20 May-1 June 2003. Conducted by Ivor Bolton, directed by Federico Tiezzi, with Ramon Vargas. This provocative but intelligent director came up with an elegant and dreamy production of Purcells Dido and Aeneas in 2001, also in Florence. Here, the role of the protagonist will be played by the Mexican tenor Ramon Vargas, who has a warm, clear voice and sings Verdi, Donizetti, Rossini and Mozart regularly. Until recently he performed mostly lyrical parts, but now he has started to tackle more daring and dramatic roles. He will be flanked by Hillevi Martinpelto, Monica Bacelli and Veronica Cangemi, whose repertories include baroque operas as well as work by Mozart.