Franco Zeffirelli, always opinionated, suggested yesterday in Verona, during a media event to introduce to the public the new Arena di Verona season, that Arena di Verona should remain untaxed. And attacked what he perceives as "the government's tyranny".
Zeffirelli is king of the Arena this season: from June 18 to August 29, all five operas (Carmen, Aida, Madama Butterfly, Trovatore and a new production of Turandot) will be directed by the unstoppable Zeffirelli, 87.
Guleghina will be Turandot (conducted by Giuliano Carella and later in the summer by Placido Domingo), Amarilli Nizza will be Aida, but the most interesting cast belongs to Trovatore (opening august 7, conducted by Marco Armiliato): Marcelo Álvarez as Manrico, Sondra Radvanvosky as Leonora, Dmitri Hvorostovsky as Luna and Marianne Cornetti as Azucena.
This is the first time in Arena di Verona's history that a single director is in charge of the entire season.
