The theme of WOD 2024 is “Welcome to the Opera” and celebrates UNESCO’s recognition of Italian opera singing as an Intangible Heritage of Humanity
Introduction to the operas and open rehearsals with free admission (reservations recommended)
Bergamo, Teatro Donizetti and Teatro Sociale, Friday, Oct. 25, 5:30 p.m.
We are now less than a month away from the opening of the 10th edition of Donizetti Opera, an international festival dedicated to the Bergamasque composer that will be held in his hometown from November 14 to December 1. As every year, over the next few weeks, there will be various opportunities for the public to discover in advance some details of the scheduled performances: it begins on Friday, October 25, with the sixth edition of World Opera Day, promoted by Opera Europa, OPERA America and Opera Latinoamérica. Theaters and festivals around the world celebrate the start of their seasons with new projects and perspectives, to reinvent and innovate. This year’s WOD is titled “Welcome to Opera” and is dedicated precisely to Italian opera singing, which, in 2023, has been included in the list of intangible heritages of humanity drawn up by UNESCO. The organizers therefore proposed to theaters around the world to celebrate this recognition in the simplest but also most meaningful way: that is, by performing an iconic piece or a rarity from the Italian opera repertoire. The Donizetti Opera responded immediately being, among other things, this constitutive prescription of the festival. It will therefore be possible to access the rehearsals of Don Pasquale at Teatro Donizetti and Zoraida di Granata at Teatro Sociale, two titles that represent, respectively, of Donizetti’s catalog the best-known repertoire and the one to be rediscovered. On Friday, Oct. 25 from 5:30 p.m., you can watch the rehearsal of the two titles introduced by the Foundation’s musicologists who will guide the audience through the stage preparation and musical content of the 2024 festival. To participate, reservations are recommended through gaetanodonizetti.org All fans are invited to share their passion for opera and the world of Donizetti on social media with the hashtags #WorldOperaDay and #donizettiopera. On the occasion of World Opera Day, from Friday, Oct. 25 to Sunday, Oct. 27 (online and at the box office), tickets for LU OpeRave, the Lucia di Lammermoor-inspired show that brings together Donizetti’s music with electronics and will be staged on Nov. 14, 21 and 29, also at 9:30 p.m., at the Balzer Globe, will be available for the special price of €11. Full details on cast and ticket purchase are available at www.donizetti.org.
