From May 18th to June 1st 2019 I’m singing Radamès in Aida at Teatro La Fenice in Venice. I’m pleased to debut this role in Italy too, in a theatre like La Fenice which I love and with the conductor Riccardo Frizza, with whom I’ve worked so well over the years and can share memories of another successful debut at La Fenice, as Manrico in Il Trovatore. I first sang in Aida two years ago at the Salzburg Festival, conducted by Muti in Shirin Neshat’s streamlined, incisive production. Now I’m in another Aida, just as streamlined and incredibly theatrical, a revival by Bepi Morassi of Mauro Bolognini’s memorable Aida. Everything here is linear and Mario Ceroli’s stage set in wood helps create an atmosphere which brings to the forefront the characters’ feelings rather than pomp and exoticism, reaching right into the essence of music which is in itself the quintessence of Verdi sentiment.
