Soul), an opera in four acts by the Amazon composer, based on the first part of the trilogy "Os condenados" (The Damned), by Oswald de Andrade. The story takes place in São Paulo in the 1920s and shows the protagonist's troubled relationship with the pimp Mauro, with whom she is in love. The performance will feature the Amazonas Dance Corps, the Amazonas Choir, and the Amazonas Philharmonic, conducted by Marcelo de Jesus and Otávio Simões.

Deputy artistic director of the festival, Marcelo de Jesus highlights the diversity of the FAO 2019 program. "The festival is very eclectic this year. Besides the important tribute to Claudio Santoro, with the premiere of the new edition of 'Alma' - with several corrections he made to the scores - we have 'Tosca', a very successful title, repertoire of all opera houses; 'Ernani', which is from the beginning of Verdi's career, with all the symbolism of being performed by the Orquestra Experimental, a young orchestra; 'Maria Stuarda' premiering in Brazil with the revised edition of this very important work in the bel-canto repertoire. bel-canto repertoireand the baroque experiment 'Mater Dolorosa,' the oldest music we will have in the festival, but perhaps the most contemporary in conception," he comments.

Luiz Fernando Malheiro, FAO's artistic director, also highlights the quality of the cast, which includes local, national, and international artists. "We have an important cast. The opera that will open the Festival, 'Ernani', will have an expressive cast on the international scene, including two Brazilians: Luiz Ottavio Faria, from Rio de Janeiro, who has been in the main opera houses in Europe for many years, and Rodolfo Giugliani, a baritone from São Paulo who also has a very interesting career abroad," he comments. "And also the Mexican Maria Katzarava, who was the winner of 'Operalia' competition, organized by Plácido Domingo; and the leading man Enrique Bravo, who is Chilean by birth, but has been living in Manaus for 20 years, and who deserves a highlight," he points out.

Tickets for FAO 2019 are already available at the Teatro Amazonas box office and on the website bilheteriadigital.com/teatroamazonaswith prices ranging from R$2.50 to R$60.

This year, the festival will be broadcast live on local TV Cultura. Some operas will be recorded by the network for national broadcasting.

Bradesco Recital

The 22nd FAO's program will also include the Bradesco Recital, which will be presented at the Teatro da Instalação on May 29th, with a repertoire consisting of songs by Claudio Santoro performed by the Amazonas Chamber Orchestra.

Opera Kids

The project "Opera Mirim" will present "L'enfant et les Sortilèges" (The Boy and the Sortileges), by Maurice Ravel, in Portuguese and performed with puppets by the artists of the Little Theater of the World. It is a metaphor about childhood and maturing, told through the story of a boy who, with the help of enchanted objects, finds a more generous way of living. There will be presentations in the hall of the Teatro Amazonas, in neighborhoods in the four zones of the city, and in two inland cities: Santa Isabel do Rio Negro and Benjamin Constant.

Accessibility

The XXII FAO program will also be accessible for people with disabilities (PCDs). In the operas that will be presented at Teatro Amazonas there will be a reception for people with disabilities, audiodescription service and interpreters of the Brazilian Sign Language (Libras). The Theater has accessible friezes for people in wheelchairs. At the Bradesco Recital, at Teatro da Instalação, there will be a Libras interpreter. The theater is also accessible to people in wheelchairs.

Creative Economy

The program also includes a moment to discuss and think about opera, in a meeting with the theme "Opera Theaters and the Creative Economy in Latin America", at the Palácio da Justiça Cultural Center, on May 26, from 9am to 1pm. The initiative is aimed at presenting data and success cases about the Opera Industry in Latin America.

On the occasion, a document will be signed recognizing the importance and relevance of Opera Latinoamérica (OLA) for the lyrical art in Latin America, a pact between the Ministry of Citizenship and the organization so that the opera market in Brazil is looked at in an objective and professional way, considering its economic, cultural, and social impact.

