Rossini Sells Out, Pesaro Rejoices; Juan Diego To Open 2008 Festival

The 28th edition of Pesaro's Rossini Opera Festival has closed with a record attendance: 20,000 tkts sold for a total of 1,100,000 euros -- the Festival never had it so good. And 18 shows of Otello, Turco in Italia, Gazza ladra, Viaggio a Reims, Edipo/Nozze and Petite Messe Solennelle sold out. 70% of visitors came from abroad -- Rossini Opera Festival has been invited to tour Japan with two productions in late 2008.

Next year, ROF will take place from August 9 to 23, with two new productions: Ermione (directed by Daniele Abbado) and Maometto II (Michael Hampe). A Juan Diego Florez recital will open the Festival on the 9th.

Comments

[Minji]

Yeah! Rossini and Juan Diego Florez Rocks!
OC, I love your blog. You are so funny!
I have been reading all the archives on your blog with a special attention to JDF, of course(I love him. Who doesnt, right?). Im learning a lot and enjoying all the news and gossips in the world of opera!
Thank you so much.

[Conte di Lignano Sabbiadoro]

I love JDF and OC too. I will have to get to the festival in Pesaro next year!

N.

[Les Mitchell]

Juan Diego is to Pesaro what Maria Callas was to La Scala. JDF is plainly the clearly the greatest "tenor di grazia" who ever lived. This is plain fact. He can toss off roulades and cadenzas that have eluded virtually any bel canto tenor before him. He's one of
a kind, and how lucky we all are to be living in an age that has produced this Peruvian singing shark.

[Linda in Colorado]

OC - Luv the blog. Do you know if JDF is doing anything other than the opening concert next year @ Pesaro? I couldn't tell from the ROF web site. Next year's travel plans could be affected.

[Opera Chic]

Linda -- thx!

he's only supposed to do the recital for the time being. I'll keep you posted if anything happens, we're on to covering all JDF all the time -- all the JDF that's fit to print

[Steffen Gliese]

It was a great season - and certainly JDF is great; but so was Greg Kunde, to many's big surprise. Not since Merritt have we had such a great OTELLO, and hopefully he will do the same next year for us in ERMIONE (but casts are not announced until December).
The new sopranos were equally great, while I never get to like Cantarero.
I do hope there will be tenore di grazia roles for other singers than Florez, Siragusa, for instance, who has more of a temperament and therefore acts better.

[Linda in Colorado]

OC - According to a post from Ernesto Palacio on the Florezidos site today, JDF is only doing the concert in Pesaro next year - no opera. :-(