13-22 May 2004. Conducted by Daniel Oren, directed by Alberto Fassini, based on the version by Luchino Visconti, with Francesco Casanova, Ferruccio Furlanetto, Giovanni Meoni, Dimitra Theodossiou, Luciana DIntino.

Don Carlo by Giuseppe Verdi returns to the Teatro dellOpera (13-22 May) in Rome, in the historic version created in 1965 with the scenery, costumes and direction of Luchino Visconti. Unfortunately Visconti is no longer with us, so we have to put ourselves into the hands of Alberto Fassino, who was Viscontis assistant and is directing this monumental performance. The effect of the production is mainly due to the scenery, which has been restored by Alessandro Ciammarughi, and ranges from the baroque and sobre convent of S. Giusto, to the spectacular but oppressive cloister of the Hapsburg court. The musical direction promises to be in line with the general vision of the production; the opera will be conducted by Daniel Oren, who thrives on extreme musical contrasts, with some loud and overwhelming passages, and others which are soft and verging on the inaudible. Paolo di Nicola