“The Rossetti Theatre at Miramare. “Come, gentle night…”
This is the theme of a month of shows, concerts, and puppet theatre performances that will “gently” bring to life the wonderful spaces of Miramare from July 7th to August 6th – echoing the Shakespearean verse chosen as the claim – thus respecting and deeply cherishing the delicate balance of the surrounding environment. The director of the Regional Stabile Theatre, Paolo Valerio, has chosen, since the first edition, to enter the splendid nature of the Park almost “on tiptoe,” without using invasive equipment or building spectacular structures, but simply embedding theatrical languages and performances into the spontaneous settings offered by Miramare. The 2023 edition wholeheartedly embraces and amplifies this “green” vocation and, in addition to the staging, also aims to invite audiences to reflect on the fundamental themes addressed during the shows.
It also draws inspiration from the impeccable research and study work carried out by the Museo Storico of Miramare, as is evident in the exhibition “Ars Botanica.” So, sunset has been chosen for the performances – and this year also dawn – taking advantage of the magic of the natural light. The area of the Castle Square is reserved for the larger concerts, while the performances that venture into the Park are itinerant and intended for limited groups of spectators, created with a delicate and “sustainable” relationship between performers, audience, and natural scenery…
The dialogue with Nature begins from the opening night, which on July 7th at 9:30 p.m. will be entrusted to the Orchestra of the Teatro Lirico Giuseppe Verdi, conducted by Maestro Valentin Egel, and the performance by Violante Placido, one of the most acclaimed actresses on the contemporary scene. They will perform Arnold Schönberg’s “Verklärte Nacht/Transfigured Night.” The music intertwines with Richard Dehmel’s verses, from which the composition draws inspiration and its title. After a splendid nocturnal description of nature, the poet tells of a woman who confesses to her husband, on a moonlit night, that she is expecting a child that is not his, and she receives a tender response from him. Broad melodies, precious counterpoints reminiscent of the Brahmsian and Wagnerian tradition, coexist in the score with daring elements foreshadowing Schönberg’s future evolution, offering a surprising and touching musical proposal. The second part of the evening includes the performance of Luigi Boccherini’s “La musica notturna delle strade di Madrid.”
On July 8th at 05:24 a.m., there will be the Dawn Concert, also a result of collaboration with the Teatro Verdi in Trieste. The Orchestra’s soloists Benjamin Bernstein (viola d’amore), Giorgio Di Giorgi (flute), and Matteo Rivi (bassoon) will perform compositions by Antonio Vivaldi and Georg Philipp Telemann at daybreak. These extraordinary examples of Baroque music will provide an opportunity to appreciate the alluring sound of an unusual and technically complex instrument like the viola d’amore.
From July 11th to 23rd, starting at 7:30 p.m., “The Secrets of the Archduke’s Gardens” will return to the Park, where it met with great success last summer. Written and directed by Paola Bonesi from an idea of Andreina Contessa, the play narrates the relationship between Archduke Maximilian and the splendid Miramare Park, which he created thanks to his passion for botany. The park’s gardener, Jelinek, will welcome visitors and guide them along paths where, illuminated by the evening’s soft light, characters from another era can be encountered. These characters are eager to share their stories connected to the poetic and adventurous prince, the pursuer of overseas dreams, and the creator of a uniquely exceptional garden. The play features actors from the Regional Stabile Theatre, Emanuele Fortunati, Ester Galazzi, Andrea Germani, Jacopo Morra, Maria Grazia Plos, Alessandro Colombo, Serena Costalunga, Giulio De Santi, Giacomo Faroldi, and Radu Murarasu.
A new addition to the 2023 programme is “Green Shakespeare: Trees, Storms, Flowers and the Moon,” a Shakespearean production curated by Paolo Valerio that represents the heart of this sustainability-themed festival. The director, with the consultancy of Laura Pelaschiar and Paolo Quazzolo from the University of Trieste, has chosen to explore Shakespeare’s dramatic works inspired by nature. Audiences will be amazed by the beauty of passages that describe flowers, forests, tempestuous winds, and nighttime skies. The journey will traverse the gentle forests of “As You Like It” to the enchanted woods of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” from the flowers collected by Ophelia to Desdemona’s “Willow Song.” The actors will portray these scenes in the most enchanting settings of Miramare, where the audience will be accompanied by other characters introducing the concept of nature in the Elizabethan world. Nature, at times benevolent and at times fearsome and unpredictable, will inspire captivating contrasts among the performers. On stage, you will see Emanuele Fortunati, Ester Galazzi, Andrea Germani, Riccardo Maranzana, Jacopo Morra, Zoe Pernici, Maria Grazia Plos, Alessandro Colombo, Serena Costalunga, Giulio De Santi, Giacomo Faroldi, and Radu Murarasu, along with dancer Alice Lovrinic, and musicians Snezana Acinovic and Beatrice Tagliapietra.
Finally, Miramare has become the “summer residence” of the Piccoli di Podrecca, who will return from July 21st to August 6th with their outdoor show, “Varietà en plein air.” This sunny and entertaining performance was specifically conceived for open spaces and will once again delight children and families with the humour and musical feats of the ancient string puppets that the regional Stabile Theatre company has brought back to life in the past two years. The show is directed by Barbara Della Polla and Ennio Guerrato, and it features the artistry of puppeteers Roberta Colacino, Gaia Mencagli, Giada Bigot, and Silvia Ponton.
Tickets for all performances will be available from Tuesday, June 6th, at the usual ticket outlets of the Stabile Theatre of Friuli Venezia Giulia and through online platforms. It is strongly recommended to purchase tickets in advance. For the opening night, ticket prices will be €30 (Full) and €25 (Reduced); for the “Dawn Concert,” €15 (Full) and €10 (Reduced); for “Green Shakespeare: Trees, Storms, Flowers and the Moon” and “The Secrets of the Archduke’s Gardens,” €18 (Full) and €15 (Reduced). To see the Piccoli di Podrecca, tickets are €8 for adults and €5 for children under 12 years of age.
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