Sondra Radvanovsky Brings Her Elena To Italian Anniversary

Teatro Regio di Torino will celebrate the 150th  anniversary of the Italian unification ("il Risorgimento") with Verdi's Italian version of Les vêpres siciliennes with a special performance dedicated on March 18 which will be aired live by RAI 5 and RAI-Radio3. In attendance will be Italian President Giorgio Napolitano. The cast will include Sondra Radvanovsky, Gregory Kunde, Ildar Abdrazakov,  Franco Vassallo and conductor Gianandrea Noseda. Performance dates for the run are March 16, 18, 19, 22, 23, 25, 27 and 29. Davide Livermore (Director) is joined by Santi Centineo (Set Design), Giusi Giustino (Costumes) and Andrea Anfossi (Lighting). Approximately 116 miles from the composer's birthplace of Busseto, the Teatro Regio di Torino has a rich history that includes the inauguration in 1740 (as Nuovo Teatro Regio), directorship of Arturo Toscanni (1895-1898),  Puccini world premieres of Manon Lescaut and La Bohème, closed for 37 seasons after a fire destroyed the theatre and re-opened in 1973 with I Vespri Siciliani directed by Maria Callas & Giuseppe di Stefano. [Source, Source, Source]