Autumn Trilogy – Ravenna Festival 2020
Ravenna Festival, after the test of courage and creativity of this summer, returns to stage in November..and the Cherubini Orchestra is among the key players of the new Autumn Trilogy (from 6 to 14 November). The Cherubini shall perform in Faust rapsodia – Dal ciel sino all’inferno, a new production based on Goethe’s poem and Schumann’s oratorio, combined in the dramaturgical and musical adaptation by Luca Micheletti and Antonio Greco.
Cristina Mazzavillani Muti’s project, which since 2012 has extended the Festival’s programme to the autumn months, has been reimagined for this year’s unexpected and complex context, as it develops the triptych format in three artistic languages – dance, music, and the poetic word – for a tribute to Dante in the year of celebrations for the 7th centenary of the Poet’s death in Ravenna. The Trilogy opens with Sergei Polunin, rebel ballet star who faces the challenge of a three-part choreograp
hy divided into Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The world premiere of Metànoia is scheduled for the 6th of November, as a contemporary artist’s answer to a timeless masterpiece such as Dante’s Commedia; but also a journey delving into the depths of the human nature. Metànoia is a Greek word, meaning “conversion”; in Jung’s psychology, metànoia describes the spontaneous self-healing of the soul, the achievement of an equilibrium through a crisis. Dante and Polunin, both looking for a lost home, discover their paradise through art and creativity, because “poca favilla gran fiamma seconda” (Paradiso I, 34), a small spark can kindle the fire which lights up the world.
While Metànoia will take place at the Palazzo Mauro De André (performances also on 8, 10, 12, 13 Nov) with a special set-up for 600 people, the Alighieri Theatre will host Faust rapsodia – Dal ciel sino all’inferno on November 7, 11, and 14. The main character of a rich and varied tale, which originated in Germany in the late Middle Ages, Faust gained universal appeal through Johann Wolfgang Goethe’s writings: along his Dantesque journey between Heaven and Hell, Faust experiences the powers of the evil, and redemption with the help of his beloved. In a brand new visionary production, with the stalls turned into an enlarged pit to host the social-distanced orchestra, and up to 200 members of the audience in the boxes, gallery, and balcony, Faust rapsodia is a reasoned selection from Schumann’s secular oratorio combined with scenes from Goethe’s work. Dramaturgical adaptation and direction have been entrusted to Luca Micheletti, while Antonio Greco leads the Orchestra Giovanile Luigi Cherubini and the Chorus Cherubini. Faust is played by baritone Vito Priante and actor Edoardo Siravo; Margherita is soprano Elisa Balbo; in the role of Mephistopheles are bass Riccardo Zanellato and actor Roberto Latini. Set, lightning, and costume design are curated, respectively, by Ezio Antonelli, Fabrizio Ballini, and Anna Biagiotti.
The 9 pm performance in the Alighieri Theatre will be preceded by a 30-minute-long performance, accessible with the same ticket of Faust rapsodia: at 7.30 pm, in the Basilica of San Francesco (“the church of Dante”), Quanto in femmina foco d’amor is a “mystery for voices and pilgrim women”, a meditation on the women in the Commedia, based on an idea by Cristina Muti, written by Francesca Masi, and with Luca Micheletti’s mise en scène. The voices of Francesca, Pia, Sapia, Piccarda, and Cunizza weave a women’s prayer, a litany running from Eve to Maria, beginning and end of the world, sung and danced by the Edenic woman, Matelda.
INFORMATION AND TICKETS
Tickets for the Palazzo De André and the Alighieri Theatre: 40 Euro (I sector), 20 Euro (II sector). The ticket for the Alighieri Theatre includes the entrance to the Basilica of San Francesco for Quanto in femmina foco d’amor.
Carnet two performances with a 15% discount
For the young people: under 18 and university students 50% discount; under 14 5 Euro in the company of an adult.
Tickets can be purchased online ravennafestival.org, by phone (+39 0544 249244) and from the Ticket Office of the Alighieri Theatre (only by appointment, +39 0544 249244, Mon-Sat 9-13); IAT offices in Ravenna and Cervia.