From our archives

The third opera scheduled at the ROF 2022 is Le Comte Ory, a title that has reached its third staging and its fifth presence at the Festival.

The debut of the score at the ROF was in the fateful 1984, when it was proposed alongside the Viaggio a Reims. The staging was by Pier Luigi Pizzi, with Donato Renzetti leading the London Sinfonietta Opera Orchestra and the Prague Philharmonic Choir. In the cast, Rockwell Blake in the title role, joined by Cecilia Gasdia, Zehava Gal, and then Gregory Reinhart, Alessandro Corbelli, Magali Damonte and Cecilia Valdenassi. The show was revived in 1986, conducted by Gabriele Ferro on the podium of the London Sinfonietta Opera Orchestra and the Prague Philharmonic Choir. Renewed cast, with William Matteuzzi as Comte Ory and Mariella Devia as Comtesse. At their side, Susanne Mentzer, Nicolas Rivenq, Claudio Desderi, Susanna Anselmi and Alessandra Rossi.

In 2003 it was Jesus López Cóbos’s turn to conduct the orchestra of the Teatro Comunale di Bologna and the Prague Philharmonic Choir in a new staging of the opera, created by Lluís Pasqual. In the singing company, Juan Diego Flórez as Ory, Stefania Bonfadelli as Comtesse, and then Marie-Ange Todorovitch, Alastair Miles, Bruno Praticò, Marina De Liso and Rossella Bevacqua. The show was resumed in 2009 with the direction of Paolo Carignani at the head of the Orchstra of the Teatro Comunale di Bologna and the Prague Chamber Choir. Cast renewed, as per tradition: starring Yijie Shi, alongside him María José Moreno, Laura Polverelli, Lorenzo Regazzo, Roberto De Candia, Natalia Gavrilan and Rinnat Moriah.