The meeting will be attended by the Amazonas State Secretary of Culture, Marcos Apolo Muniz; the Special Secretary of Culture of the Ministry of Citizenship, Henrique Medeiros Pires; the Executive Director of Opera Latinoamérica (Ola), Alejandra Martí; the head of the Division of Cultural Affairs, Solidarity and Creativity of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Trinidad Zaldivar; the president of the Brazilian Academy of Music, João Guilherme Ripper; the secretary of Culture and Creative Economy of São Paulo, Sérgio Sá Leitão; the secretary of Culture and Creative Economy of Rio de Janeiro, Ruan Lira.

Employment and income

The production's perspective is that FAO 2019 will generate an average of 500 direct jobs and will involve around 1,000 people, among contractors, SEC's Artistic Bodies and teams from the Amazonas and Instalação Theaters. Annually, the production moves several sectors such as construction, textile, transportation, sound, light and video equipment suppliers; food (bars and restaurants), hotel management, graphic and visual communication services.

About Bradesco Cultura

With hundreds of projects sponsored annually, Bradesco believes that culture is an agent for transforming society. The Bank supports initiatives that contribute to the sustainability of cultural events that take place from north to south of the country, reinforcing its commitment to the democratization of art. They are regional events, fairs, exhibitions, cultural centers, orchestras, musicals and many others, in addition to the Bradesco Theater in São Paulo. In 2019, several attractions are planned, such as the Cirque du Soleil show OVO, Lollapalooza Brasil, the Parintins and Tiradentes festivals, the June festivities of São João do Caruaru and Campina Grande, and the Bradesco Christmas in Curitiba. The Phantom of the Opera is still playing.

Program

"Ernani" (opera in concert)
04/26 - 20h - Amazonas Theater
04/28 - 7pm - Amazonas Theater

"Maria Stuarda" (Maria Stuarda)
05/05 - 7pm - Amazonas Theater
05/10 - 20h - Amazonas Theater
05/12/05 - 20h - Amazonas Theatre

"Tosca
05/11 - 20h - Amazonas Theatre
05/17 - 20h - Amazonas Theatre
05/19/05 - 20h - Amazonas Theatre

"Mater Dolorosa" (Sorrowful Mother)
05/25/05 - 20h - Amazonas Theatre
05/29/05 - 20h - Amazonas Theatre

"Alma" (Soul)
05/26 - 7pm - Amazonas Theatre
05/28 - 20h - Amazonas Theatre
05/30 - 20h - Amazonas Theatre

Opera Mirim: "L'enfant et les Sortilèges" (The Boy and the Sortileges)
04/27 - Joãozinho Hospital
04/29 - Vhida House
May 13 to 19 - Santa Isabel do Rio Negro and Benjamin Constant
05/27 - CETI João dos Santos Braga (Cidade Nova)
05/29 - CETI Zilda Arns (Main Avenue, s/nº, Comunidade Jesus me Deu)
May 5th, 12th, 19th, and 26th - 11am - Hall of the Amazonas Theater

Mother's Day Concert
With the Amazonas Guitar Orchestra
05/12 - 11am - Installation Theater

Women of Opera
05/18 - Ponta Negra Shopping Center
5/25 - Fcecon
5/27 - Doctor Thomas Foundation

Bradesco Recital: "Songs by Claudio Santoro
5/29 - 20h - Installation Theater

Meeting "The Opera Theaters and Creative Economy in Latin America
5/26 - 9am to 1pm - Palace of Justice Cultural Center

Opera Conducting Course for UEA's conducting students with conductors Luiz Fernando Malheiro, Marcelo de Jesus and Otávio Simões
April 2 to May 30 - During rehearsals

Discovering talents in cultural production
From April 14, high school students (selected by application) will have access to the backstage of the Opera Festival to produce and feed a blog, thus revealing new talents and new visions about the cultural production in Amazonas.

Access here the complete program + synopsis of the XX FAO

With information from the press