by Nathania Zevi
The 2012 summer opera edition in Rome has opened in the splendid framework of the Caracalla Baths.
Despite the difficult year Italy has been through,Rome is still the place where the combination of art with Roman ruins offers a magic and spectacular atmosphere.
The representation of the tragedy of Norma, Attila’s story, the happenings of Tancredi and Clorinda, the parable of Alexander Nevski in this archeological site , are a unique experience to spectators.
One more time the final goal of the summer opera at the Baths of Caracalla, is reaching a perfect fusion of arts with monuments and their archeological site.
This summer opera program at Caracalla is not simply a summer edition, a sort of after- winter edition, it has its own identity and a particular strength related to its particular location.
Any spectator attending a performance in this spectacular place cannot help feeling involved in the searching of his own origins as well as sharing a history belonging to all of us.
The artists performing are extraordinary, starting from the Russian conductor Yuri Temirkanov, who presents the greatness of Nevski’s myth, by making perform jointly his Saint Petersburg orchestra and the Italian orchestra of Teatro dell’Opera.
Giorgio Battistelli and Mario Martone, will be respectively, composer and director of Tancredi and Clorinda’s story.
Gabriele Ferro and Andrea de Rosa will be the conductor and composer of Norma’s tragedy with the collaboration of the sculptor Matthew Spender.
The program includes also the Giselle ballet with a great choreographer such as Patrice Bart and the participation of the ballet star Svetlana Zacharova.
The ballet dancer Roberto Bolle will also be at Caracalla once again and finally, Gigi Proietti who will perform at the Baths of Caracalla for the first time.
Car: Driving will cut down on your travel time in bweeetn cities. There are two cons that I can think of. One is that gas is expensive. The other one is that you will never be able to park anywhere. There are some toll roads. I have more knowledge about the south of Italy. Down there driving is a contact sport. Train: Train tickets are fairly inexpensive. Don’t let them sell you extras. I paid for bicycle passes on the train when I wasn’t traveling with a bicycle. Traveling by train takes longer. One nice thing is that you can catch an overnight train. You go to sleep in Venice and wake up in Rome. There were times when I took the train and I had to stand in the aisle or even bweeetn cars (inside). Usually I was able to sit. People travel with luggage all the time.I don’t know about the Italy Rail Pass but I think it sounds like a waste of money if you’re only gonna be there for ten days.