1-17 July 2005. Guided by his amazing 94-year-old father, composer Giancarlo Menotti, Francis Menotti has drawn up a festival that continues to feel the financial crunch, but succeeds once again in being both attractive and interesting thanks also to the wonderful little town of Spoleto. The inaugural concert (2 July) is conducted by 26-year-old Mikko Franck from Finland who continues to receive critical acclaim worldwide. As a prelude there is a concert by the German singer Max Raabe accompanied by his Palast Orchester in the beautiful little Teatro Caio Melisso (1 July). For opera there is a rare work by Handel; Ferdinando, Re di Castiglia is conducted by Alan Curtis at the head of the Complesso Barocco (12-16 July). The dance section sees the debut of the Interplay Dance Theatre (1-3 July) at the Teatro Romano, which is also the venue for the American Elisa Monte Dance company celebrating its 25th anniversary (7-17 July). In front of the duomo the traditional Dance Gala in a somewhat minor tone this year takes place with its usual array of stars of ballet (8-10 July). Pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet is a constant presence in the music section and accompanies mezzosoprano Zandra McMaster at the renovated Rocca Albornoziana (7 July). The programme is completed by a series of concerts: the daily Concerti di Mezzogiorno and the Ora Mistica concerts late at night, as well as the Concerto finale in the Piazza del Duomo, conducted by Yuri Temirkanov on the podium for the St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra. The drama section presents the successful cycle I Grandi Processi, which sees well-known lawyers argue famous historical cases, a recital by actress Andrea Jonasson (9-10 July 2005), and Juan Diego Puerta Lopezs work Carne at S. Nicol. Umbria Segreta is the charming cycle of concerts in other historical art venues outside of but close to Spoleto; jazz is also a protagonist in Piazza del Duomo with the Spoleto Jazz Ensemble and Carl Allen. The beautiful Marionette Colla puppets present Michele Strogoff and Aladins Lamp, and Spoleto Cinema at the Sala Frau is dedicated to Italian set designer Bruno Rubeo.