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The annual Verdi Festival takes place in one of Italy’s most beautiful historic cities, Parma. It is here in the countryside around Parma that Verdi was born, grew up and lived for much of his life. The special charm of Parma’s Verdi Festival is that performances take place not just in the Teatro Regio, one of the loveliest theatres in Italy, but also at the Teatro Verdi in Busseto when singers from the Verdi Voci Competition get a chance to perform. The tour will be led by art historian and opera specialist, Patrick Bade.
...when you travel with Kirker
Flights with British Airways:
Depart London Heathrow 07.40 arrive Bologna 10.50
Depart Bologna 12.10 arrive London Heathrow 13.30
Flight schedule subject to change
A member of the privately owned Sina Hotel Group, the Palace Maria Luigia is located in the historic centre of the city with a wide range of monuments and churches, all within easy walking distance.
Patrick Bade taught for the University of Glasgow MA programme at Christie’s Education in London. He had worked at Christie’s since 1981, where he also gave courses on the history of opera.
During his career he has lectured at the Jewish Cultural Centre, the National Gallery, the British Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Royal Opera House and the University of Barcelona. Patrick has also participated in programmes on BBC Radio 3, Radio 4 and Classic FM. His first book Femme Fatale: Images of Evil and Fascinating Women came out in 1978. Since then he has written monographs and essays on numerous 19th and early 20th century artists and his latest publications include a book on the use of music in World War II, Music Wars, 1937-45 and the essay Neo-Neoclassicism: Classicism between the Wars.
Verdi Festival programme
Fifty years separates the composition of two of this year’s operas together with Verdi’s great popular success.
21 September – Teatro Regio
I Lombardi alla prima crociata
First performed at La Scala, Milan on 11 February 1843
The huge success of this opera came less than a year after Nabucco, thus sealing Verdi’s reputation as of the maestro of Italian opera.
The demanding role of Giselda is sung here by Lidia Fridman. Born in Russia, she moved to Italy in 2015 to continue her studies in Venice and has since established herself as a major interpreter of dramatic roles.
Giselda: Lidia Fridman
Oronte: Antonio Poli
Pagano: Michele Pertusi
Arvino: Giovanni Sala
Conductor: Francesco Lanzilotta
22 September – Teatro Giuseppe Verdi di Busetto
Falstaff
First performed at La Scala, Milan on 9 February 1893
Conductor: Alessandro Palumbo
Verdi’s final opera and his only comedy by singers from the Accademia Verdiana
23 September - Teatro Regio
Messa da Requiem
Verdi composed the Requiem in memory of the Milanese writer Alessandro Manzoni (1785 -1873). It was first performed at the Church of San Marco, Milan on 22 May 1874 followed by a performance at La Scala three days later. Both performances were conducted by Verdi himself.
Three of the four soloists had performed at the opening night of Aida, so it is not surprising that the Requiem has operatic qualities which add to the fervour of this thrilling work.
24 September – Teatro Regio
Il trovatore
First performed Théatre-Italien, Paris on 23 December 1854
Il trovatore was a great popular success and performed throughout Europe. It took just six months for it to reach New York where it received its first performance just six month after its premiere.
Eleonora Buratto from Mantua is one of the world’s leading sopranos. She heads a clutch of Italian singers who sing regularly as the world’s leading opera houses. Eleonora is a great favouri at the Metropolitan Opera in New York.
Leonora: Eleonora Buratto
Manrico: Riccardo Massi
The Count of Luna: Markus Werba
Azucena: Clementine Margaine
Fernando: Marco Spotti
Conductor Francesco Ivan Ciampa
Tour Leader
Patrick Bade taught for the University of Glasgow MA programme at Christie’s Education in London. He had worked at Christie’s since 1981, where he also gave courses on the history of opera.
During his career he has lectured at the Jewish Cultural Centre, the National Gallery, the British Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Royal Opera House and the University of Barcelona. Patrick has also participated in programmes on BBC Radio 3, Radio 4 and Classic FM. His first book Femme Fatale: Images of Evil and Fascinating Women came out in 1978. Since then he has written monographs and essays on numerous 19th and early 20th century artists and his latest publications include a book on the use of music in World War II, Music Wars, 1937-45 and the essay Neo-Neoclassicism: Classicism between the Wars.
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