11-27 Oct 2005. Conducted by Pinchas Steinberg, directed by William Friedkin, with Fiorenza Cedolins, Marianne Cornetti, Walter Fraccaro and Alberto Gazale.

The Teatro Regio di Torino opens its winter season with a production of Verdis Aida (11-27 Oct) that promises many surprises. For example, the director is William Friedkin author of the famous 1970s horror film The Exorcist. Friedkin is not new to opera: he directed Wozzek by Alban Berg a few years ago in Florence a remarkable and enjoyable production. The cast is made up of singers who regularly appear on the international stage: Marianne Cornetti (Amneris), Walter Fraccaro (Radames), Alberto Gazale (Amonasro) and Giorgio Surian (Ramfis). Aida will be sung by Fiorenza Cedolins, much appreciated for her lyrical and passionate style of singing, as shown by the recent summer success of La Bohme by Puccini in Verona. There will be a total of 12 performances, but the main cast will only perform for five evenings (11,15,19, 23 and 26 Oct), with other singers for remaining performances: Micaela Carosi, Carolyn Sebron, Nicola Martinucci and Luca Grassi.