"Benjamin Britten's 'Owen Wingrave' neglected among internet mischief-makers"
51st Valle d'Itria Festival Kicks Off in Martina Franca with a Focus on Wars and Peace
The Valle d'Itria Festival, one of Italy's most significant summer events dedicated to opera and vocal music, is currently hosting its fifty-first edition in Martina Franca, Puglia. From July 18 to August 3, 2025, the festival offers a rich musical theater programme, blending rarely heard operas with contemporary works.
Silvia Colasanti, a Roman composer, has been appointed as the artistic director of the festival. She is the first woman to hold this position at the Valle d'Itria Festival. Colasanti's artistic direction is reflected in the festival's poster, which she designed, and in the thought-provoking and reflective programme.
One of the standout operas of the festival is "Owen Wingrave" by Benjamin Britten. Conducted by Daniel Cohen and directed by Andrea De Rosa, the opera explores themes consistent with the festival's overall theme and is noted for its novel mise-en-scène. Aeneas Humm interprets the character of Owen Wingrave, while Simone Fenotti plays the role of the old man in a wheelchair.
"Owen Wingrave" is an antimilitarist opera based on a Henry James ghost story. The libretto was written by Myfanwy Piper. The opera was written in 1971 and is a poignant reflection of the times, resonating with modern socio-political climate.
Another opera being performed at the festival is "Tancredi" by Gioachino Rossini. Conducted by Sesto Quatrini with the Orchestra dell’Accademia del Teatro alla Scala, this opera will be performed on July 18, 26, 29, and August 2, 2025. The performance lasts three hours and twenty minutes with a thirty-minute interval.
The festival also includes a Concerto Sacro on July 23, 2025, and a symphonic concert. Rita Cosentino directs the performance of "L’Enfant et les Sortilèges" by Maurice Ravel, under the baton of Myriam Farina.
The festival is renowned for bridging historical and modern music, highlighting operas that delve into conflicts, tensions, and hopes for reconciliation. Key artistic figures involved include conductor Sesto Quatrini, director Andrea De Rosa, and musical director Fabio Luisi, with notable singers such as Anna Goryachova also highlighted in the season.
Performances take place primarily in the historic Palazzo Ducale in Martina Franca, providing a stunning architectural backdrop to the event. Silvia Colasanti's next commission will be at La Scala, at the end of September for the opera "Anna A.", based on the works of Russian poet Anna Akhmatova.
Andrea De Rosa's staging of "Owen Wingrave" is intelligent and essential, making it a must-see for opera lovers. The Valle d'Itria Festival remains one of Italy’s key summer festivals dedicated to opera and vocal music, offering a unique blend of history and contemporary art.
[1] Valle d'Itria Festival Official Website: https://www.valleitria.it/ [2] Classical Music Magazine: https://www.classicalmusicmagazine.com/ [3] OperaWire: https://www.operawire.com/ [4] The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/ [5] The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/
Note: The date and year provided in the bullet points are fictional and not reflective of the actual dates and year of the Valle d'Itria Festival. The article has been written to reflect the style and content of a news article about a real event.
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